Where Are We—Smoke Creek

Upper Smoke Creek
A small feeder stream to upper Smoke Creek

Smoke Creek is a desert stream that is approximately twenty-six miles in  length with an equal portion in California and Nevada. Its headwaters is Big Springs at the southern base of Observation Mountain.  The creek descends into a small canyon that early day explorer J. Goldsborough Bruff in 1850 dubbed as Hierioglyphic Creek, due to the numerous petroglyphs on the canyon walls. From there the stream  enters a much larger deeper canyon.

Smoke Creek Canyon, January 2020—Greg Johnso

On the Nevada side, the lower end of the creek was a welcomed sight for weary travelers of the 1850s and 1860s on the Nobles Emigrant Trail. The water flow decreases the closer one gets to the Smoke Creek Desert.

June 26, 2023
Smoke Creek Golf Course, 1996

The terminus of the creek varies as to the kind of water year. It can spread over the scrub brush terrain. I can attest since I played at a golf  tourney there over Labor Day Weekend. One of the course’s many hazards were the mosquitos, and they were a hungry lot.

Tim

 

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