
Wild Nevada (2001)
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Chris Orr as
Episodes 69
We begin in Wadsworth, then head to Nixon to check out the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum. From there, we stop at Pyramid Lake for a boating excursion and end our trip at the Black Rock Desert.
Read MoreThis trip begins in the historic district of Dayton, one of the oldest settlements in the state. We ride camels through the desert near Stagecoach, tour Fort Churchill State Historic Park, birdwatch at the Mason Valley Wildlife Management Area and see our trip end abruptly while mountain biking south of Yerington at Wilson Canyon.
Read MoreChris and Dave’s adventure begins with some incredible caving near the Nevada-Utah border and Great Basin National Park. Then, they go on a hike in the Park and follow the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail which leads to the gorgeous Stella Lake. After a night in Ely, the team searches for gems in nearby Ruth and end up at the impressive Beehive Ovens of the Ward Charcoal Ovens outside town.
Read MoreChris and Dave take you on an adventure that begins in Carson City, Nevada’s state capitol. From there, they sight-see through Toiyabe National Forest, bike the Pine Nut Range, attempt to fly fish near Desert Creek Ranch, and complete their journey with an exploration of the Missouri Flat.
Read MoreChris and Dave investigate reports of desert lobster outside Mina, with surprising results. We also meet up with Alvin McLane for a hike to some ruins in the Gabbs Valley Range, then stop in Gabbs for some local flavor. Later, we bike through ghost town Grantsville and ride our way to check out Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park.
Read MoreThis time, Chris and Dave journey takes us horseback riding along the water at Lahontan Reservoir. They then examine some ancient petroglyphs at Grimes Point before heading to the northeast to explore Lovelock Cave just outside of town. Finally, visiting Fossil Hill and find evidence of Nevada’s prehistoric days.
Read MoreThis adventure takes Chris and Dave on a journey through Palisade, an old railroad town, then past Telegraph Canyon for an exploration of the amazing Emerald Lake Cave. Next up is a hike into the oddly named Tollhouse Cave and a tour of historic Eureka, now going through extensive restoration.
Read MoreAs Chris and Dave hike the Incandescent Rock Preservation Area just north of Reno, they take a look back at some of their most memorable adventures, including the Shoe Tree, the Black Rock Desert and the underground cave near Great Basin National Park.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave begin this trip in Elko and then head to South Fork State Recreation Area for some fishing. Next is a visit to Ruby Lakes National Wildlife Reserve, where they hike a memorable trail before heading into Lamoille for the night. The next morning offers a gorgeous drive and hike in the stunning Lamoille Canyon.
Read MoreOn this adventure, hosts Chris and Dave go backpacking right up the spine of Great Basin National Park. The journey begins near a historic mining district, and soon becomes very vertical as the party scales Mt. Washington. Darkness comes fast, so the hike is cut short and everyone descends to Johnson Lake for the night. After a night’s sleep, the group heads out through more historic mining ruins.
Read MoreThis trip begins with Chris and Dave traveling south from Henderson to Nelson and the Techatticup Mine. There’s also hiking in search of bighorns and a Searchlight museum tour. The trip ends with a visit to Christmas Tree Pass and the petroglyphs of Grapevine Canyon.
Read MoreIn this episode, hosts Chris and Dave start in Sparks and head north to Spanish Springs for a hike through a canyon decorated with petroglyphs. They also head up toward Mt. Rose for some snowshoeing, then west past Verdi for a hike in the shadows of the Donner Party, and finally a journey to Needle Rock near Pyramid Lake.
Read MoreFor this adventure, our hosts Chris and Dave are joined by Nevada author and explorer Rich Moreno. The trio visit Walker Lake, the ghost town of Candelaria, and “The Sump,” multicolored marvel. On day two of the trip, they tour Tonopah Historic Mining Park and take a drive to Manhattan, Nevada.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave spend two days at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It’s a fun trip with lots of hiking through incredibly beautiful scenery, rock-climbing in a spectacular environment and a mountain biking excursion through stunning Cottonwood Valley.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave begin this trip with a walking tour of the charming town of Pioche. They then head for the fantastic Cathedral Gorge, followed by some cycling through the very scenic and historic Rainbow Canyon.
Read MoreIn this episode, Chris and Dave start out in Winnemucca. They take a walking tour of the town's historic structures, before mountain biking the Bloody Shins Trail and stop for the night in secluded Unionville. After Dave's attempt at goat milking and a tour of the town's charms, they end their trip with a journey into the hills to the historic town site of Star City and Santa Clara.
Read MoreHost Chris Orr turns some of her favorite activities into a grand adventure. She spends two days riding mustangs through the Arc Dome Wilderness. On the second day, she climbs Arc Dome where she enjoys the view of Toiyabe National Forest below.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave head to northeastern Nevada to explore ghost towns. Beginning in Elko, they head north to Gold Creek, then Island Mountain before traveling on to Placerville. After overnighting in Mountain City, they head to Rio Tinto and tour its remaining structures, before continuing to Patsville. The trip concludes with a scenic drive through the Columbia Basin on the way to Tuscarora.
Read MoreBest of Wild Nevada, Vol. 2
In this special episode, Chris and Dave hike along the Tahoe Rim Trail, enjoying the amazing lake views and revisiting some of their favorite trips from the past season. included ares trips to petroglyphs in Spanish Springs, the ghost town of Santa Clara, the surprisingly colorful Sump and the beautiful hike along the Highland Ridge Trial in Great Basin National Park.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave travel from Las Vegas to Laughlin, Nevada. Along the way they visit the community Goodsprings and the legendary Pioneer Saloon. Not far from Primm, Chris and Dave go landsailing on the Ivanpah dry lakebed. After a night in Laughlin, they grab paddles and kayaks and set out to do some river kayaking on the Colorado River. The trip concludes at the Colorado River Museum.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave and Chris explore the region east of Tonopah. On the first day, they are joined by Shawn Hall, to tour Warms Springs, Tybo and Hot Creek. The second day of their adventure, they meet Richard Orndorff, a geomorphologist, and Gene Smith, a volcanologist, at the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave do a bit of riding on the Logandale Trail System and drive north to Interstate 15 to the Las Vegas Dunes Recreation Area. After a night’s rest in Las Vegas, they head about 100 miles outside Las Vegas to visit the Big Dune for the opportunity to climb the 300-foot “singing dune.”
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave go on a two-day hike and camp out on the Tahoe Meadows to Spooner Summit segment of the Tahoe Rim Trail. It is a visually stunning excursion full of breath-taking views of Lake Tahoe and Marlette Lake. The hikers cover the 23 miles of trail, visiting Christopher’s Loop, Marlette Peak and Snow Valley Peak along the way.
Read MoreRich Moreno joins hosts Chris and Dave for a trip in the northern part of the Silver State. The trio sets out from Winnemucca and visits Paradise Valley. Next, they head to the Santa Rosa Range and Singus Creek for some high-country hiking. The trio overnights in Denio Junction before continuing to the Virgin Valley and the Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine, as well as a stop at Linda Dufurrena’s gallery.
Read MoreHosts Dave and Chris begin this trip at Echo Canyon State Park where go for a scenic 7-mile bike ride along Echo Road to the nearby Spring Valley State Park. The second day of the trip includes a tour of Caliente from a descendant of the town’s founders. The trip ends with a visit to Kershaw-Ryan State Park.
Read MoreAlvin McLane, a retired archeologist and an experienced hiker joins hosts Dave and Chris on this trip in Nevada’s Esmeralda County. They set out from the town of Tonopah, heading for the canyons at Clayton Ridge. On the second day of the trip, the trio drives west to the Esmeralda Badlands, in the foothills of the Monte Cristo Range. The trip concludes in Silverpeak.
Read MoreThe adventure begins in South Lake Tahoe at the mouth of Eagle Creek Canyon with some top-rope ascents on a popular climbing slab called the 90 Foot Wall. Then, they head to Sand Harbor for some lake kayaking. The second day of the trip features the short drive from Carson City to the Dayton Historic Society Museum for a walking tour before heading to Silver City and Gold Hill.
Read MoreOn this trip, hosts Chris and Dave join retired archeologist and avid Nevada explorer Alvin McLane for a trek through High Rock Canyon northwest of Gerlach and the Black Rock Desert. The trio has the chance to follow a portion of the Lassen-Applegate Trail, explore some breath-taking Nevada scenery, camp in the Yellow Hills, view petroglyphs, visit Basque "stone-boys" and see a petrified forest.
Read MoreOn this trip, hosts Chris and Dave enjoy a tour of the ghost towns of the White Pine Mining District. The first stop is at Hamilton, and then, they head up into the mountains to visit Treasure City. The journey continues with a stop at the Eberhardt townsite as well as the Metropolitan Mill. Then after exploring the remains of Shermantown, the group concludes their trip at the Belmont Mill.
Read MoreThis trip takes hosts Chris and Dave on a geologic field trip in the Spanish Springs and Red Rock area in northern Nevada. The adventure begins with a stop at the Miocene Fossil Lake Beds and then, it is on to an area of striking geology known as the “Moon Rocks.” The group drives to Red Rock Canyon to hike into the canyon and concludes at Petersen Mountain hunting for quartz crystals.
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave explore and sample some of the recreational opportunities that abound in and around the Boulder City area in southern Nevada. The first adventure of the trip is mountain biking in Bootleg Canyon. Then, they trade in bike helmets for hiking shoes and head out to explore the U.S. Government Construction Railroad Trail. On the second day, they get an aerial view of the desert com
Read MoreHosts Chris and Dave revisit their favorite adventures of previous shows. Among the memories is a trip near Primm where they discover the joy and frustrations of land-sailing. There is also an ATV adventure on the Logandale Trails System, just outside the Valley of Fire State Park. The special also reprises a hike through the dramatic landscape of the Esmeralda Badlands.
Read MoreOn this trip, host Chris and Dave explore the rugged Gold Butte region in the Virgin Mountains. Gold Butte is in the southeast corner of Nevada , just west of the Nevada-Arizona border. They use Mesquite, as the base and starting point of this trip. Joining them on this trip is the show's good friend and longtime guide, Alvin McLane.
Read MoreThis trip features Great Basin National Park. Located in the eastern Nevada, the park offers a variety of activities and experiences. Great Basin National Park encompasses the famous Lehman caves, bristlecone pine groves, camp-grounds, a multitude of hiking trails, 13 peaks above 11,000 feet and Nevada's one and only glacier.
Read MorePahranagat Valley is home to one of the riches rock art areas in the state of Nevada. On this trip, Alvin McLane joins hosts Chris and Dave again as they explore a number of sites as well as a hike in Hells Bells Canyon and a side trip to Pahranagat Lake.
Read MoreOn this trip, hosts Dave and Chris explore some of the natural wonders found in Churchill County. They use Fallon, Nevada, as the base for this adventure as they visit Soda Lake, the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, the Earthquake Faults and the Big Den waterfall.
Read MoreThis trip takes host Dave Santina and frequent guest Alvin McLane north to the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge covers over 570,000 acres of Nevada and acts as home to a variety of species. Stretching across most of the northwestern corner of the state, Sheldon attracts lovers of wildlife, hunters, and, since the early 20th Century, opal miners.
Read MoreUsing Wells, Nevada, as a base, hosts Chris and Dave explore some of the scenic and historic attractions nearby. They begin with a walking tour of historic Wells. Then, visit the ghost towns of Metropolis to the north. They stop at Angel Lake before visiting the Ruby Mountain Brewery. And, end out the trip by exploring the Spruce Mountain Mining District.
Read MoreAlvin McLane joins Dave & Chris once again for a journey through White Pine County from Ely to the scenic Blue Mass area. This trip take them on the historic Lincoln Highway over Shellbourne Pass to Antelope Valley to the Tunnel Canyon Pictograph site and the remains of Tippet. The crew then heads south into the Kern Mountains and the wonderful Blue Mass Scenic area.
Read MoreJoin Chris and Dave on this trip that begins at the geographic center of the state and takes in the Hickison Petroglyph Area, Spencer's Hot Springs and the Toquima Cave Petroglyph site in the Smokey Valley area. They then head to Monitor Valley to visit the Miniature Grand Canyon and hike in McCann Canyon.
Read MoreAustin Adventures
Hosts Dave Santina and Chris Orr take you on an adventure beginning at Grimes Point Archaeological Park just outside of Fallon and following Highway 50 to Austin. Enjoy a dune buggy ride at Sand Mountain, a visit to The Shoe Tree and a beautiful mountain hike with guide Alvin McLane, plus a cycling excursion on the back roads of Austin.
Read MoreGhost Towns & Snow Storms
The adventure is a trip of just over 110 miles from Beatty, Nevada, to the ghost town of Belmont with stops in Rhyolite, Gold Point and Goldfield. But, as happens in Nevada, the weather sometimes has plans of its own, and hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina must decide what to do.
Read MoreMount Charleston & Red Rock Canyon
Chris and Dave begin their journey at Indian Springs and travel up into the Spring Mountain National Recreation Area. The adventure includes a rock climbing lesson, as well as a visit to the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area.
Read MoreDeath Valley & Pahrump
Chris and Dave travel into Death Valley State Park. The trip travels through some of the park and includes a visit to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge before heading into Pahrump, where they tour Pahrump Valley Vineyards
Read MoreAlamo to Caliente
Hosts Dave Santina and Chris Orr explore Basin & Range National Monument near Alamo and two State Parks with Civilian Conservation Corps history, Beaver Dam and Cathedral Gorge.
Read MoreMoonrocks and McLane Peak
Chris and Dave enjoy unforgettable rides with professional racers, then see an ancient cave near Winnemucca Lake and climb McLane Peak, named in memory of Alvin McLane.
Read MoreElko to Battle Mountain
Chris and Dave visit the California Trail Interpretive Center which shares the story of immigrant travel across the West. Then, it’s on to Battle Mountain for a tour of the Cookhouse Museum followed by an exciting ride along the Shoshone OHV Trails.
Read MoreLeaving Las Vegas
Dave and Chris explore sites that lie just outside of Las Vegas; including St. Thomas, flooded by Lake Mead for decades before the waters receded and the buildings reappeared. On the north edge of Las Vegas is Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, and south of town they visit Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area to experience evidence of ancient visitors and a hike up Black Mountain.
Read MoreElko to Jarbidge
Hosts Chris and Dave enjoy boating at Wild Horse State Recreation Area and the epic drive through beautiful country to Jarbidge. Residents there share their history. The trip concludes with a hike to a striking view of Jarbidge Canyon.
Read MoreAround Reno
Dave and Chris visit Washoe Lake State Park, where they have a surprise welcoming party before enjoying a boating excursion. Next, it’s an introduction to the equestrian center and a brief hike up Deadman’s Creek to a spectacular view of the entire park. The episode also features a snowshoe trek along Chickadee Ridge, complete with visiting Chickadees, and a hike on the trails at Ballardini Ranch.
Read MoreFamily Fun
Hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina welcome some of their loved ones to join them in this episode. Together they suggest outdoor activities for families; including a child-friendly hike at Galena Creek Park, a senior-friendly walk on the Blue Line in Carson City, and a dog-friendly walk along the Jones Creek Trail.
Read MoreBoulder City to Mesquite
Chris and Dave visit the Historic Railroad Tunnel Trail at Lake Mead and reach its destination, Hoover Dam. Then, in Boulder City, Chris and Dave take a turn on a zip line tour at Bootleg Canyon. After traveling to Mesquite for the night, they set out to explore some of the newly designated areas of Gold Butte National Monument, including Little Finland and the historic Gold Butte townsite.
Read MoreAustin to Fallon
Dave and Chris explore the Toiyabe Range along the Gold Venture Loop. The view from the top is remarkable, as is the beauty of Birch Creek Canyon. Next it’s west on Highway 50 to make a stop at Middlegate, the former Pony Express stop. After a night in Fallon, they visit Hidden Cave along with fascinating petroglyphs and exploration of an ancient rock shelter. The trip ends at Buckland Station.
Read MoreEnjoying Ely
On this trip, Chris and Dave tour the Nevada Northern Railway where they get a ride on one of the historic trains. They head to Cave Lake State Park for a hike up to an overlook trail with some fantastic views. After a night's rest in Ely, they enjoy some of the town's murals that have become part of the Ely Renaissance. Then, Chris and Dave visit a real bat cave with wildlife researchers.
Read MoreWendover to Elko
This trip begins with Chris and Dave making a short jump into Utah to the Wendover Airfield. From there, the episode travels back into the Silver State and west on I-80 to Wells in search of a nearby hot spring. The next day, it's a drive to Lamoille and learning about the glacial forces behind Lamoille Canyon. At the end of the road, Chris and Dave a hike to Lamoille Lake and Liberty Pass.
Read MoreWinnemucca to Paradise Valley
Chris and Dave team up with guides from Nevada Outdoor School for an excursion to Water Canyon outside Winnemucca. Next, it’s back to town and a trip through the Humboldt Museum and some of the town’s historic districts. Day two begins with a drive north to Paradise Valley for an exciting ATV excursion up to Hinkey Summit and along the Buckskin ATV Loop Trail in the Santa Rosa Mountain Range.
Read MoreBest of Season 4
Hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina introduce favorite moments from the season while enjoying a ride on the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway. As they roll through scenic landscape in the Sierra Nevada, they relive the McLane Peak climb, a Lamoille Canyon excursion, a trip on the Buckskin ATV Loop Trail and the bat cave outside Ely with wildlife researchers.
Read MoreRiver to River
Hosts Dave Santina and Chris Orr explore natural habitat at River Fork Ranch, Bently Heritage Distillery in Minden, kayaking and trail building at the new Walker River State Recreation Area.
Read MoreEly
Hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina are heading back in time from Ely to McGill, Cherry Creek and Egan Canyon. Then, on day two of the trip, they head south of Ely for a ride on the Success Loop with the OHV group known as the High Desert Trailblazers and out to the Ward Mountain Recreation Area for an attempt at disc golf.
Read MoreTahoe Family Fun
It’s a family episode, this time focused around Lake Tahoe. Chris takes her dog for a run with Eric Lerude of Race 178, then joins her mother Barbara at Spooner Lake for a walk on the trail that circles the lake. Dave with wife Jessica and daughter Olivia meet Amy Berry of The Tahoe Fund for a ride on the Tahoe East Shore Trail. Everyone gets together at Taylor Creek, where the salmon spawn.
Read MoreDark Sky Territory
Chris and Dave take a trip into dark sky territory, starting from Gerlach and visiting with Friends of Black Rock. After a brief art stop at Planet X, they move west to the Nevada/California border and attempt to scale Divine Peak, hampered by a flat tire. On Day 2, they explore Massacre Rim area and climb up for a spectacular view. That night, they experience the dark skies and astrophotography.
Read MoreGoldfield to Tonopah
In Goldfield, Chris and Dave enjoy tour of the historic firehouse, the high school and the International Car Forest of the Last Church. While in Tonopah, they starting out with the beautifully restored Mizpah Hotel, which boasts some great ghost stories of its own. Then, it's on to the Tonopah Mining Park for some fun with a blacksmithing lesson.
Read MoreRed Rock Canyon and Old Spanish Trail
Hosts Chris Orr and Dave Santina start this trip in Red Rock Canyon where the Calico Tanks Trail leads to a spectacular view, and they visit the Willow Springs pictographs. On the second day of the trip, they make their way south along The Old Spanish Trail, which cuts through Nevada from southwestern Utah through the Las Vegas Valley and into Death Valley.
Read MoreDesert National Wildlife Refuge
The Desert National Wildlife Refuge has seven life zones, including an area known as the outback, with fossils, a yucca forest, and transition from desert to the mountains with pine trees. Day two of the trip, features the Refuge's interpretive trails, an ancient grinding stone and a special aquarium exhibit.
Read MoreCarson City
The Carson City area is the hub for this trip with a visit to the Nevada State Capitol Building, where the state’s history is on display. From there, it is north to Washoe Valley and Bower’s Mansion. Next day, travel west of Carson City for a hike in King’s Canyon and its waterfall, and the trip ends on the grounds of the Stewart Indian School, which has a new museum and visitor experience.
Read MoreLake Mead National Recreation Area
This episode starts in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. At Rogers Spring, host Chris Orr meets guide Chelsea Kennedy to enjoy the natural beauty and entertaining stories of the area. From there, they head south for a hike in the Bowl of Fire, providing colorful views of the rocky landscape. Their trip ends earlier than planned with a rain storm. This episode includes bonus content.
Read MoreTahoe Winter Fun
A snowshoe excursion from Carson Pass to Winnemucca Lake, then a soak in Grover Hot Springs. A second day of fun has cross country skiing at Tahoe XC and a new experience at Lake Tahoe Epic Curling in Stateline.
Read MoreBest of Season 5
With COVID-19 precluding travel, the series hosts find ways to have solo adventures near our own neighborhoods. Dave attempts to scale a peak he has long seen on neighborhood walks and about which he has always been curious. Chris tackles a trail in the Sierra Nevada that leads to a view of Washoe Valley. Along the way, we introduce four favorite adventures from the season.
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