College and Community Profile

College and Community Profile

The main campus of Great Basin College is located in Elko. Within easy driving distance of Salt Lake City, Boise, and Reno, it is at the center of some of the most dramatic and remote landscapes in the nation. The glacier-carved Ruby Mountains—20 minutes to the south— and the Jarbidge Mountains to the north boast some of the cleanest air on Earth. Both areas provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor pursuits. Hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, skiing, and snowmobiling make them four-season recreation destinations.

The greater Elko area includes the communities of Spring Creek and Lamoille to the south, Wells to the east, and Carlin to the west. Elko is the economic center of the region. The downtown area is home to The Western Folklife Center, which holds the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering each winter. Basque restaurants provide an opportunity for a traditional western dining experience, and other fine restaurants offer more contemporary menus including sushi, Mexican, and haute cuisines. Locally owned specialty stores provide consumers with outlets for clothing, crafts, house wares, and furniture. A number of art galleries, pubs, and Nevada- style gaming establishments can be found downtown as well. Mass retail stores are found on the city’s outskirts.

Elko’s park system is one of the best in the state with several hundred acres of green space available to residents. Streets are well maintained and bike routes have been established in the community. There are several churches within walking distance of the college’s student housing as well. Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital provides primary healthcare facilities with specialists