Wilson Canyon facts for kids
Wilson Canyon is a deep, narrow valley, also called a gorge. It was carved out by the Walker River flowing through tall, rocky cliffs made from old volcanoes. This amazing canyon is about 13 miles (21 km) west of Yerington. You can find it along Nevada State Route 208. A government group called the U.S. Bureau of Land Management helps take care of the canyon.
What is Wilson Canyon Like?
Wilson Canyon is located in Lyon County, within an area called the Singatse Range. The Walker River flows through the canyon, heading northeast into the Mason Valley.
As the river travels through the 2 miles (3.2 km) of the canyon, it drops about 120 feet (37 m) in height. This means the river flows downhill quite a bit, making it faster than in other areas. The canyon was named after a person known as "Uncle Billy Wilson". He was a miner and a rancher who lived in the area. A nearby mining area, called the Wilson Mining District, is also named after him.
Long ago, a train track called the Nevada Copper Belt Railroad ran right through Wilson Canyon. The tracks were finished not long before Uncle Billy Wilson passed away.
The Big Flood of 1997
In late 1996 and early 1997, western Nevada and northern California experienced huge floods. These events are often called the "1997 New Year's Floods." They happened because of several big snowstorms in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Then, between December 20, 1996, and January 2, 1997, three more heavy rainstorms hit. This rain melted most of the snow that had piled up below 7,000 feet (2,100 m). This included snow at the very beginning of the Walker River. Even more heavy rain fell higher up in the mountains, between 7,000 and 10,000 feet (2,100 and 3,000 m).
All this melting snow and rain caused a massive amount of water to rush down from the mountains. It led to the worst flood western Nevada had seen in 150 years. During this time, Wilson Canyon was completely flooded. Because the canyon is so narrow, the flood caused even more damage there. Large parts of Route 208 were washed away. Pieces of the road were even found in the river after the water went down. After the flood, the highway had to be closed for two months. It cost $726,000 to fix the road.
