Island Lake Trail

The Ruby Mountains are a key landmark for anyone making the long drive across Nevada on I-80. Their snowy slopes look inviting, but most travelers are in a hurry and just admire them from a distance. This beautiful mountain range is well worth the effort to explore them, and the reward is usually light crowds and great scenery. The Rubies make for outstanding multi-day trips, but for those who just want a moderate hike to a nice lake, Island Lake makes a great destination with little traffic from backpackers. The trail begins across the road from the parking lot at the end of Lamoille Canyon Road and heads back to the north and climbs above the road for much of the first section of the route. The trail climbs almost continuously and has an occassional switchback; it then heads west up several switchbacks to climb over the ridge to the lake basin. All along the route the marvelous Rubies tower over the trail, and there are great views all down the Lamoille Valley. The lake itself is small (7 acres and 22 feet deep), but it is set beautifully in a pretty cirque.