The Long Way
Washoe, Lyon, and Storey County
People fishing along the rocky shore of a lake.
Plate I. Anglers on the shore, Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway. From pyramidlake.us
A landscape showing people fishing by a lake with mountains in the background.
Plate II. Pyramid Lake along Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway. From nsbfoundation.com
Three people walk along a lakeshore with mountains in the background.
Plate III. Shoreline view, Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway. From travelnevada.com
A large rock formation by the water with mountains in the background.
Plate IV. Stone Mother rock formation, Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway. From plpt.nsn.us
A wide shot of a lake with an island and mountains under a clear sky.
Plate V. Pyramid Lake along Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway. From pyramidlake.us

Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway

Sutcliffe, Washoe, Lyon, and Storey County, Nevada. Travel Service.

Details

Map. Sutcliffe, Washoe, Lyon, and Storey County, Nevada. Larger map
Where
208 Capitol Hill, Nixon, Sutcliffe, NV. Directions
When
Monday – Friday | 8:00am – 4:00pm.
Getting there
Start in Sutcliffe on SR-445, on the west bank of the lake. As you travel south, bear left to get onto SR-446, getting to Nixon in approximately 17.5 miles at the intersection of the "Y". Continue straight onto SR-447 for just under 16 miles to Wadsworth. To complete the byway, turn around and head back up, passing Black Warrior Peak to the right of Nixon.
Fees
Day Use $25.00.
Access
Designated as a National Scenic Byway. The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe sells visitor permits and lists ranger hours; route is not permanently closed.
Walk-in or reserve
Please purchase your permits before visiting Pyramid Lake, Nevada.
Phone
775-476-1155
Website
travelnevada.com
Managed by
Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
Established
1996.

Y-shaped route sponsored by Native Americans and located within the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in Nevada. Runs partially along the southern end of the desert-locked Pyramid Lake and passes fish hatcheries operated by the Paiute Tribe.

Notable Events

  1. 1844John C. Fremont came upon the lake on January 10, 1844 and named it for the pyramid shaped island just off the east shore. shpo.nv.gov
  2. 1859The Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation was created in 1859. shpo.nv.gov
  3. 1860With the Numu victory in the first battle of Pyramid Lake, May 12, 1860, more European American men died than in any prior engagement west of the Mississippi. shpo.nv.gov
  4. 1913Anaho Island, just to the south of the pyramid, was established as a national wildlife refuge in 1913 and is today one of the largest white pelican nesting grounds in North America. shpo.nv.gov
  5. 1936The Department of the Interior approved the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe's Indian Reorganization Act Constitution and By-Laws. plpt.nsn.us

People

  • John C. Fremont, explorer who named the lake (1844).

Sources

  1. travelnevada.com/silver-state-scenic-byways-sure-to-get-your-motor-runnin
  2. fhwaapps.fhwa.dot.gov/bywaysp/byway/2457
  3. travelnevada.com/destinations/pyramid-lake
  4. recreation.gov/gateways/13810
  5. pyramidlake.us
  6. pyramidlake.us/permits
  7. plpt.nsn.us
  8. plpt.nsn.us/ranger-station
  9. facebook.com/PyramidLakeNV
  10. pyramidlake.us/the_people
  11. plpt.nsn.us/about-us
  12. pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3044