Around Caliente

The next day we set out for Kershaw Ryan State Park by following Highway 93 to Caliente.   Roadworks on the main highway sent us on a detour through town luckily we were still able to access Highway 317.

We followed the road until we arrived at the park, which is in a very narrow canyon and has been flooded out several times. It’s a lovely spot and as it was once part of a ranch as well as picnic tables, kids play area and paddling pool there are lawns, flowers and some fruit trees, there is also a campground near the entrance.

We decided to follow the ¼ mile trail to Horse Thief Spring thinking it would be easy, well we got that wrong!   The trail turned out to be horribly gritty and slippery, even more so as we didn’t have our boots with us, so when we reached the end we decided against walking down to the actual spring. 

After enjoying the view of the park from a very handy seat, we decided to continue on the loop trail as we thought it would be an easier trail down into the canyon, wrong again!   We were really glad to reach the end of the trail.

Highway 317 continues on through Rainbow Valley, where soaring mountains are lined with colourful rocks.

A river runs through the valley and railroad tracks crisscross their way across the road as it passes through several small communities.

To reach Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic site we followed the signs and turned into Pennsylvania Canyon, a rough dirt road that leads higher into the mountains, signs warned that the road was washed out so we didn’t even think of following it further.

After carefully crossing the railroad tracks we discovered that the schoolhouse is only open for tours and guess what, not that particular day.   Oh well, even though we couldn’t go in, we could see it from the road. 

Elgin schoolhouse was built in the 1920’s as the existing schoolhouses were too far away for kids from the valley to attend.   In use until 1969, the schoolhouse was restored in 1998 and became a Nevada State Historic Park in 2005.   It’s quite, remote and although a really pretty area, I wouldn’t want to live out there.

On our return trip to Panacea we stopped in Caliente to have a look at the old Union Pacific Railroad Station, although freight trains still travel through Caliente I’m not sure if it’s still a passenger stop.  

Have fun, we are!