What. A. Shithole.
Literally...holes full of shit.
I'm sorry...do I offend? Trust me, nothing is as offensive as this rest stop. But if you'd like some prettier language, let's just call it a putrid repository of feces.
I've been in some gnarly pit toilets in my time, but this one ranks pretty high on the omigod-what-am-I-doing-in-this-noxious-hellhole scale. The toilets are poorly constructed and poorly maintained, and without getting into too much gory detail, let's just say that the waste material does not all manage to drop into the receptacles that are meant to keep things reasonably sanitary. And, of course, no TP. And broken door locks. And overflowing trash bins. There is no water, so pray you have wet wipes.
And if the toilets themselves aren't enough, the wide swathe of gravel that borders the rest stop and serves as the "Dog Walking Area" (read: carpet of dog turds) really adds to the effluvium.
The really sad thing is that there is actually a lot of interesting and important history at this stop, including two historic markers touting the importance of this area to native people and to early pioneers--this was a major stopping point along the California Trail. The interpretive signs here are quite good. There is also a memorial to a fallen state trooper. But the memory of the Numa people, the pioneers, and Officer Borland should be better honored than to be clouded in poo exhaust.
One really good thing that I noticed is that there was no litter anywhere, as far as I could tell. The picnic area and the parking area were squeaky clean. I even saw a couple utilizing one of the shaded tables because, apparently, they had no sense of smell.
On Google Maps this is labeled Fallon Rest Area, and on the Nevada DOT website it is listed as Trinity Rest Area, but I propose a more accurate moniker--NOPE Rest Area.
Don't. Don't. Just don't. You would be better stopping your car in the desert and squatting on a sagebrush. If you really need a toilet, Lovelock is another half hour up the road. Hold it. read more