| Echo Canyon State Park offers a 65-acre reservoir with a campground, picnic area, group use facilities and boat launch. The park is popular for camping, fishing, hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery of eastern Nevada. Abundant wildlife, a wide variety of native plants and unique rock formations make exploration a favorite activity. Echo Canyon State Park is one of five state parks located in Lincoln County.Archeologists believe this area was occupied as long ago as 5,500 BC. However, without evidence of any permanent dwellings, it appears the area served only for seasonal hunting and gathering camps. A few artifacts and petroglyphs found around the park indicate the presence of more recent Shoshone groups, including the modern Southern Paiute. It is important for all visitors to know that State and Federal laws protect all artifacts and rock art. They should be left undisturbed for future generations to enjoy.Mormon pioneers settled this part of Eastern Nevada in 1864. Local Paiutes showed them silver ores and their name for the rock, "Panaker," was used to name the town Panaca. In the late 1860's a small smelter and mill were built in Dry Valley, not far from Echo Canyon. The small tent camp was called Moodyville and boasted a population of 60 in 1872. A severe windstorm destroyed the camp in 1873 and nothing remains of the site. Farmers and ranchers permanently settled Dry Valley by the late 1870's. Today, alfalfa is the valley's primary crop, seen growing in the fields below the dam.Agriculture continues to be an important factor in Lincoln County's economy, and was the reason for the construction of Echo Canyon Dam. Built in 1969-70, the dam was developed by Lincoln County for water storage and flood control, with a side benefit of water-based recreation. After completion of the campground and group use area, the Division of State Parks assumed operations in 1970. The 65-acre reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout by the Nevada Division of Wildlife. Other fish include largemouth bass and crappie, and an occasional German brown trout. The 1080-acre park is open year round. Visitors may purchase gas, groceries and fishing licenses in Pioche.Echo Canyon is situated at the head of Dry Valley, one in a series of valleys along Meadow Valley Wash. Emptying into the Muddy River near Moapa in Clark County, Meadow Valley Wash eventually reaches Lake Mead near Overton. Although part of the Colorado River watershed, the park's environment is typical of the Great Basin desert and riparian life zones.The reservoir attracts a variety of waterfowl and shore birds including mallards, teals, herons, avocets and the infrequent yet beautiful trumpeter swan. Eagles, hawks, songbirds, hummingbirds, ravens, owls, road runners and vultures inhabit the canyons and valleys.Common animals include squirrels, cottontails, jackrabbits, coyotes, skunks and an occasional bobcat. Deer are seen in the early morning, as they come to the lake for water. Several species of lizards and snakes also inhabit the park.Single-leaf pinion pine and Utah juniper are the predominant native trees at the park. Ash, Russian olive and ponderosa pine have been planted for shade. Cottonwoods, willows, duckweed, watercress, cattails and other riparian plants flourish along the canyon stream. Sagebrush and rabbit brush cover the hillsides, with cactus and narrow leaf yucca also present. Wild current grows in back country canyons.Volcanic activity 45 to 125 million years ago formed many of the rock outcrops visible in the park today. The cliff walls of Echo Canyon are composed of tertiary basaltic lava flows; the badlands north of the reservoir are comprised of volcanic ash-flow tuffs. Alluvial gravel and pinkish clay formations formed later, resulting from a vast lake that covered this area about a million years ago. As it dried, veins of chalcedony, or desert rose, were exposed and are abundant in the area. |
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