SNU Sheldon Wildlife Rally

The Sierra Nevada Unit will hold its June Rally at the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge's Virgin Valley Campground. Virgin Valley is a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) campground accessible year-round. There you will find pit toilets, drinking water, a warm springs pool and a rustic shower house (fed by the warm springs).
The rally will feature the SNU’s Shared  potluck meals plus  the opportunity to experience Sheldon’s many activities:
Wildlife watching - if you enjoy getting outdoors and looking for wildlife, consider a visit to Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge!  From birding to big game, from viewing speedy pronghorn or soaring raptors, wildlife observation is the most popular activity for refuge visitors from every state.
Photography - the fastest growing activity on national wildlife refuges in the past ten years has been wildlife photography.  
Birding, from bald eagles to spoonbills, from condors to puffins, birds abound on national wildlife refuges.
Hiking is a great way to explore the refuge and there are ample cross-country hiking options. However, there are no hiking trails so please exercise extreme caution, especially when entering rocky and rugged terrain.
Hunting, the “Old West” lives on at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, which includes rocky canyons, homesteads and numerous species of wildlife found only in the Great Basin. Rolling hills covered with sagebrush and mountain mahogany stretch to the horizon.
Fishing, the refuge has opportunities for trout and warm-water game fishing. Boats may be used on Big Spring Reservoir, Catnip Reservoir and Dufurrena Ponds. Only electric motors are allowed. Please check current state regulations for season dates. McGee Pond is open year-round for children under age 12...
Auto Tour, vehicles are allowed ONLY on Open Routes. Roads are open as indicated by road signs, refuge maps, or other information subject to weather and road and for resource/habitat protection.
Biking is allowed ONLY on dirt roads and Open Routes. Roads are open as indicated by road signs, refuge maps, or other information subject to weather and road conditions and for resource/habitat protection.
Off-road vehicles are allowed ONLY on dirt roads and Open Routes. Roads are open as indicated by road signs, refuge maps, or other information subject to weather and road conditions and for resource/habitat protection.
Horseback riding is allowed on the Refuge. Corrals are located at Badger and Fish Springs Campground.
Worn out planning your activities, we’ll offer some of the SNU sitting and horizontal relaxation techniques and conversations too!
Sheldon Wildlife Rally requires a longer caravan to reach Virgin Vally Campground, 290 miles from Reno but you can always break it up into a two day jaunt if you like or find another SNU member to caravan with.
Your editor visited Sheldon Wildlife Refuge in June of last year on a two week motorcycle tour of the Western States. Weather was moderately warm but near freezing at night. My group especially liked the warm spring and shower. Access into the Refuge to the campground was via a 2 1/2 mile dirt road in fairly good condition. Come out and join us for the entire time or what time you have.