Trail Overview
This is a highly engaging cut-over trail that twists and turns its way across the southern side of the East Humboldt Range. As you climb, the route offers a striking ecological contrast, taking you directly through the skeletal remains of an old, burned-out juniper forest before transitioning into a dense, living juniper woodland. Throughout the drive, the winding mountain trail opens up to reveal spectacular, panoramic views of the surrounding valleys below. The route is vibrant with life, featuring blooming wildflowers along the trail sides during the season and offering excellent opportunities to spot mule deer and pronghorn antelope. If you are exploring during the heat of the summer, Polar Star serves as an excellent side quest to escape the valley temperatures. With several existing fire rings and pristine dispersed campsites scattered along the route, it is an ideal path for securing a cooler, high-altitude camp for the night. This trail passes directly by the historic Polar Star Mine, where large tailings piles are clearly visible. Do not approach or enter any mine workings. There is absolutely no cell service on this trail. Download your onX Offroad maps for offline use.
Difficulty
While the majority of the trail is relatively easy, the trail earns a 3 rating due to several steeper, loose climbs, some deeper ruts, and sections featuring tall water bars and erosion barriers that you must carefully drive over. A high-clearance 4x4 vehicle is recommended.
History
The trail takes its name from the historic Polar Star Mine, a prominent local remnant of Nevada's rich mining heritage. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, men heavily prospected the East Humboldt Range, seeking fortunes in copper, lead, silver, and gold. The large tailing piles you drive past today are monuments to the grueling, backbreaking labor required to extract ore from solid rock using primitive tools and dynamite. The transition between the burned and living juniper forests also tells a more recent history of the natural wildfire cycles that have continuously shaped and reshaped this rugged landscape for centuries.
Offroad