Soda Lake (Churchill County, Nevada)

Just a few miles northwest of Fallon, NV lies the Soda Lakes. These two circular lakes, the larger of which is about 1.2 miles across, while the smaller is only about 660 feet across, were both formed inside collapsed volcanic craters, which likely erupted sometime in the last 1500 years. 

With all of the online searching I do for hiking destinations, I was surprised that I had only read about these interesting lakes in the last couple of months. That said, I wanted to visit the site and check out the feature. Driving out early this morning with my friend, Brent, we turned off of highways 50 onto Lucas Road and headed north until the paved road veered right, while we continued straight on a dirt road. Eventually, the dirt road leads to the shore of the larger lake.

As we approach the lake on foot, the ducks and geese quickly relocate to be as far across the lake from us as possible. The shoreline here is nearly flat with just a gentle slope to the water. A layer of white foam has washed onto the volcanic ash surface of the shoreline. Somewhere below the surface of the lake are the remains of a soda extraction factory built in the mid-1870's to extract sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) from the lake. In the early 20th century water from local irrigation projects seeped into the ground water and caused the lake level to rise, flooding the factory and ending the extraction process at the lake. It makes for an interesting story.

In the distance, we can see the reported tufa formations on the other side of the lake and decide to head over that way in the jeep. Leaving the jeep above the crater rim, we head down the steep pumice-covered incline to the northern shoreline on foot. The surface here is caked with a white mineral, which was presumably left when water evaporated. Walking along the shoreline, we see a number of examples of tiny springs feeding into the lake, volcanic gases rising from the bottom in the form of bubbles, and most notably, a large number of large tufa formations, some rising 5-6 feet out of the water. 

I have visited Mono Lake a few hours to the south many times over the years, and while its tufa towers are world renown, I had no idea that we had other examples of these otherworldly formations so close to Reno. And while these towers aren't nearly of the size or quantity as those at Mono Lake, they are no less interesting.

A bit further along the shoreline, we spot the shot-up remnants of a VW Bus, abandoned here who knows how long ago. From the terrain, I would guess that someone tried to drive it down the steep incline of the crater only to get stuck here. Years or perhaps decades later, all that remains is a rusted shell.

After the short walk back to the jeep, we head to our next destination in the area. Soda Lake is definitely something to check out that if you are near Fallon with a few minutes to spare.