There’s no perfect solution for Carson River Canyon access

Years from now, when the V&T Railroad snakes its way through the Carson River Canyon, passengers will look out the windows at some of the best scenery Northern Nevada has to offer.

What they won’t see, it would seem, is a large number of people enjoying the shady riverbank, because motorized access to the five-mile stretch will likely be cut off. An ambitious plan for a recreation trail is good news for bicyclists and hikers, but it saddens us that the canyon will be largely inaccessible for those without the physical wherewithal to get very far down that trail.

It’s important to note that few of those people are likely using the canyon now, and there are many local residents who’ve never visited there at all. For some people, it’s merely because they’re not aware of the canyon’s beauty. For others, the road, soon to be the railroad grade, is a bit too rough for their vehicles, and still others have expressed concerns about safety and the blight of trash.

Currently, the canyon is largely open and unmonitored for people to do whatever they choose, even if that happens to be unloading their garbage along the dirt road.
The best of all solutions would allow for all types of access, giving everyone a chance to view its wonders while at the same time cleaning up and policing the canyon. But this may be a case where there’s just not room for everyone. And that’s a shame, because the Carson River Canyon is spectacular not only in its scenery, but in its potential. The riverbank offers perfect places for family picnics, and there are wide spots that could even work as managed campgrounds capable of drawing tourists.

However, any solution that cleans up the canyon and keeps it clean will be an improvement, even it falls short of perfect.

• This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.