- Despite its isolation, Ione can be accessed by many routes. The most popular route comes from the Reese River Valley via unpaved County Road 21. CR 21 leads south from Austin and crosses over the Monitor Range through Ione Canyon, delivering you directly at the east entrance to town.
- The second route is unpaved via Union Canyon leading from SR 376 in Big Smoky Valley. This good two-lane dirt road leads to Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park where it connects to CR 21 in Ione Valley.
- The most convenient route is on pavement, SR 361, the Gabbs Valley Highway; this route makes a long beeline up the valley linking US 95 near Luning (east of Hawthorne) to US 50 at Middlegate (east of Fallon). Again like most roads in Nevada, one man's treasure can be another man's monotony; SR 361 lives up to that motto. If you don't like the desert, SR 361 will surely disappoint. However, there are only a few reasons why a person drives up and down SR 361; accessing Ione and Berlin-Ichthyosaur S.P. is high on this list.
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Along SR 361, about Mile 16 from US 50. The journey has only begun!
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A little over 20 miles from US 50, and it's already time time to leave SR 361.
 Don't let appearances deceive you. SR 844 is one scenic little beauty! |
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- Allow me to introduce to you, State Route 844 -- a very remote highway whose only purpose is linking Berlin-Ichthyosaur S.P. and Ione to the rest of society. According to NDOT, SR 844 is one of Nevada's most loneliest roads, quite ironic for a route that leads to a state park. The truth is, even during peak holiday tourist months (June-August), SR 844 is lucky to receive an average of 50 cars a day. According to Nevada State Parks, Berlin-Ichthyosaur also receives the least amount of visitors of any Nevada state park. In other words, if you seek solitude with your state park experiences, Berlin awaits your arrival!
 Notice the brown sign in the background. Its content reads: "Fossil Tours, Sat-Sun 10AM-2PM". |
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Only 3 miles onto SR 844, we immediately start climbing into the mountains. The highway has to tackle two small mountain passes to reach Berlin-Ichthyosaur.
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After climbing over the last mountain range, SR 844 drops into Ione Valley, a long dry expanse that stretches all the way to Tonopah, some sixty miles to the south. Few people travel this valley north to south.
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At the end of the valley, we are greeted with this sign. Now the fun begins!
