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Cowboy John's Ruby Crest Trail Tour Shuttle Service
I will shuttle you to either Road’s End in Thomas Canyon or Harrison Pass. I recommend Harrison Pass because it’s safer to leave your car at Road’s End at the top of Thomas Canyon. Either way this hike is a strenuous one with a lot of altitude change. You’ll be either going up or going back down much of the way! You’ll camp where you can hike down for water, and you should be prepared for rain anywhere along the hike.
(Thanks for the tips, Elaine and Brett!) From the drop off at Harrison Pass it’s about 3 hours to McCutcheon creek, which can be your 1st camping spot. There’s an old sheep camp there. From Harrison Pass you’ll hike along the west and south slopes of Green Mountain through a jungle of aspen trees. Next, the Smith Creek drainage, the south fork of Smith Creek and the middle fork. There are no pre-existing tent sites there, but some have made camp there anyway.
From Smith Creek to Overland Lake which is a gorgeous lake. There’s an old cabin at Overland Lake, which might have been, years past, part of a sheep camp. If you have good weather you might choose to spend the day reading and recharging for the following day’s journey across the Crest. You could also throw a line to catch some native Brook trout.
The next day across the crest will be as difficult as you’ve heard. You may see Mtn Goats Mtn Sheep, and some have found garnet crystals. Word is it’s the most difficult 12 miles of the hike. Be prepared with plenty of water. You might experience tremendous winds up here on top.
Your next camp can be Favre Lake.
If you have an extra day it’s worth it to spend it around Favre, which is the most beautiful part of the hike. Wildflowers and White bark pine cover the ascent to Liberty Pass and the valley around Favre. Hidden Lake is up a short trail. This is the Ruby Mountains at her best. Native Brook trout are also in Favre Lake. Your final day will be a comparatively short day out of Favre, over Liberty pass, and back to your auto at the Turnaround in Lamoille Canyon.
During your trip keep you eyes open for the elusive Himalayan Snowcock, a large, partridge-type bird. The “prize” bird-watcher bird.
CREDITS Many thanks to George and Jean Marie
Bennett Sheaks for allowing us And to wildlife photographer Tim
Torell for use of his Himalayan Snowcock And thanks to Elaine and Brett Lehman for
allowing us to share pics of their trek Call us at, 775-753-7825 for information. [ Book Your Tour Today ]
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You
can do this hike without a shuttle, but many I’ve dropped at either
Harrison Pass or the turnaround at Thomas Canyon Road’s End, later
told me they’d met folks who were hiking both ways: from their car,
over 5 passes to Overland Lake, and then back to the car.
Those folks said they weren’t looking forward AT ALL to
the grueling hike back to the car (5 passes again)! The shuttle makes
it a better trip. 
