Tags
After seeing the ancient Bristlecone Pines, I wanted to get back to Nevada. Too many people in Owens Valley. I didn’t know that Highway 395 in California was a four-lane road, that Bishop had many stoplights, and that gas stations were in all the towns. I skedaddled back to Nevada and settled in at Lahontan State Park River Campground. So much better.
I drove over to Grimes Point to see a few things I had heard about. There is a petroglyph site that is adjacent to Highway 50 and southeast of Fallon. An easy stop. A five-minute walk and you start seeing petroglyphs. I was able to leave my old dog in the truck with the windows down and watch him as I viewed the petroglyphs.
Around the corner from Grimes Point is Hidden Cave. The walk looked too far to leave my old dog, but maybe someday I’ll return. The information board indicated that the Churchill County Museum gives tours the second and fourth Saturday of each month and you can arrange a special tour at other times.
Onward I drove in search of wonderstone. It was a fun excuse to drive some back roads. With a bit of perseverance I found some wonderstone.
I also found this green “mountain”. The entire outcrop is made of green stone. I checked the geologic map of the area and found that both the wonderstone and green outcrop are labeled tertiary sediments about five million years old.
searching for the middle of nowhere 
Hey thank you so much for writing this. I was in that area today all over the place and found a wide range of rocks and minerals I was uncertain of. I actually found a couple of little opal rocks right before you get to Green Mountain. It’s in between Salt Wells and Stillwater. So from Grimes point go about 5 miles south east I believe. GPS will show it but there is a turn off on your left. It’s a bumpy road here and there but I stopped so many times to look on the ground and all around. I found so many different jaspers, believe it or not I found three little opal gems, Nevada Rose, and so many more. Definitely check it out. Bring food, full tank of gas. There are so many roads you can take in through that area. The rock hounding site gives you good coordinates. Also checked out Middlegate , oh my gosh I had only an hour before sunset and we are going back next weekend. Really go check that WHOLE area out. There is a 6 mile seismic road that takes you to a spot where three major earthquakes hit Fallon area in the 50s. There is a sand mountain. Opal mining. Also Middlegate station is the only food around and it’s such a cool spot.
LikeLike
Thanks for all the info. I’ll be back to the area checking out all that you suggest.
LikeLike