Black Rock Desert

The Black Rock Desert
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This page is devoted entirely to one place I hope to visit again and again. It is located in northwestern Nevada and is the largest playa in the U.S.. One can strike off from the lakebed margin and walk (or drive) 60 miles along a dead flat surface without seeing a single plant, animal, or anything else to disturb the quiet beauty of the desert floor. Hot springs, rattlesnakes, streams, and exciting rock formations abound. Although a true desert at its core, surface water is everywhere along the basin margin in the form of springs (hot, warm, and cold) and creeks. Water is everywhere if you know where to look. In this respect, it is a typical example of many of the northern Great Basin deserts, such as the Alvord in Oregon.
The annual Burning Man Festival is held here every Labor Day weekend. Since I have never been to this event (and probably never will), I will reserve judgement on the ethics of having so many revellers in such a beautiful and fragile wilderness at one time. Hopefully they clean up after themselves...from what I have read about it, they seem to have good policies regarding waste disposal, etc, but I still have doubts about the ability of good administrative policies to control the actions of such a large group in an area like this. Last year Burning Man drew, I believe, over 15,000 people!

Black Rock Desert from Black Rock Point - The most tremendous view of the playa surface and surrounding mountain ranges comes from Black Rock Point. This peak sits right smack dab in the middle of the Black Rock Desert. It is visible for miles along the desert's edge, and from it you can see nearly 360° around you. This view is to the southwest; the mountains in the distance are nearly 60 miles away. The green patch in the center of the photo is wetlands surrounding Black Rock Hot Springs.

Abandoned Covered Wagon at Black Rock Point - The photo above was taken from the summit of the peak shown in the background of this photo. Several hot springs lie along a linear fault trace to the west of the Black Rock Range; the most southerly of these lies to the left of this photo and was the only water source along a 100+ mile stretch of the Applegate-Lassen trail.

Northwest from Black Rock Point - If you look carefully, you can see patches of green stretching away towards the horizon (hot springs), and also a small dot in the low center of the photo (my truck). Sort of gives an idea of the expanse of the desert.

Wall of Abandoned Building - Sulphur, Nevada, is a ghost town at the southern end of the eastern arm of the desert. Localities like these often bring out the weirdness inherent in all human beings; this is an example of the type of thing one often runs into in the middle of nowhere. Graffiti like this can be fun to find, but also very creepy.

Geyser Hot Springs - No text necessary...simply one of the most beautiful and otherworldly sights I have ever seen. These are located on private property and my only hope is that the owner has no plans to develop them for geothermal power. 500 yards to the north lies a dormant travertine tower similar to this one except that it is about 20 feet high; these are a mere six feet, but growing. Unlike the common intermittent geyser, these spray boiling water constantly .

Wow.

email:tcope@pangea.stanford.edu

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Last updated 9/15/98

	Black Rock Desert from Black Rock Point - The most tremendous view of the playa surface and surrounding mountain ranges comes from Black Rock Point. This peak sits right smack dab in the middle of the Black Rock Desert. It is visible for miles along the desert's edge, and from it you can see nearly 360° around you. This view is to the southwest; the mountains in the distance are nearly 60 miles away. The green patch in the center of the photo is wetlands surrounding Black Rock Hot Springs.
	Abandoned Covered Wagon at Black Rock Point - The photo above was taken from the summit of the peak shown in the background of this photo. Several hot springs lie along a linear fault trace to the west of the Black Rock Range; the most southerly of these lies to the left of this photo and was the only water source along a 100+ mile stretch of the Applegate-Lassen trail.
	Northwest from Black Rock Point - If you look carefully, you can see patches of green stretching away towards the horizon (hot springs), and also a small dot in the low center of the photo (my truck). Sort of gives an idea of the expanse of the desert.
	Wall of Abandoned Building - Sulphur, Nevada, is a ghost town at the southern end of the eastern arm of the desert. Localities like these often bring out the weirdness inherent in all human beings; this is an example of the type of thing one often runs into in the middle of nowhere. Graffiti like this can be fun to find, but also very creepy.
	Geyser Hot Springs - No text necessary...simply one of the most beautiful and otherworldly sights I have ever seen. These are located on private property and my only hope is that the owner has no plans to develop them for geothermal power. 500 yards to the north lies a dormant travertine tower similar to this one except that it is about 20 feet high; these are a mere six feet, but growing. Unlike the common intermittent geyser, these spray boiling water constantly . Wow.