Nevada State Route 722

Looking toward Eastgate on old US-50 (NV-722), from near its west junction. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Just off old US-50 (NV-722) east of Carroll Summit. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old US-50 (NV-722) east of Eastgate. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Eastgate on old US-50 (NV-722). An old stage stop, then a gas station, and now just a ranch. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old US-50 (NV-722), looking back west from near Carroll Summit. The aftermath of the Cold Springs wildfire is again evident. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

On old US-50 (NV-722), just past Eastgate looking down the canyon. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old US-50 (NV-722) just west of Carroll Summit, showing the curves that led to the realignment! The aftermath of the August 2015 Cold Springs wildfire, caused by lightning, is also evident. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old building off old US-50 (NV-722). This appears to have been a roadside business. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old US-50 (NV-722) in the Reese River Valley looking toward Railroad Summit. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Smith Creek playa (dry lake bed) just off old US-50 (NV-722). Note the blowcarts (land sailers) on the playa.( slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Old US-50 (NV-722) looking back east across Smith Creek Valley. The clump of trees at what looks like the end of the road (actually it's a bend) is a ranch and old highway maintenance station. The broad peak on the skyline to the left of the centerline is Bunker Hill (11,473 ft/3497 m) in the Toiyabe Range. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

birdynumnumz (Atlas Obscura User)

NV-722 (old US-50) up Carroll Summit--before the fire. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

NV-722 (old US-50) in Smith Creek Valley, looking north. slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

hot springs, with cows mamasafari (Atlas Obscura User)

hot springs mamasafari (Atlas Obscura User)

view of 722, from some hot springs mamasafari (Atlas Obscura User)

Mustangs just off old US-50 (NV-722). slgwv (Atlas Obscura User)

Pony Express side route (not) mamasafari (Atlas Obscura User)

In Nevada, US-50 is well-known as the “Loneliest Road.” What’s less well-known is that part of the original route of US-50 was itself bypassed in the late 1960s. The original alignment west of Austin, Nevada, ran farther south, crossing the northern Shoshone Mountains at Railroad Summit, and then dropping south in Smith Creek Valley to cross the Desatoya Mountains at Carroll Summit. It rejoins the present alignment near the famous Shoe Tree.

This route was a bit shorter than the current route, but the stretch over Carroll Summit was twisty and slow, and difficult for big rigs. So, after years of agitation, the highway was changed to the present alignment in the late 1960s. It’s a bit longer but a lot straighter, and also doesn’t involve as much altitude change.

The old alignment is preserved as Nevada SR-722, however. It gets minimal maintenance, but it is paved, and because of the crossing of the Desatoya Mountains it’s even more scenic. So, for an even lonelier road take old US 50.