Trans-America Trail — Ely to Eureka via the Nevada Basin and Range High Desert
Ninety miles of honest Nevada nothing.
Nevada’s Great Basin doesn’t apologise for being empty. The Trans-America Trail segment between Ely and Eureka covers roughly 90 miles of BLM dirt, gravel two-tracks, and ranch roads across a landscape of alkali flats, sagebrush valleys, and sudden mountain ranges that rise and fall like slow waves. The route crosses the Pancake Range and skirts the northern edge of the Nevada Test and Training Range buffer zone — the kind of detail that puts the scale of this place into perspective. Key waypoints include the Lunar Crater volcanic field south of the route and the ghost town fringe around Eureka, a silver-mining settlement that peaked in 1878 and still has working ranches running cattle across the same ground. The surface alternates between graded gravel, rough two-track with embedded rock, and occasional sandy washes.
A stock 4WD with high clearance and all-terrain tyres handles this segment fine in dry conditions — it is not technically demanding, but it is remote. Carry 5+ gallons of water and top fuel in Ely before you leave; Eureka’s fuel supply can be limited. Cell service is absent for most of the route. Best season is May through October — winter brings mud, ice, and road closures at elevation. No permit required on BLM land. What this segment gives you is genuine solitude, a working sense of how big the West actually is, and the particular satisfaction of putting pavement behind you for a full day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 90 mi / 144.8 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7400 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Ely, Nevada |
| Land manager | Bureau of Land Management — Ely District Office |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | BLM Ely District Office Trans-America Trail official site |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this stretch of the TAT?
Yes, a stock high-clearance 4WD is the minimum and handles this segment fine under normal conditions. The surface is mostly dirt and gravel with no serious rock obstacles — the challenge is remoteness and washboards, not technical terrain.
When does snow close this route and when does it reliably reopen?
The segment sits between 5,000–7,400 ft and can see snow from November through April. May through October is the reliable window — early May can still be muddy after snowmelt, so check conditions with the BLM Ely District Office before heading out in spring.
Do I need a permit or is there a fee to run this route?
No permit required and no fee — it's BLM land managed out of the Ely District Office. Standard BLM dispersed camping rules apply: 14-day stay limit, camp 200 ft from water sources and roads where possible.
What's the hardest part of this segment and what makes it hard?
There's no single technical crux — the difficulty is cumulative isolation. Ninety miles with no services, no cell signal, and long stretches of corrugated dirt that punish underinflated tires and loose gear. If something breaks out here, you're solving it yourself.
How much fuel do I need to carry between Ely and Eureka?
Fuel up in Ely before you leave and plan to fill again in Eureka — there is nothing in between. The route is 90 miles of dirt, so factor your rig's off-road fuel economy, not highway numbers, and carry a minimum 2-gallon reserve.
Trail track
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