BLUE MASS SCENIC AREA
A Special Place on Your Public LandsCourtesy of the ELY BLM District
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BLUE MASS SCENIC AREA
A Special Place on Your Public LandsCourtesy of the ELY BLM District
Click on thumbnail picture to see full view
LOCATION--Blue Mass Scenic Area is located in the Kern Mountains about 86 miles from Ely via the Schellbourne Pass Road. A 96 mile alternate route is possible via US 6 through Connors Pass and the North Spring Valley Road. It is recommended to use a map, either the BLM 1:100,000 scale Kern Mountains Surface Management Map (available from Ely District Office) or the topographic version of the same map available from the US Geological Survey.
SPECIAL FEATURES--Blue Mass Scenic Area is a unique area of weirdly eroded granite. Spires, cliffs and great rounded outcrops rise on either side of the road. The rock is coarsely crystalline and dark bluish gray in color, hence the name Blue Mass. Veins of a white rock, with even larger crystals, cut through the rock masses. Especially interesting are the very large crystals of mica, of a variety called muscovite, with a silky mirror-like sheen. As the rock weathers, the mica crystals erode out. The shining crystals are strewn everywhere and glitter like broken glass in the sunshine. The granite formations rise on either side of Blue Mass Creek, which has carved a canyon into the rock formations. The creek supports a dense streamside plant community.
PLANT AND ANIMAL LIFE--the flow of Blue Mass Creek, both visible and underground, supports abundant plant and animal life here that could not otherwise exist. Along the creek bottom is a thicket of willows, snowberry and some unusually large choke cherry trees that may be of record size. On the cool north-facing slopes of the canyon grows a forest of white fir and some spruce. These trees are able to grow at this relatively low elevation because of the cool micro-environment provided by the shade of the north-facing canyon wall. Aspens are common along the creek. Pinyon pine, and mountain mahogany are found on the drier, more exposed slopes, along with big sagebrush, rabbitbrush and crested wheatgrass. The lush streamside environment is an oasis that attracts wildlife such as mule deer and gray fox. People who live in the area report that Blue Mass Canyon is a favorite haunt of mountain lions.
HOW TO GET THERE--Drive 36 miles north of Ely on US Hwy. 93. About 1/2 mile beyond Milepost 92 there is a Pony Express historical stop--turn right off the highway here. All mileages and distances in the following road log are measured from this point. 0.0--An excellent graded dirt road will take you across the Schell Creek Mtns. via Schellbourne Pass. For the next 10 miles or so you will be following the historic routes of the Pony Express and Overland Stage. 11.0--Junction marked by BLM signs; take the right fork towards Tippett. Follow all signs to Tippett from this point. The road narrows. 14.7--Junction marked by old stone building; turn left. The road now winds up and over the southern tip of the Antelope Range via Tippett Pass, then traverses the edge of Antelope Valley. Scenic views of Antelope Valley and Deep Creek Mountains beyond. You will pass BLM signs marking the way to Antelope Springs. 31.9--Tippett (abandoned ranch). 32.1--Junction marked by BLM signs (fallen down as of 10/1/91); turn right. This road takes you across Antelope Valley and into the Kern Mtns. 39.6--Junction with road to Ibapah; continue straight. 46.8--Junction with road into Blue Mass Canyon; turn right. Road is narrow and somewhat rough but easily passable in 2WD. 48.2--first view of the scenic rock formations in Blue Mass Canyon. 50.1--entering creek bottoms with lush vegetation. 50.3--arrival at heart of scenic rock formations.
HOW TO RETURN--You can return the way you came via Tippett and Schellbourne Pass or if you would like to see another generous chunk of wild Nevada you can return to Ely by an alternate route, via Spring Valley and Connors Pass. To return the same way you came from Ely is 86.8 miles, of which 35.8 miles are paved. To return by this ALTERNATE ROUTE is 96.9 miles of which 68.9 are paved.
ALTERNATE ROUTE--all mileages in this log are measured from the junction of the roads from Tippett and the Blue Mass Canyon Road-mile 46.8 on previous road log. If you choose to go this way a HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLE IS RECOMMENDED because 3.8 miles from the junction is a deep, steep dip.--Continue up Blue Mass Canyon to the summit, a distance of 5.3 miles from the junction. Continue on this road downhill through Grass Valley Canyon and the alluvial fan on the south side of the Kern Mtns. Views of the Schell Creek Range and Red Hills in the foreground. 16.9--Junction marked by BLM sign; turn right. 18.3--another junction marked by a BLM sign; turn right and proceed west across Spring Valley. 20.4--Junction with road to Sacramento Pass at BLM signs; continue straight. As you cross Spring Valley there are dramatic views of the Schell Creek Range ahead. 27.7--Junction with North Spring Valley Road (Nevada Highway 893); turn left. 28.0--beginning of pavement on NV 893. 68.2--Junction with US 6-50; turn right, ascending into the Schell Creek Range. 74.8--summit of Connors Pass. 96.9--arrival in Ely at the US 50 and US 93 traffic light.
White Pine Historical and Archaeological Society
P.O. Box 151725
Ely, NV 89315
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