Palisade Canyon

Palisade Canyon is a narrow gorge with sheer rock walls that stretch for miles alongside the Humboldt River through northeastern Nevada. The river has carved this corridor through the landscape, creating a dramatic passage between steep stone faces.

The canyon received its name during the 1860s when the First Transcontinental Railroad was being built through this region. Railroad workers named it after the Hudson River Palisades in the East because of the resemblance between the rock formations.

The railroad tracks running through the canyon represent a significant chapter in the region's transportation story. Visitors can observe how these routes were carved into the landscape to connect distant communities.

The canyon can be accessed and viewed from State Route 278, which runs alongside the gorge and offers several viewpoints along the way. The road provides easy stops to see the rock walls and river from different angles as you travel through the area.

The Humboldt River begins to slow down and lose volume right at this point in the canyon before eventually drying up further south. This makes the location significant for understanding how the river works and why this landscape looks the way it does.

Location: Eureka County

GPS coordinates: 40.58075,-116.32008

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:22