Second Fork
- 6.6 mi
- round trip
- 1,501 ft
- climb
- 9,100 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Second Fork open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Ely Ranger District. It doesn't name Second Fork, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).
Ward Fire Closure (Ely Ranger District)
Agency closure covering Ely Ranger District · Order 04-17-26-09-02 · USFS · Ely Ranger District
Elephant Fire Closure
Agency closure covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-26-01-04 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Area, Road, and Trail Closures (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-25-04 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Year-Round Fire Restrictions (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-24-01 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Vehicle Snow Chain Requirements during Inclement Weather (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)
Agency alert covering Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Order 04-17-23-01 · USFS · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Ely Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Second Fork is a hard hike in Nevada's Mt. Moriah Wilderness, part of the Ely Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back route of about 6.6 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,501 feet, taking you from a low point of about 7,592 feet to a high of about 9,100 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows horses, but bikes are not permitted. That makes it a good fit for riders on foot or horseback, and the route's length and climb mean planning for a full day on the trail. The closest neighbor is Negro Creek, about 0.4 miles away. Mount Moriah Trail and Sheep Canyon Trail both lie about 2 miles off, and Silver Creek is roughly 2.6 miles away.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Osceola Ditch Trailhead
~29 min drive
The Osceola Ditch Trailhead is located about 4.5 miles up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The Osceola Ditch Trail follows the path of a historic mining ditch used to carry water from Lehman Creek to the mining boomtown of Osceola. Due to trail damage resulting from the 2016 Str…
Photo: paulinkenbrandt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Osceola Ditch Trail
~29 min drive
5.23-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,375 ft elevation gain.
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Mt. Moriah
~7 min drive
2.32-mile out-and-back trail to Mt. Moriah in Nevada with 971 ft of elevation gain.
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Cottonwood Spring Trail
~26 min drive
9.52-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 2,162 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Negro Creek
Next door
8.28-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,865 ft elevation gain.
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Silver Creek
~4 min drive
1.35-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 389 ft elevation gain.
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Timber Creek
~9 min drive
6.23-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 2,019 ft elevation loss.
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Mount Moriah Trail
~4 min drive
1.8-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 974 ft gain and 9,686 ft max elevation.
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Main Fork Creek Trail
~6 min drive
1.14-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 113 ft elevation gain.
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Trail Canyon
~10 min drive
10.99-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 2,513 ft elevation gain.
