Trail Overview
Starting at the northern end right off the Ruby Crest Trailhead road, Longhair 3 immediately plunges into a steep, loose descent. This soft but thrilling route requires careful driving as it drops you down into a stunning high-mountain meadow. The landscape transforms beautifully, allowing you to weave through expansive sagebrush, scattered pinyon pine, and resilient mountain mahogany. As you crest each rolling hill, you are rewarded with truly spectacular, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and deep canyons. The trail eventually connects to a vast network of lower-elevation named trails, making it a fantastic, adventurous off-road loop to jump off and back onto the Ruby Crest Trail.
Traveling from North to South (descending from a higher elevation to a lower one) is highly recommended, especially for lesser-capable vehicles. Attempting to climb the steep, soft, loose hill at the northern end from the opposite direction would be a severe challenge. There is absolutely zero cell phone service on this trail. Downloading offline maps is recommended.
Difficulty
This route features a highly challenging, steep, and soft loose sandhill at the northern end earning it a 5 rating, . You will also navigate rock obstacles, deep ruts, and steep, off-camber sections. Good vehicle articulation is critical to keeping your tires on the ground. Expect guaranteed pinstriping. There are numerous very narrow, brush-heavy sections that will scrape the sides of full-size vehicles.
History
The high mountain meadows and deep canyons surrounding the Ruby Crest have long been utilized by early inhabitants and pioneers. Trails like Longhair 3 likely trace the historic paths of Basque sheepherders who sought out these lush, high-elevation sagebrush and mahogany meadows to graze their flocks during the intense heat of the Nevada summers.
Offroad