RECONNOITERING IN THE EASTERN SIERRA NEVADA & GREAT BASIN
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4x4 Trails:
Jarbidge, Nevada

Trail Difficulty:

Easy and suitable for all vehicles (including most standard automobiles that are driven with care) on the main county road into Jarbidge and north to the Forks of the Jarbidge River; Moderate and likely some Difficult on various trails nearby. I would recommend AWD (all-wheel-drive) or 4WD (4-wheel-drive) even on the main roads in the event that it rains, as the surface of these roads can turn quite slippery and muddy.

Season:

Late spring, Summer, Autumn. Snowy winters can leave the route closed until summer and close the route by early autumn.

Elevations:

5,500' to 8,500'

Cell phone Signal:

No

Running Surface Water?:

Several creeks, Jarbidge River.

Trail Travel Density:

Light.

Nearest Supplies/Emergency Aid:

Elko, Nevada or Twin Falls, Idaho. There is an EMT and Elko County Sheriff deputy living at Jarbidge and local citizens are part of a Search & Rescue team.

Other:

As of September 2006 there is once again gas and diesel available for purchase in Jarbidge at the Sinclair gas station. This station was closed to the public for an extended period of time. Update: In September 2007 the Sinclair station was still open and selling gas and diesel for about 20¢ per gallon more than Elko prices.

Update: New photos and information from July 2007.



NOTE: Between July 22 and 30, 2007, the massive Murphy Complex of fires impacted the northern and southern portions of the region of this narrative. The town of Jarbidge was not hit by the flames, though they did come within a mile of the community. More information on the fire will be found in the appropriate section of this page below.




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The country in and around Jarbidge, Nevada is a scenic wonder, located in the northeastern part of Nevada. High mountains covered with tall conifers and aspen jut high above the surrounding sagebrush prairie and invite the traveler to its cool heights.


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The small village of Jarbidge itself is also a wonder – it's an isolated and tiny outpost with not a piece of pavement within 18 miles (in Idaho); yet offers a few basic services at very reasonable prices. The town's people are friendly and ready to lend a hand if necessary. Jarbidge is scenic, historic and rustic.




Map sourced from the W.M. Keck Earth Sciences and Mining Research Information Center
From the above website, you can download any of the topo maps that you need.

Though not necessarily a 4x4 trail to get to Jarbidge, this route and others nearby will take the traveler far off the beaten track, back into history and into some of the most beautiful country that Nevada has to offer.

For this page I will primarily focus on the route into Jarbidge from Elko, a likely point of entry for many readers. I will also describe the main road north of Jarbidge into Idaho, ending at Rogerson, Idaho and highway US93. And lastly I will describe a couple of roads south of Jarbidge accessing the Jarbidge Wilderness and a few of the historic and scenic mining properties. Each section will be followed by photographs.


Part 1 – Two Roads to Jarbidge


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The quickest way into Jarbidge is to travel north of Elko on NV225, then east and north on Elko County routes 746 and 748. [If you are traveling in from northern points and accessing Jarbidge from Rogerson, Idaho, the description of this road is HERE] It is If you wish to maximize your dirt road experience, you can also reach Jarbidge by traveling north from the small ranch community of Deeth – located about 32 miles east of Elko on I-80 – and travel northward on Elko County road 747, which turns into Elko County 748 at its junction with Elko County 746. But first, a description of the route north from Elko.



Part 1a – Elko to Charleston Reservoir

Starting at the junction of Interstate 80 and NV225 (exit 301), drive north on paved 2-lane NV225 for 53.6 miles. The road will slowly meander and climb to 6,549 foot high Adobe Summit, cross over nondescript sagebrush rolling prairie, then access the scenic North Fork of the Humboldt River country to the turnoff to Jarbidge and the start of the dirt portion of this route.

At a point 22 miles north of Elko, historic Dinner Station is reached. This site was founded in the early 1870s as a stage stop and dinner house for the Tuscaurora and Mountain City stage lines. The original frame structure burned and was replaced by the current building in the 1880s. Dinner Station was also known as Weilands and Oldham's for former owners. The station fell out of use by the time that automobiles became fairly common; but has continued to be an occupied residence over the years and has been kept in excellent condition.

Traveling 4.1 miles north of Dinner Station, NV226 is reached. This route takes the traveler north and west into the lonely Owyhee River country, much of which is described in my Trip 2001 account on this website.

About 12 miles north of the junction of NV226, the road will drop slightly into the North Fork of the Humboldt River country. The countryside becomes more scenic and interesting, as there is quite a bit of surface water and small sloughs to the east of the highway, as well as the topography becoming increasingly rugged. In about 11.5 miles the former community of North Fork is reached, now mostly comprised of a maintenance station of the Nevada Department of Transportation and a ranch with a large and scenic old barn next to the highway.

At a point four miles north of the Nevada DOT station at North Fork, you will arrive at the signed turnoff to Jarbidge.

Turning east, Elko County 746 will meander over hill and dale for 19¾ miles to Charleston Reservoir on the Bruneau River. This road is maintained by Elko County, but in wet weather may require caution and AWD or 4WD. The road holds no surprises in dry weather – with the exception of wildlife and cattle on the road – but I recommend being in no hurry. Sudden curves, big Ford Super Duty or Dodge Ram 4WD trucks with stock trailers driven by local ranchers; and cattle, deer or antelope can seemingly pop out of nowhere when you least expect it. And like most dirt roads, a measure of irritating washboard is always present.


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Nevada Highway 225 at the turnoff to Elko County 746 to Charleston, Bruneau River and Jarbidge.


Dinner Station, September, 2006.


Dinner Station, June, 2001.


Eastbound on Elko County 746.


Eastbound on Elko County 746.


A few meadows dot the rolling sagebrush badlands along Elko County 746.


Eastbound on Elko County 746.


The Jarbidge Mountains can barely be seen on a hazy day from an area burned in the summer of 2006, part of the huge wildfires that ravaged large tracts of northern Nevada.


Charleston Reservoir at the junction of Elko County 746 and Elko County 747. This portion has also been burned in the summer of 2006.


Junction of Elko County roads 746 and 747 in June, 2001.

New Photos of July 2007


Dinner Station on NV225 north of Elko on a stormy day.


At the junction of NV225 and Elko County 746. View west into the Independence Mountains, which are hidden in a heavy thunderstorm. On this trip I took my wife, mother and father in my 2006 Honda CR-V.


Eastbound on Elko County 746. My basic Garmin eTrex sits atop my Honda's dashboard with waypoint data previously input for the route to Jarbidge and set in route following mode; giving me real time distance, time to next waypoint and altitude mode.


Eastbound on Elko County 746.

 



Part 1b – Deeth to Charleston Reservoir

If you wish to maximize your dirt road experience, I'd recommend traveling into Jarbidge via the small farming community of Deeth. I traveled this way during a trip in 2001 and I can tell you that it can bore you silly and scare the dickens out of you simultaneously!

To reach Deeth from Elko, travel eastward to Exit 333 – Deeth, about 32 miles east from the NV225 and I-80 interchange. If you are coming in from the east, Deeth is 19 miles west of Wells, Nevada.

Turning off of Exit 333, drive south about 0.8 tenths of a mile to a dirt road turning east (left) upon reaching the first set of railroad tracks. In 2001 there was a sign here indicating the community of Deeth. Drive along this road another 0.8 tenths of a mile to Elko County 747, signed for Charleston, and which runs north and under I-80. You'll pass by several apparently abandoned buildings left over from the old ranching community clustered along the railroad tracks.

The road at first starts off in relatively flat country, then progressively gets into more rugged and scenic topography as it continues north 42.4 miles to its junction with Elko County 746 at Charleston Reservoir. The road is a maintained road, but this is hardcore ranching country out here and the road often throws many surprises – both natural and man made.

I did not take any photos of this road during my travels through here in 2001, but here are a few of my notes that I made on a microcassette as I passed this way driving my 1996 Chevrolet S-10 4WD pickup that I owned at the time:


Part 2 – Charleston Reservoir to Coon Creek Summit

NOTE: A line of lames within the massive Murphy Complex of fires in July, 2007 came south and impacted the Prunty Ranch and Copper Mountain sections. Whether they blackened the landscape within sight of the byway shown below I have not yet determined.




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At Charleston Reservoir, where Elko County 746 and 747 combine, turn north and become Elko County 748, the route heads due north into the looming mountains immediately ahead to top out at Coon Creek Summit (elevation 8,442'); squeezed between the Jarbidge Mountains and the adjoining Copper Mountains.


High peaks rule this country – Matterhorn (10,839'), Jarbidge Peak (10,789'), Prospect Peak (10,435') and God's Pocket (10,184') – all form the semi-circular Jarbidge Mountains.

Due to the altitude and the heavy snows that visit this part of Nevada, this route may not open before July 4th and could close temporarily due to a sudden snow squall by Labor Day. Keep an eye on the Weather Channel or call the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest ranger station in Elko before embarking. If it rains heavily, keep in mind that parts of the road surface over the two summits tends to turn to slick clay and vehicles can easily slide off the roadway on several slightly off camber sections. A search & rescue member told me that the only sure way he goes through this section in wet weather is to hook his tires into the ditch on the uphill side of the road while traversing the slick spots.

Otherwise, the road to Jarbidge seems to get a bit better on this section, the spectacular countryside that you will be passing through will certainly take your attention from dirt road misery to captivation.

The road meanders through wet meadows and the land holdings of the J.M. Prunty, P.R. Prunty and B. Prunty ranches, as well as the H. Shively Ranch. These are real working ranches – my wife got to see her first working cowboys working cattle on horseback while driving through here on a recent trip.

About six miles north of the junction of Elko County 746 and 747, the ghost town of Charleston is reached. Charleston started life as Mardis in 1876, quickly gaining the necessary saloons, stores a hotel and school. The town's economy was based upon some mines a few miles north in the Copper Mountains. A humorous bit of history is that of co-founder George Washington Mardis, who was a Bible thumping teamster who shouted out Old Testament quotations to his burro “Samson.” Mardis often carried gold to Elko and it was on one of his trips that he was slain by a six-toed Chinese man. A vigilante group found the slayer by his peculiar track and strung him up after a speedy trial. Mining dropped off dramatically by the mid-1880s and Charleston slumbered until the Jarbidge boom. The town regained a school, store, saloon and post office, but the camp remained small. A short Depression era revival occurred but the town has declined and is now part of the Prunty ranch holdings.

Just north of Charleston, the road forks and is signed for Bruneau River to the left and Jarbidge to the right. A bit more than 1.6 miles further, the road passes the sign indicating that you are now in the lands of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Just before hitting the sign, hidden in the willows and on the opposite bank of Seventy-Six Creek are the remains of an abandoned resort of apparent 1970s era.

Climbing up the course of Seventy-Six Creek, the Slatery and Prunty Mines can be seen nearby. Aspen trees at first dot the landscape, then often encapsulate the road as it climbs toward its goal of Coon Creek Summit. The road leaves the course of Seventy-Six Creek and skirts Copper Basin, as the road climbs the opportunities for Technicolor panoramas become endless.

Aspens soon become mixed with heavy forests of conifers, fir and spruce trees – no piñon pine trees are found in this section of Nevada – and the scenery becomes more akin to vistas of the Rocky Mountain states.

Looking down the slopes below the road you'll find several small lakes and snowmelt ponds. I've sat and watched beaver working these ponds through field glasses, busily building and maintaining their dams. Dramatic red cliff outcroppings dominate the scene just above the road. Many roads take off and run short distances away to nearby hilltops, mountaintops or other points of interest, but I've not traveled any of these. From what I can see passing by, most appear to be standard two-track and suitable for a pickup truck based 4WD SUV or pickup truck.

At a point 10.7 miles since entering the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, 8,442 foot high Coon Creek Summit is reached.


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Northward along Elko County 748 and the Bruneau River.


Cattle graze on the lush meadows along the Bruneau River on one of the Prunty holdings.


Horses graze on meadowland on one of the Prunty holdings.


Northbound on Elko County 748 with the hazy Jarbidge Mountains ahead.


Charleston, June 2001.


Charleston, September, 2006.


Charleston, September, 2006.


Charleston, September, 2006.


Charleston, September, 2006.


About six miles north of the junction of Elko County 746 and 747, there is a signed fork for roads to Jarbidge and the Bruneau River country.


Beginning of the ascent in the canyon of Seventy-Six Creek near the Prunty and Slattery mines.


Horses watch me go by near the Slattery Mine.


Northbound on Elko County 748, which often goes through aspen thickets.


Northbound on Elko County 748.


Northbound on Elko County 748, June 2001.


My former truck, a 1996 Chevrolet S-10 4WD, on Elko County 748, June 2001.


Near Coon Creek Summit, June 2001. Note hole in the rock in background.


Closing in on Coon Creek Summit.


June, 2001.


Nearing Coon Creek Summit, there are several small snowmelt ponds below the road to the west. June, 2001.


Same pond, September, 2006.


June, 2001.


Coon Creek Summit, viewing east. September, 2006.


Coon Creek Summit, June, 2001.


Coon Creek Summit.


Coon Creek Summit, viewing northwest along one of the inviting 4x4 roads that scatter from this location.

 

New Photos of July 2007


Northbound on Elko County 748 south of the Prunty Ranch. Copper Mountain and the Jarbidge Range ahead.


Charleston.


Some of the wildlife you may encounter on the road to Jarbidge may be small: an infestation of Mormon crickets along the road just north of Charleston.


Or the wildlife might be a bit bigger: an ewe and her lamb along the banks of Seventy-Six Creek.


My 81-year old father enjoys the views of Copper Basin and the Jarbidge Range.


Climbing out of Copper Basin toward Coon Creek Summit. My GPS is telling me that Coon Creek Summit is about three miles away as the eagle flies, though road mileage adds a couple more miles to that figure.


Climbing out of Copper Basin toward Coon Creek Summit.


View south across Copper Basin and the small lake below the road as one approaches Coon Creek Summit.


My 2006 Honda CR-V easily tackled Coon Creek Summit.


Coon Creek Summit, view northeast.


Panorama of Copper Basin and the Jarbidge Range. Coon Creek Summit is just right of center, above the light colored strata.


Part 3 – Coon Creek Summit to Bear Creek Summit


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This section is only 2.7 miles long, but packs an overload to the senses in the way of majestic beauty. The main road dips a bit between the two sections, then climbs up to 8,488 foot high Bear Creek Summit.


The forest thickens along here, with blips of mountain views here and there. At Bear Creek Summit, a short road climbs west about 500-600 feet to a knoll and affords a superb panorama. Other roads wander here and there to nearby points.

Be careful of wildlife, deer often appear out of nowhere in front of you as they come up from below the road and make a mad dash for the other side.


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Northbound from Coon Creek Summit.


A nice spot for a cup of tea. My friend, Graham C. and I pause on the road between Coon Creek Summit and Bear Creek Summit. June, 2001. Looking northward toward Bear Creek Summit.


Looking west toward the Bruneau River Country.


Looking south to Coon Creek Summit.


At a lookout off the road at Bear Creek Summit, looking south to Coon Creek Summit.


Same location. June, 2001.


Bear Creek Summit. June, 2001.


Looking east into the Jarbidge River country. June, 2001.


A panorama at Bear Creek Summit, looking south to Coon Creek Summit.

New Photos of July 2007


Between Coon and Bear Creek Summits.


View northwest from a point approaching Bear Creek Summit. Smoke ascending from the newly started Rowland Fire – started by lightning only a couple hours before – can be seen over the mountains.


Panorama looking from due south to northwest at Bear Creek Summit. Smoke is from the Rowland Fire (part of the massive Murphy Complex wildfire) of July, 2007, which caused the evacuation of Jarbidge later that night.


Looking slightly south of east into the heart of the Jarbidge Range from a road running north from Bear Creek Summit.


View due west from a road running north from Bear Creek Summit, into the Bruneau River country.


View due south from a road running north from Bear Creek Summit, looking to Coon Creek Summit.


Part 4 – Bear Creek Summit to Jarbidge


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After reaching Bear Creek Summit, the road plunges into the canyon of the Jarbidge River. This river is unique in that it is one of the few perpetual Nevada streams that reach the sea – the Jarbidge runs into the Snake River, thence the Columbia River and into the Pacific Ocean.


The vistas of the northern face of the peaks of the Jarbidge Mountains are dramatic, but keep your eyes on the road as much as possible ... it's a long drop to the canyon bottom! The route is densely forested along the upper third, but descends steeply through mountain mahogany until hitting the canyon bottom forested with evergreens and deciduous trees.

In 4¼ miles the road comes to a T-intersection with signs indicating that Jarbidge is three miles to the left (north) and Pine Creek Campground is ¾ of a mile to the right. We'll come back to the road up to Pine Creek Campground and beyond later.

Turn left and downhill to Jarbidge, following the bottom of the narrow chasm of the canyon – the road wedged between one side of the Jarbidge River or the other and the canyon wall. Even though the sign indicates that it is three miles to Jarbidge, you'll hit the upper buildings in town in less than two miles. In the summer of 2006 new bridges were installed on the Jarbidge River crossings.

There are some mining ruins and mine adits a mile or so above Jarbidge, which are part of the ghost town of Pavlak, a suburb of Jarbidge of sort.


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Dropping off of Bear Creek Summit into the Jarbidge River canyon.


Autumn colors running down the canyon wall, September, 2006.


Looking southward up the Jarbidge River canyon. June, 2001.


Same view, September, 2006.


June, 2001.


At this junction upon reaching the floor of the canyon, turn left toward Jarbidge. June, 2001.


Same junction, September, 2006.


Mining ruins at the area known as Pavlac.


Pavlac.


Northbound along the Jarbidge River.


A new bridge on one of the crossings of the Jarbidge River.


Usually you see these signs pointing downward ...

New Photos of July 2007


The start of the descent into Jarbidge River Canyon from Bear Creek Summit. View east into the northern Jarbidge Mountains.


Continuing downward into Jarbidge River Canyon from Bear Creek Summit.


Passing through Bear Creek Meadow, headwaters of Bear Creek. This creek bisects Jarbidge and also serves as the town's source of water.


Looking northward down along the canyon of the Jarbidge River. Smoke from the Murphy Complex wildfire of July, 2007 can be seen northward. Some of the upper mines directly above the town of Jarbidge can also be seen on the opposite canyon wall.


A close-up of the previous photo, showing some of the roads zigzagging up the mountainside. Though I really don't know, I speculate that the rows of recently planted trees along some of the roadbed gradients might serve to aid in avalanche control, as the town of Jarbidge sits directly below. The smoke from the Murphy Complex fire can be seen in more detail in this photo; later that night my family and I had to evacuate directly through the flames of this fire as Jarbidge was evacuated.


Dropping down into the canyon of the Jarbidge River. View is a bit east of south, into the heart of the Jarbidge Wilderness.


Zooming in from a point near that in the last photo, the mill ruins of the Rex Mine mill can be seen.


This photo, taken at the site of the Rex Mine millsite, shows the road coming down from Bear Creek Summit into the canyon of the Jarbidge River.


The Jarbidge River, at a point about ¾ of a mile above Jarbidge.


Entering Jarbidge. Things haven't changed much in this scene since 2001 or 2006.


Part 5 – The Town of Jarbidge

On this page, a lengthy account of Jarbidge's history won't be related. Instead, I would recommend “NEVADA GHOST TOWNS AND MINING CAMPS,” by Stanley Paher; as well as “A PLACE CALLED JARBIDGE,” by Donald E. Mathias and Valerie S. Berry. But a thumbnail sketch of the history of the town is presented.

As Nevada mining towns go, Jarbidge was a late-comer. It wasn't until October, 1909 that gold was found in the region, a year after many Nevada boomtowns went sour due to the Panic of 1907, when capital forthcoming to finance Nevada mining went instead to rebuilding San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

By early spring of 1910 Jarbidge started growing swiftly even though the region was thoroughly buried in deep snows, partly fueled by embellished newspaper accounts and rumors. By May, many started leaving Jarbidge en masse. Those who stuck it out until the snow melted did indeed find gold bearing ledges and Jarbidge started building. Jarbidge continued with a seasonal boom/bust cycle until 1918 until the Elkoro Mining Company bought up principal claims and year round production ensued until the Depression.

Jarbidge does have a first and last in its history – the last stagecoach robbery with resulting murder of the stage driver lead to the first use of palm and fingerprints in forensic science to catch and convict the killer. In December, 1916, the Idaho stage was held up by a gunman who killed the stage driver and made off with the mail and $3,000 in cash. He propped up the dead man's body in the seat, smearing his hands with the blood of his victim while doing so. The murderer then washed his hands in the river, then went about the task of opening mail, carelessly scattering the envelopes. He was soon caught and later convicted, based upon his fingerprints and palm prints left upon the envelopes.


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Historic photos of Jarbidge townsite.


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The first post office in Jarbidge.


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The Jarbidge Commercial Club, which is now the Jarbidge Community Hall, located across the street from the Outdoor Inn.


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In the 1960s, a Carson City artist Thelma Calhoun restored the stage curtain in the Jarbidge town hall, which was originally the Commercial Club.


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The Ja-ha-bich Grill in Jarbidge. The spelling of the grill was how the native peoples called the legendary man eating giants that roamed the Jarbidge country, the Anglicized pronunciation and spelling lead to the town's name of Jarbidge.


HOW JARBIDGE GOT ITS NAME:
“One reason for the late development or discovery of Jarbidge might be linked with the Indian legend of Tsaw-Haw-Bitts. The Indians believed that he was a giant who lived in the canyon. Periodically he would roam around capturing people, put them in a basket, then carry them back to the canyon and eat them. There is evidence that Indians lived in the surrounding area, but not in Jarbidge Canyon. Tsaw-Haw-Bitts (tuh saw haw bits) was changed to Jahabich (jah hah bitch) by th ewhite man, then to Jarbidge. Even today, many people mispronounce it Jarbridge.”


“The bottle house in Jarbidge. Irene Murphy was the small girl wearing a light coat.”


“First school in Jarbidge.”


“Post card cartoon of sleeping conditions and rates in Jarbidge in 1910. Artist unknown. Floor space went for $1, bed at $7.50, shelf and top of cabinet for $2, box or crib at $3, bathtub was $6 and pool table space went for $5. A time limit of six hours was noted on the wall.”


“July Fourth (1915) party at the Commercial Club. The people worked hard and played hard in the remote mining camp. On festive occasions, miners frequently brought gold samples down to town and 'salted' the river. Ladies in the camp were invited to pan for gold and allowed to keep what they found.”


“Jarbidge before the big fire in 1919.”


“Jarbidge's Main Street, 1916.”


“Jarbidge in 1915.”


“Freight rates were exorbitant until a freight road was graded and built from Idaho. At one time, parcel post rates were much lower than those of the freight companies and frugal Jarbidgers had several tons of coal, grain and flour mailed until the post office threw in the towel.”


“Independence Day in Jarbidge around 1915. Note the women mostly gathered on the hotel porch while the men congregated in front of the saloons to watch the horse race.”


“Winters were (and still are) long and hard in Jarbidge. The winter of 1917 was a bad one and the town went without fresh supplies for a couple of months before relief arrived from Twin Falls, Idaho.”


“November, 1919. The day after the big fire thought to have been caused by an explosion of bootleg whiskey in the Success Bar sellar; when it blew, so did the open gas lamps around town. Winds spread burning tar paper to other establishments and several log cabins.”


“Freight rates were sky-high before the road to Idaho was built. Several pack trains arrived daily, bringing building materials, mining equipment and living essentials for the people. On one trip, an 800-pound cooking stove was carried in on a stretcher, one end carried by a horse, the other by a mule.”


“1923. Jarbidge-Rogerson Stage. Jake Dodd. Fank Newcombe.”


“Philip Louis Fiskler standing far right, co-owner Arcade Saloon in Jarbidge, Nevada. Later moved to Salt Lake City, Ut.”


“When news of the strike made headlines, people began coming to the little camp at the rate of thirty to forty a day until about fifteen hundred gold seekers were roaming the nearby hills searching for an illusive dream of riches for the taking. Some predicted a population of 10,000 within a few months and there was talk of forming a new ccounty. Alas! When the miners saw for themselves the great exaggeration about the strike, enthusiam [sic] dwindled and so did the population ... down to 300 people.”

 



Today, Jarbidge is a remote and isolated village. Not a stitch of pavement is to be found in or around the community. (Note: Now there are several “stitches” of pavement in and around the town – 15-20 foot long access ramps on all newly built bridges over the Jarbidge River north and south of town are of pavement). The town is made up of an eclectic yet cohesive assortment of new and old structures. Few are found from Jarbidge's earliest days, as a major fire visited town early on in its infancy and nearly destroyed it. But there are many from the Elkoro period of the town's life and a smattering of newer mobile homes, modular homes – these covered by huge snow roofs or snow sheds – as well as some new log homes.

There are some services in Jarbidge. The Outdoor Inn serves food, drink (both soft and hard), music, billiards, a couple of slot machines, laughter and friendship. Associated with and owned by the owners of the Outdoor Inn, there is the Red Dog Saloon across the street. Operations move between the two – the Outdoor Inn operates in the summer, then when the snow flies operations move to the smaller (thus easier and cheaper to heat) Red Dog Saloon in the winter. Food prices are very reasonable, the food excellent and presented with friendly service (Note: Food prices at the Outdoor Inn were identical in July, 2007 as they were in September, 2006). There is a laundromat at the Outdoor Inn and a small motel and RV park annexed to it. In September of 2006, rooms were $60 nightly and $70 nightly with a kitchenette. Dogs are welcome with a $10 one time charge. The phone number for the Outdoor Inn is (775) 488-2311. It is through this exchange that you will likely be able to locate the phone number of any Jarbidge resident or business, as well as information about Jarbidge in general. Major credit and debit cards accepted.

Across the street from the Outdoor Inn is a small gift shop open in summer. It is owned and operated by the postmistress of Jarbidge, who makes her own jewelry during Jarbidge's long and hard winters. In addition to jewelry, the gift shop has some apparel, hats and caps, books, as well as other knick-knacks.

Up the street is the Sinclair gas station, which was closed down during my visit in 2001. In August of 2006, the postmistress and gift shop owner purchased the station and it is open during the daytime hours and open on call at other times (there is a phone mounted to the front wall to call the owner if she or her attendant doesn't come out to greet you). The two pumps dispense unleaded regular and diesel. When I gassed up in September of 2006, both diesel and gasoline were $3.84 per gallon (Note: In July, 2007, gas was $3.34 for regular unleaded gasoline, $3.28 for diesel – I'd say a good estimate of fuel prices in Jarbidge as gas prices rise and fall will be about 20¢ per gallon higher than those in Elko). Credit and debit cards are accepted.

There is a tiny store in the lower end of Jarbidge, housed in the front portion of a home. Basic sundries are found at very reasonable prices, considering that the store's owner has to make trips to Twin Falls, Idaho or Elko, Nevada – each at or well over 100 miles away, to stock his store.

Additional lodging is found at the Tsawhawbitts Bed & Breakfast (named after an Indian legend of man-eating giant – pronounced “Ja-ha-bich” and thus the linguistic corruption “Jarbidge” as the town's name), a nice looking establishment located at the northern end of town. A short distance further north is The Barn Hotel, which is operated by the same people who own the Outdoor Inn. If you don't mind bathrooms and showers at the end of the hall, this is your place. My wife and I spent two very comfortable nights at The Barn for $35 per night, with a $10 one-time charge for our dog. (Note: Prices for The Barn were still the same in July 2007.)

Jarbidge has a small post office, which is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 4:00 PM. In 2001, my friend Graham C. sent a post card from Jarbidge to his mother in England, and it took less than a week to make it across the pond!

There is a volunteer fire department in town, many members also are part of the local search & rescue. There is an EMT in town, who is often seen buzzing about town on his official Elko County 4-wheel ATV, complete with light bar and Motorolla 2-way radio. A deputy sheriff resides in town, his official Jeep Cherokee parked in front of his home in plain sight.

There is a town hall located across the street from the Outdoor Inn, which was the lively Commercial Club saloon/dance hall/theater during the early days of Jarbidge's history. If it is unlocked or open (inquire at the Inn if not), a visit inside is a treat. There are displays and photo boards with photographs of Jarbidge's early days; the stage has the original painted curtain with ads of Jarbidge's early businesses.

Jarbidge's historic jail is still standing, next to the town's tiny store. The criminal who committed the 1916 stagecoach robbery and murder was incarcerated in one of the cells until convicted and transferred to the Nevada State Penitentiary at Carson City. The jail is intact and complete with two cells. I've stood inside the cell with the heavy iron door shut. Amenities for the 1916 jailbird were sparse – a wash basin, chair, cot and “honey pot.” The jail doors are made up of heavy iron strapping, which allows little visibility out or in. There is a historical plaque on the front of the jail that reads:

“Jarbidge Jail. Built after the town was removed from the U.S. Forest by a 1911 Presidential proclamation it replaced the constable’s home or Forest Service cabin to restrain rowdy miners and hold suspects for arrival of a sheriff deputy. A colorful story tells of a burly miner frequently using the bunk to raise the roof to slip out and return to the saloon, climbing back in his cell before morning. Most noted prisoner was Ben Kuhl, who robbed the Rogerson-Jarbidge stage in December 1916, killing Fred Searcy the driver, the last mail stagecoach robbery in the U.S. and the first conviction based on a bloody palm print. It was last used about 1945. Dedicated June 13, 1998 by Lucinda Jane Saunders. Chapter 1881 E. Clampus Vitus.”

The town's population runs 50 or so in summer, dropping to a dozen or so in winter. Four-wheel ATVs seem to be the transportation of choice by locals and visitors alike in summer, snowmobiles rule the local streets in winter. In hunting season, the town's population does increase with hunters – many who have been coming to Jarbidge for years and are known by their first names by the town's residents.

Jarbidge is isolated further in winter, when only the road north to Rogerson, Idaho (63 miles) is open and plowed of snow.


Click on Any Image to Enlarge
Entering Jarbidge from the south.


South end of Jarbidge. June 2001.


The Outdoor Inn. June 2001.


The Outdoor Inn. September 2006.


The Outdoor Inn.


The Outdoor Inn. Surrounded by the the popular vehicle of choice in summertime.


Breakfast at the Outdoor Inn. Even though Jarbidge is a remote outpost, I paid less for this breakfast than in larger city casinos.


The Jarbidge Store, June 2001.


The Jarbidge Store, September 2006.


Jarbidge Jail.


Inside the Jarbidge Jail. June 2001.


Here I am getting a taste of historic jailbird life inside the Jarbidge Jail. June, 2001.


Jarbidge Jail, June 2001.


The Barn Hotel.


Sinclair gas station. June, 2001. At this time, the station was closed down and not offering gas to the public.


Sinclair gas station, September 2006. It is now open for business.
Note: The gas station was still open for business in July, 2007. Expect gas prices to be about 20¢ higher than Wells and Elko.


An old building across from the Outdoor Inn. June, 2001.


The same building in September, 2006, now a gift shop.


The Jarbidge Community Hall, formerly the Jarbidge Commercial Club.


Inside the old Jarbidge Commercial Club, now the community hall.


The curtain inside the community hall, with original advertising for Jarbidge's original businesses.


The Jarbidge Community Hall as viewed from the porch of the Outdoor Inn.


Main street of Jarbidge, looking south. June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


Some of the old cars of Jarbidge, owned by residents. They really fit the ambiance of Jarbidge. June, 2001. The vehicles are parked in front of a building that is no longer there.


June, 2001. This building was located directly across the street from the Outdoor Inn and next to the Jarbidge Community Hall (next building in background), but is now no longer there. I didn't realize that this building was gone until I was putting together this webpage in October, 2006 and gathering photos from my June 2001 and September 2006 trips, thus I have no idea of the destiny of this particular structure. NOTE: This building was removed because of its instability and the need to make room for a larger building for the volunteer fire department.


September, 2006.


June, 2001.


A structure on one of Jarbidge's few side streets. June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001. The house on the left was for sale in September, 2006 and the one on the right was undergoing remodeling.


June, 2001.


Entire row: June, 2001.


Entire row: June, 2001.


Entire row: June, 2001.


Entire row: June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.


June, 2001.