I don't know about NW Nevada, but the Walker River area south of Minden/Gardnerville NV, going toward Bishop CA is terrific. In fact, Bishop CA is spectacular. It's the anti-LA.
I lived between Minden and Carson City for several years, and liked it a lot. That was 25 years ago, but I could hike to a gravel dig about 1/4 mile from my house and target shoot undisturbed. We used a wood stove to supplement our gas heat, so I'd go cut a cord or two of pinion pine every year. There is a strip about 1/2 to 1 mile wide along the western side of the Sierras that is kept quite green with runoff. Lots of really nice hiking spots and great scenery around there.
