Thanks for the info, I didn't think it was accessible from the south. I have also heard if you try to drive around the southern tip of the range, it is fenced with no way around.
Turns out you can access from the south as Dean did it this week. In daylight, I guess I would have noticed a road branching off to the right before hitting the military base.
Ok, you're talking about accessing Lakeside from the south, yes it is most definately doable. I thought you meant coming into the range directly from the south. On the page I mentioned the pavement ends, which it doesn't it goes into the military base and that dirt road branches off to the right. I'll change it, thanks!
A heads-up for those planning their trip using a topo map. The Newfoundland turnoff from the railroad road is about 1.4 miles west of where it appears on the map. It's hard to miss but for reference, it is located at 41.28487 N, 113.34727.
Yes, that is exactly right. The crossing shown on the topo map has all kinds of problems. When I was out yesterday, there was water on both sides of the road where that crossing is, it's essentially a raised berm. I walked out onto it and it was waterlogged sand and very unstable. There was no way I was going to drive on that. Even without those problems, how the heck would I get my RAV4 over those railroad tracks anyway? Maybe in a large truck but my crossover SUV wasn't going to make that. That's all you need, getting stuck on the tracks with a train coming, and out in the middle of nowhere!
Anyway, I kept driving west hoping to find another crossing. I did at 41.28487 N, 113.34727 W. It worked great, no problems.
I took the south route via the Military Area and it was a real eye-opener. This webpage treats the two routes as basically equivalent and that's not the case at all. I think it needs to be presented from the standpoint: do you want to take a route where you can make good time or do you want to take a route that is rougher, slower, and more adventurous?
If you want to make good time and take a route that's 80% paved highway, take the route through the military area. That road is paved nearly all the way to the railroad causeway. Even when you leave the pavement (at the fork where you have the choice of continuing on to the military base gate or going through to the railroad causeway), the road is so wide and well-maintained that you can do 50 MPH easily except for a few curves where you'll need to slow down to 35 or so. Just before the railroad tracks, you need to navigate a large mine. Continue north as far as you can, turn left (west) and continue for about 1/4 mile. You'll see a place to cross the railroad tracks.
About the mine: the signs are worded strongly and it seems pretty evident that they don't want you there. There aren’t any no-trespassing signs (I think because they have to let people through). Coming through on a Saturday, I was not at all certain that it is an operating mine anymore, there were only 2-3 pieces of heavy equipment, there were no people visible, and everything appeared shut down. I’m sure you’ll be fine as long as you stay clear of any heavy equipment and move through as expeditiously and unobtrusive as possible, nothing new about this concept.
The northern route is a spiderweb of dirt roads. I would strongly advise that you map out a route on Google Earth. Being dozens of miles out of cell-phone range, this is not a place that you want to get lost. The route closest to the lakebed (farther east) is scenic and passes cool rock formations but it is a lot more narrow, potholed, and slow so you'll want to decide if you want a more scenic route or faster route from the north.
gjagiels - Apr 29, 2009 1:59 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Access from the southThanks for the info, I didn't think it was accessible from the south. I have also heard if you try to drive around the southern tip of the range, it is fenced with no way around.
ridgeguy - Aug 19, 2009 11:05 pm - Voted 10/10
Re: Access from the southTurns out you can access from the south as Dean did it this week. In daylight, I guess I would have noticed a road branching off to the right before hitting the military base.
gjagiels - Aug 20, 2009 11:44 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Access from the southOk, you're talking about accessing Lakeside from the south, yes it is most definately doable. I thought you meant coming into the range directly from the south. On the page I mentioned the pavement ends, which it doesn't it goes into the military base and that dirt road branches off to the right. I'll change it, thanks!
Greg
voxnihili - Jan 15, 2012 12:46 pm - Hasn't voted
Road LocationA heads-up for those planning their trip using a topo map. The Newfoundland turnoff from the railroad road is about 1.4 miles west of where it appears on the map. It's hard to miss but for reference, it is located at 41.28487 N, 113.34727.
1L-19 - May 6, 2017 11:58 am - Voted 8/10
Re: Road LocationYes, that is exactly right. The crossing shown on the topo map has all kinds of problems. When I was out yesterday, there was water on both sides of the road where that crossing is, it's essentially a raised berm. I walked out onto it and it was waterlogged sand and very unstable. There was no way I was going to drive on that. Even without those problems, how the heck would I get my RAV4 over those railroad tracks anyway? Maybe in a large truck but my crossover SUV wasn't going to make that. That's all you need, getting stuck on the tracks with a train coming, and out in the middle of nowhere!
Anyway, I kept driving west hoping to find another crossing. I did at 41.28487 N, 113.34727 W. It worked great, no problems.
1L-19 - Aug 6, 2017 9:38 pm - Voted 8/10
Route notesI took the south route via the Military Area and it was a real eye-opener. This webpage treats the two routes as basically equivalent and that's not the case at all. I think it needs to be presented from the standpoint: do you want to take a route where you can make good time or do you want to take a route that is rougher, slower, and more adventurous?
If you want to make good time and take a route that's 80% paved highway, take the route through the military area. That road is paved nearly all the way to the railroad causeway. Even when you leave the pavement (at the fork where you have the choice of continuing on to the military base gate or going through to the railroad causeway), the road is so wide and well-maintained that you can do 50 MPH easily except for a few curves where you'll need to slow down to 35 or so. Just before the railroad tracks, you need to navigate a large mine. Continue north as far as you can, turn left (west) and continue for about 1/4 mile. You'll see a place to cross the railroad tracks.
About the mine: the signs are worded strongly and it seems pretty evident that they don't want you there. There aren’t any no-trespassing signs (I think because they have to let people through). Coming through on a Saturday, I was not at all certain that it is an operating mine anymore, there were only 2-3 pieces of heavy equipment, there were no people visible, and everything appeared shut down. I’m sure you’ll be fine as long as you stay clear of any heavy equipment and move through as expeditiously and unobtrusive as possible, nothing new about this concept.
The northern route is a spiderweb of dirt roads. I would strongly advise that you map out a route on Google Earth. Being dozens of miles out of cell-phone range, this is not a place that you want to get lost. The route closest to the lakebed (farther east) is scenic and passes cool rock formations but it is a lot more narrow, potholed, and slow so you'll want to decide if you want a more scenic route or faster route from the north.