Overland Basin Falls
One for the list
Is it plungeworthy?
A short, pretty falls.
The details
- Coordinates
- 40.46811, -115.45946
About Overland Basin Falls
Overland Basin Falls is a waterfall in Nevada.
Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.
Plungeworthy rates Overland Basin Falls 3/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A snowmelt waterfall just north of Overland Lake on the Ruby Crest Trail — known to thru-hikers as the last reliable water for 11 to 13 miles heading north. That practical fact is why every Ruby Crest trip report mentions it.
This is backpacking terrain, not a day hike: Overland Lake alone is a 5.7-mile climb from the trailhead, and the falls sits about a mile beyond it at 9,500 feet.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Overland Lake Trailhead on the east side of the Rubies, then the Ruby Crest Trail north past Overland Lake
- Parking
- At the trailhead
- Road
- Dirt approach roads
- Hike
- 13.4 mi round trip (Strenuous — a full-day round trip or an overnight)
- Heads up
- No permit needed for day or thru-hiking the Ruby Crest Trail
When to go
July through September. Flow is snowmelt-dependent — trip reports flag it as not guaranteed late-season, so don't stake a water plan on it in a dry year.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None
- Dogs
- Under control; wilderness rules
- Camping
- Wilderness camping — Overland Lake is the established stop
- Warnings
- Treat all water; afternoon thunderstorms build fast on the crest.
Researched from Halfway Anywhere — Ruby Crest Trail Backpacking Guide · Wikipedia — Overland Lake (Nevada). Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Overland Basin Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Overland Basin Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Overland Basin Falls?
Overland Basin Falls is a waterfall in Nevada, at 40.46811, -115.45946.
Is Overland Basin Falls worth visiting?
One for the list — Plungeworthy rates it 3/10.
Gear for the trip
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