Nevada · Hiking

Ruby Guard

4.0 mi
round trip
181 ft
climb
7,130 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Ruby Guard open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It doesn't name Ruby Guard, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Ruby Guard is a 4-mile out-and-back hike in the Mountain City-Ruby Mountains-Jarbidge Ranger District of Nevada's Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises about 180 feet from a low point of 6,842 feet to a high of 7,130 feet, and it is rated moderate. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, so riders can take the trail on foot or on horseback. It stays open year-round, and the nearest town is Mountain City. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 84°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. That station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Upper Sharps Canyon lies just 0.4 miles away, and Lower Sharps Canyon and Krenka 1 are within a mile for mountain bikers. Krenka Creek is about 1.1 miles off.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Ruby Guard

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      36° / 16°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 18°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 25°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 30°

      7 wet

    5. May

      64° / 37°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      74° / 43°

      4 wet

    7. Jul

      84° / 50°

      3 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 48°

      3 wet

    9. Sep

      74° / 41°

      3 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 32°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      46° / 22°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 16°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Arthur 4nw, NV, 2.8 mi away at 6,250 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.