Nevada State Route 140 - Route Description

Route Description

State Route 140 begins at a junction with U.S. Route 95 about 32 miles (51 km) north of Winnemucca in the Quinn River Valley. From this point, the highway heads west towards the sparsely populated regions of northwestern Nevada. SR 140 crosses into the Desert Valley before entering a branch of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation. Inside the reservation, the route crosses the Quinn River. Upon exiting the Indian territory, SR 140 curves northwest to parallel the Quinn River for about 10 miles (16 km) as it rounds the northern edge of the Jackson Mountains. As the river turns southeast towards the Black Rock Desert, the highway continues its northwest trajectory. The route crosses over the 4,820-foot (1,470 m) Denio Summit before reaching Denio Junction. State Route 292 intersects the highway here, providing access to Denio, the only town in this region of Nevada.

At Denio Junction, State Route 140 turns westward again, somewhat paralleling the state line. About 15 miles (24 km) from the junction, the highway enters Virgin Creek Valley. The valley has been known for its black fire-opals, and some mining operations in the area will allow civilians to hunt for the precious stones for a fee. Near this valley, SR 140 enters the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, an area designed to provide habitat for pronghorn and conserve native fish, bird and plant species. The highway travels about 25 miles (40 km) through the wildlife range towards the Oregon state line. SR 140 ends at the border, with Oregon Route 140 continuing northwest towards Adel and Lakeview.