Sand Mountain

Sand Mountain

    As a kid I remember going here spending the day playing in the sand and coming home spending the next week getting sand out of places I didn't know I had. I always wondered if everyone came home with sand in thier britches how long before there would be no mountain? I guess thats why they now charge a service fee(to replace all sand people take home). Actually over the years there have been so many accidents and so many ATVs going in areas they shouldn't, it became necessary. In my day if someone got hurt there was no phone to call for help and difficult to get to someone hurt, as there were no paved roads.

    Sand Mountain is an area well-known to ATV enthusiasts from all over the world. There is now a paved road all the way to the base of the mountain where you will find amenities such as restrooms and limited camping. Watch for speed DIPS and it is a service fee area. For further information:

http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/fo/carson_city_field/blm_programs/recreation/sand_mountain.html

They do not offer day passes, only weekly or by the year. $40 per week and $90 per year. As to why they do not offer a day pass it is better to go thier web site above and read it for your self.

There are other things you can do that don't cost such as one of the side trails that leads to an old Pony Express Station.

Very educational.

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge

Of all the places near Fallon, Nevada Stillwater is my favorite place to go. Just 18 miles east of Fallon is a place where you can find more wildlife than you can shake a stick at. The last mile is dirt road, but well maintained. Here you will find an elivated viewing area with wheelchair access, and restrooms.

There is also an auto touring loop (maintained dirt road) that loops around one of the marsh areas. There are self guided tours with well marked trails. Some of my best selling photos have been taken here.

I suggest that you aproch the area slowly so as not to scare off the wild life more than need be. Some things you might want to bring with you are as follows.

1. Plenty of drinking water.
2. It is a marsh so plenty of bug spray.
3. shade, like a big hat or umbrela.
4. spotting scope, binoculars or camera with telephoto lens.
5. cellphone in case of emergency
The larger animals and birds will try to maintain thier distance, but if you are patient and quite they will sometimes get quite close. Early morning is the best time as the animals like to avoid the heat as much as you do. Don't be in a hurry to get from point A to point B, many of the animal you come across will be unexpected. If you are moving to fast your likely to miss them all together.

Some of the most interesting critters are very small and although driving is required to get to some places, walking is best.



damsilfly






Giant wasp

Be aware of your surroundings, watch where you are walking. I have never come across rattle snakes but I have seen black widow spiders in bushes. If you come across a snake, do not kill it. Nine times out of ten its a bull snake (non-poison) and all snakes are part of nature. Avoid the snake if you can and only kill a snake if you must A.K.A(it bites you and the doctor needs to know what kind of snake bit you.) As I said before bug spray is a good idea, not just for mosquitoes, but for ticks and other biting insects. Try not to brush up against bushes to avoid ticks and when your done visiting, check each other for ticks. If you bring your dog with you, a flea and tick collar is a must. 



Tick infested jack rabbit

Churchill County Museum

Churchill County Museum

In our latest quest for things to do in Fallon, Nevada, we vist the Churchill County Museum . One of the few things in life that is still free, but they do take donation. Of all the museums in the state of Nevada , the Churchill County Museum has always impressed me.  

Many of the local families have donated to this Museum, including my own family. The museum covers a great many subjects and there's sure to be something of interest for everyone. From prehistoric fossils to

    Churchill County's early history can be found in this Museum. It is visited by people from all over the world and includes periodic tours to outlying places such as hidden caves and downtown walking tours . Located at 1050 South Maine Street in Fallon, Nevada.  Museum hours are Monday through Friday 10 AM to 5 PM closed Sunday and holidays. For further information  you can visit http://www.ccmuseum.org/ or call 775-423 - 3677 to get current hours and information on events and tours.

    And while you are there don't forget to check out the woolly mammoth bones that my uncle Alvin found by Lake Lahontan.

Soda lakes, Fallon Nevada

Soda Lakes

Big Soda and Little Soda Lake have a long history. They're one of the few places where you can find naturally occurring soda water. (From which baking soda was made by evaporating the water.) At one time mining operations were set up to mine the soda. As a result swimming in the lakes is like swimming in a bathtub full baking soda. Stories of its health benefits and it's ability to heal infections have lingered over the years. How true the stories are, we don't know.At various times throughout the year the lakes can be a little on the icky side due to algae. But if you're looking for something different this is it. You won't find fish in these lakes as the soda content is too high. Fogs and muskrats are about the only thing you'll find. For many years there have been discussions on turning the lakes into a park but no one has yet stepped forward with funds to do so. The soda content in Little Soda Lake has been dropping slowly over the years and some discussion about planting fish in one of the lakes have been discussed.

   As a kid I used to go with my sister and her friends late at night to go swimming in one of the scariest places to go swimming at night. Ghost stories of female babies being drowned in the lake were the usual fireside stories. And how if you were ever caught alone in the lake, the ghosts of drowned babies and children would swim up to grab you and pull you down. My own experience was being dared to go into the lake late at night, hearing a baby cry and then something touching me in the dark. My sister and her friends had quite the laugh as I came screaming out of the lake. You see muskrats which can be quite playful, also sound like crying babies. And when one of them decides to play tag with you, in the middle of the night, in a dark Lake, don't forget, it's just a story.

 Although it is not the easiest place to get to or to find it can be worth the trip. It is one of Fallon's hidden places. I do not recommend going by car as the roads are not maintained and in some places 4 wheel drive is recommended. Finding the lakes is the first obstacle you must overcome. The second is once you have found the lakes, getting down to them.  Unless you approach from the Southwestern side.   Be aware that some of the southern shores are bordered by private property . The lakes reside in the bottom of two volcanic vents and the northern and eastern shores are surrounded by a very high and dangerously steep embankments several hundred feet high. Do not attempt to enter lake from this side. An  un-maintained dirt road circles Big Soda but parts of the Western side may require four-wheel-drive. Especially in wet weather as parts of the road are adobe clay and it turns to wet slippery clay in the rain.

During duck-hunting season you may run into duck hunters who favor the area because of migrating geese  using the lakes as a stopover .

 

Big soda Lake.

Once you reach south west corner of the lake, there is a beach with black sand.There is some alkali and salt grass but offers a not too bad beach. There is no boat launch and no shade.  (Be aware that several feet out into the water there is a steep and dramatic drop-off!) During the summer seasons the upper surface of the water can be quite warm while the deeper parts can be quite cold.There are NO bathrooms or other facilities so you might want to bring your own or limit your time at the lake. Please keep in mind this is a closed system. The lake is not fed by a stream, only groundwater and does not have a means of purging large quantities of pollution out of the lake. As a result it is more susceptible to pollution and anything put in the lake would stay in the lake a long time. All waste that you bring in with you should be removed when you leave. This is also probably one of the reasons why the lake has not been developed. Overuse of the lake might produce unwanted toxins and render the lake unusable by anyone, not to mention contamination of neighboring groundwater. Please use the lake with care and respect so it will be around for many generations to come.

The Rising Sun Art Gallery and Studios

I don't normally review businesses but in this case I'm making an exception.
    The Rising Sun Art Gallery and Studios  officially opened at the beginning of March. The gallery hopes to draw people from every walk of life. The need to supplement art education in our schools is needed more now than ever and to that end the gallery has much to offer young and old alike. Locals not only have a place to show their work but also a classroom to learn from highly skilled artisans. The current schedule of courses includes modern dance, chakra healing, oils, watercolors, sculpture, collage, theater, drawing perspective, with more classes to be added.
   They are located at 203 S. Main St., Fallon, NV next to Jeff's Copy and Susie's framing .  For more informati about how to display your work, register for classes or donate to rising Sun, contact Patricia Sammons at e-mail: risingsunartgallery@gmail.com, or call 775-294-4135 or risingsungallery.bbnow.org

So if you're looking for something different to do in Fallon, Nevada stop by and check out the Rising Sun Art Gallery and Studios

Millenium Park

Millennium Park

Millennium Park is Fallon's smallest and newest Park which consist of benches, nice landscaping and a millennium clock. It is a good place to sit and people watch as it sits on the corner of Main Street and Williams Avenue.



VENTURACCI PARK

Venturacci Park

For the skateboard enthusiast Venturacci Park is Fallon's one and only skateboard park. It also includes the covered picnic area and a play gym for the young kids.

The play area for small children is fenced to help parents mind their children, as the park is next to a busy street.

Rules and regulations on how the park may be used
are clearly posted.

Northside elementary school is across the street from the park and you should use extreme caution when traveling to and from the park. Abiding by all posted speed limits and regulations is recommended as the local police department frequents this area.

Liberty Park

The Churchill County/University Research Park & Fishing Pond

"Liberty Park"

The park has many amenities which include , an enclosed dog play area , play gym for the kids , open field set up for soccer and a very nice fishing pond with picnic tables and benchs .   Nevada fishing regulations do apply to fishing at the pond and their is a limit of five fish per person . The fishing pond is open dusk to dawn and kids under the age of 12 do not require a fishing license.  

Liberty Park Fishing Pond

 Must be good fishing if he's hanging around.

Liberty Park Play se

Oats Park Art Center

Oats Park art center

The Churchill arts Council puts on several shows every year.  
The old Oaks Park school was restored and converted into a theater, art gallery, gift shop and bar. The Churchill Arts Council puts on a variety of shows, from comedy to classical. Every show that I have attended was very entertaining and always gave me my money's worth. For more information please call: (775) 423-1440 or visit http://churchillarts.org/

Oats Park

Oats Park

Oats Park is Fallon's largest park.



Outdoor swimming pool.

During the summer months you can enjoy the outdoor swimming pool with water slides.








<>Outdoor amphitheater


  The outdoor amphitheater sits in one corner of the park. Here it takes advantage of a large open area, which can be used to hold large outdoor events .



<>Tennis courts





Play gym

The park include several large

play gyms and swing sets.

Laura Mills Park

Welcome to a Fallon, Nevada things to do or not to do. We will start with parks and recreation.

Laura Mills Park

    The photo to the right is of Laura Mills Park. It has several amenities such as a children's play area , several picnic tables with barbecues ,a gazeb, and a sidewalk that encircles the entire Park . It is dog friendly and has many mature shade tree.

There are also several fitness workout stations throughout the park.

Gazebo

The gazebo can be reserved by calling Parks and Recreation.