Exploring Nevada

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Unfortunately, when some people hear of Nevada the first thing that comes to their mind is either The Strip or Area 51.

For me, the places I think of are either my favorite Valley of Fire State Park or Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, as both are in my top places to explore.

Below are the major highlights of what Nevada has to offer and we will be adding links to our articles once they are developed.

Exploring Nevada

National Conservation Areas in Nevada

Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area 

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area 

The conservation area showcases a set of large red rock formations: a set of sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust.

The walls are up to 3,000 feet high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 feet.

RELATED ARTICLE >>> Hiking in Clark County, Nevada

Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area 

Sloan Canyon contains a great many petroglyphs and has been called the Sistine Chapel of Native American rock art due to their size and significance. Archaeologists believe the more than 300 rock art panels with 1,700 individual design elements were created by native cultures from the Archaic to historical eras.

National Monuments in Nevada

Gold Butte National Monument

Located in Clark County, Nevada, northeast of Las Vegas and south of Mesquite and Bunkerville.

The monument protects nearly 300,000 acres of desert landscapes featuring a wide array of natural and cultural resources, including rock art, sandstone towers, and important wildlife habitat for species including the Mojave Desert tortoise (a threatened species), bighorn sheep, and mountain lion.

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument

Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, a United States National Monument near Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada, was established in 2014 to protect Ice Age paleontological discoveries. The 22,650-acre monument is administered by the National Park Service.

The national monument is located in the Upper Las Vegas Wash and protects part of the Tule Springs. The wash area also includes several patches of the rare Las Vegas bear poppy.

Fossils found at the site include Columbian mammoths, camelops, and American lions, and range from 7,000 to 250,000 years old.

National Parks in Nevada

Great Basin National Park

Based around Nevada’s second tallest mountain, Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park contains 5,000-year-old bristlecone pines, a rock glacier, and the limestone Lehman Caves.

Due to its remote location, the park has some of the country’s darkest night skies.

Wildlife includes Townsend’s big-eared bat, pronghorn, and Bonneville cutthroat trout.

National Recreation Areas in Nevada

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

Lake Mead is a man-made lake that lies on the Colorado River, about 24 miles from the Las Vegas Strip, southeast of the city of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the states of Nevada and Arizona.

Formed by the Hoover Dam on September 30, 1935, the reservoir serves water to the states of Arizona, California, and Nevada, as well as some of Mexico, providing sustenance to nearly 20 million people and large areas of farmland.

RELATED ARTICLE>> Hoover Dam Tours.

National Wildlife Refuge

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge

Located near Pahrump in Nye County, Nevada, established in 1984 Ash Meadows is the only National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada.

Nevada State Parks

Beaver Dam State Park in Lincoln County, NV

Beaver Dam State Park displays a natural, primitive and rustic beauty that offers a peaceful environment to any outdoor enthusiast of hiking, camping or fishing.

Accented by streams and waterfalls, pinyon, juniper and ponderosa forests, and dramatic outcrops of volcanic and sedimentary rocks, the park is a designated Watchable Wildlife Area.

Visitors are likely to see turkeys, jackrabbits, and porcupines during their visit. Beaver Dam is also home to mule deer, coyotes, fox, bobcats, great blue herons, and an occasional mountain lion, as well as many different lizards and snakes.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park in Nye County, NV

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park contains a town built in the 1890s that is preserved in a state of arrested decay.

A true Nevada ghost town, many of Berlin’s original buildings remain and some of its original residents are interred in the town’s cemetery. Trails throughout the townsite tell the story of Berlin and its mine.

The park is also home to the most abundant concentration, and largest known remains, of Ichthyosaurs, an ancient marine reptile that swam in a warm ocean that covered central Nevada 225 million years ago. The fossils are protected and displayed at the park’s Fossil House.

Big Bend of the Colorado in Clark County, NV

Situated on the shores of the Colorado River at Nevada’s southern tip, Big Bend of the Colorado River includes about two miles of sandy shoreline.

Because the park is downstream from Davis Dam, the river is clear and cool year-round. Popular activities are camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking and bird watching. The variety of waterfowl and shorebirds that make this park home include mallards, coots, herons, and geese. Hawks, roadrunners, quail, hummingbirds, doves, and owls are also abundant in the park.

The nearby town of Laughlin offers the amenities of a Nevada gaming town.

RELATED ARTICLE >>>  Things to do in Laughlin

Buckland Station

Built in 1870 from materials from Fort Churchill, an army base that was abandoned in 1869, Buckland Station was a Pony Express stop, a supplier for western emigrants, a boarding house and a home for the Buckland family until 1885.

Self-guided tours allow for a glimpse of early pioneer life in Nevada and a short video outlines the history of the Station and nearby Fort Churchill.

Located across the highway is the Orchard Day Use Area which provides access to picnic tables and charcoal grills, as well as a 2.2-mile Nature Trail that parallels the Carson River and connects Buckland Station to Fort Churchill.

Cathedral Gorge State Park in Lincoln County, NV

Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in a long, narrow valley in southeastern Nevada, where erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay.

The park’s beauty began with an explosive volcanic activity that, with each eruption, deposited layers of ash hundreds of feet thick.

Great walking trails abound for exploring the cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires that are the result of geologic processes from tens of millions of years ago.

A photographer’s dream, the park offers stunning views of the scenic canyon and visitors can enjoy hiking, picnicking, camping and nature study.

Cave Lake State Park in White Pine County, NV

Cave Lake State Park offers outstanding recreational opportunities year-round.

Stocked with rainbow trout and home to German brown trout, the 32-acre reservoir provides outstanding fishing and boating.

Other summer activities include swimming, hiking, camping and mountain biking. Once winter arrives, guests of the park can enjoy ice fishing, skating, snowmobiling, and cross-country skiing.

The park is also home to abundant and diverse wildlife.

Cave Rock State Park

Atop the Sierra Nevada mountain range, tucked along the southeastern shore of Lake Tahoe, Cave Rock is a great place to put in a boat and explore the crystalline waters of the largest alpine lake in North America.

The boat launch offers a double ramp and the park has more than 40 spaces for trailer parking.

A small beach at the south end of the park provides a perfect place for swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling, as well as a good spot to launch a canoe or kayak. A steep shoreline and rocky shoals make this a great location for fishing and enjoying the majestic beauty of Lake Tahoe.

Dayton State Park in Lyon County, NV

At the foot of the Virginia Range, on the banks of the Carson River, Dayton State Park is rich in picturesque beauty as well as gold and silver mining history.

The park features the remains of the Rock Point Mill built in 1861, a remnant of Dayton’s mining glory days. Old stone walls from the mill, one of the first to process ore from the Comstock Lode, still stand among cottonwood, sagebrush, and willows.

Originally a Paiute fishing camp, the park provides a scenic site to camp, picnic, hike or hold group outings.

Visitors may catch a glimpse of one or more of the hawks, foxes or porcupines that call this beautiful park home.

Echo Canyon State Park in Lincoln County, NV

Showcasing the beauty of Eastern Nevada, Echo Canyon State Park offers year-round opportunities to enjoy a variety of great outdoor activities.

The 65-acre reservoir presents the perfect place for boating and swimming and is home to a variety of waterfowl, including mallards, teals, and herons. Fishermen enjoy a lake filled with rainbow trout, largemouth bass, crappie, and an occasional German brown trout.

Campers and hikers can also enjoy the eagles, hawks, songbirds, owls, and vultures that soar through the canyons and valleys. Common animals include cottontails, coyotes, deer and an occasional bobcat.

Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site in Lincoln County, NV

Several generations of children were educated in this one-room school, which covered grades one through eight from 1922 through 1967.

In 1924, an addition to the building provided a small apartment for a teacher, since there was no housing available in the tiny community.

After that, finding a teacher was never a problem, since they were well paid and housing was provided.

The Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site features many of the school’s original items. The rest are authentic to the time period. Tours of the Schoolhouse are by appointment only.

Fort Churchill in Lyon County, NV

An integral part of the history of Nevada and the American West, Fort Churchill was built in 1861 to provide protection for early settlers and guard Pony Express mail runs.

Today the ruins are preserved in a state of arrested decay within the Fort Churchill State Historic Park, and visitors can walk designated trails to study the ruins.

The park also features the renovated Buckland Station, an important way station in the 1800s for pioneer travelers on the Overland Route. With 3,200 acres along the Carson River, the park is an idyllic place for campers, hikers, bird watchers, canoeists, and equestrians.

Ice Age Fossils in Clark County, NV

This 315-acre park features a portion of the upper Las Vegas wash that is rich in both paleontological and historical resources.

During the Pleistocene, also known as the Ice Age, the wash provided verdant habitat for several species of now-extinct mammals, including Columbian mammoths, American lions, camels, dire wolves, and ground sloths.

The discovery of abundant fossils onsite triggered a long history of scientific research, which includes the famous “Big Dig” of 1962-3, the largest interdisciplinary scientific expedition of its kind up to that point.

Kershaw-Ryan State Park in Lincoln County, NV

Situated in a colorful canyon, with towering walls up to 700 feet high and a long, verdant valley in between, Kershaw-Ryan State Park is an oasis in the desert, a sharp contrast to the rugged landscape that surrounds it.

Natural springs grow a garden of wild grapevines, white oaks, fruit trees, and willows, and a spring-fed pond provides a refreshing children’s wading pool. It is not unusual to see wild horses, deer, and other wildlife come to the water.

With plenty of places to picnic and a series of trails that wind throughout, the park is a great choice for hiking, camping and nature study.

Lahontan State Recreation Area in Churchill and Lyon County, NV

Named after an ancient lake, Lahontan Reservoir was originally built as part of an irrigation project to water nearby farmlands.

With willows and cottonwoods scattered along 69 miles of shoreline, the park is one of the most popular places in Nevada to boat, fish, water-ski, horseback ride, camp and enjoy the outdoors year-round.

Canoeing from Fort Churchill to the lake makes for a great day trip when conditions allow.

Wild horses, bobcat, fox, and deer share the park with a variety of birds, including migratory waterfowl, pelicans, herons, egrets, and hawks. Lahontan is also a nesting site for bald eagles.

Mormon Station State Historic Park in Douglas County, NV

Located in the quaint town of Genoa, Mormon Station’s lush lawns and mature trees make it an idyllic location to gather with friends and family.

The site of Nevada’s first permanent, non-native settlement, Mormon Station was built in 1851 as a trading post along the Carson Route of the California Trail, providing much-needed supplies to weary travelers crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Today, the park is home to a reconstructed version of the original 1851 trading post that burned down in 1910 and a museum with original pioneer-era artifacts.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park in Clark County, NV

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort, the first permanent, non-native settlement in the Las Vegas Valley, features the historic remains of an adobe fort built by Mormon missionaries along a spring-fed creek in 1855.

The creek, the only free-flowing water for miles around, provided irrigation for fields and orchards and the 150 square foot outpost served as a way station for travelers.

Today the park is located in what is now Downtown Las Vegas. In addition to the fort, which contains a multitude of historic artifacts, a Visitor Center contains exhibits and photos that illustrate the history of the site.

Rye Patch in Pershing County, NV

Open year-round, Rye Patch State Recreation Area is situated on a 22-mile long reservoir that has 72 miles of shoreline and 11,000 acres of water surface when full.

Visitors enjoy camping, picnicking, swimming and water-skiing, and fisherman delight in the available white bass, catfish, black bass and walleye. Trails around and throughout the park make it easy to enjoy the waterfowl and wildlife that abound, including hawks, eagles, owls, great egrets, antelope, deer, and fox.

The park also serves as a popular base camp for off-road vehicles, ghost town exploration, and gold prospecting.

Sand Harbor

The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is a cobalt blue lake atop the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

On its eastern shores, gently sloping beaches, crystal-clear water, and interesting rock formations allow for wonderfully sublime swimming, kayaking and scuba diving at Sand Harbor.

Boaters, water-skiers, and fisherman can easily launch from one of the park’s two ramps. Visitors who would like a peaceful retreat from surf and sun can picnic in the shade of cedars and Jeffrey pines in one of many picnic sites equipped with barbecues and tables.

The park also hosts the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival every summer.

South Fork in Elko County, NV

South Fork State Recreation Area boasts flourishing meadows and rolling hills filled with northeastern Nevada wildlife.

Sightings of mule deer, badgers, beavers and kit foxes are a common sight. With the Ruby Mountains as a backdrop, visitors easily and eagerly enjoy hunting, boating, swimming, and fishing.

The expansive reservoir holds an abundant cache of catfish, bass and trophy size trout. A variety of waterfowl grace the lake, including ducks and geese. South Fork also offers both primitive and developed camping.

A 25-site campground includes campsite tables, grills and a restroom with showers.

Spooner Lake and Backcountry

Nestled in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the Spooner Backcountry is a widespread recreational and natural oasis, with a lake surrounded by aspens and more than 12,000 acres of forested, open space.

The park features 50 miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain biking trails and primitive roads. A few of the more popular trails are the Marlette, Red House, Flume and Tahoe Rim Trails. Camping and cabins are also available.

The Spooner Lake Cabin sleeps four people comfortably and Wildcat Cabin sleeps two. Both cabins have basic amenities such as composting toilets, beds, cookstoves, and wood-burning stoves.

Spring Mountain Ranch in Clark County, NV

Sprawling and splendid, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is adjacent to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and has been used historically as a working ranch and a luxury retreat by a string of colorful owners, including German actress Vera Krupp and millionaire Howard Hughes. Today visitors can explore some of the oldest buildings in Nevada, a 1860s blacksmith shop, the Sandstone Cabin that was home to the founding family and the ranch house.

Hiking trails throughout the park, in addition to tree-shaded picnic sites with tables and grills, make day trips to the park a family favorite. And, every year Super Summer Theatre offers a variety of outdoor shows to enjoy.

Spring Valley in Lincoln County, NV

Volcanic tuff and sediment give Spring Valley State Park a beautiful light-gray, pink and white backdrop.

A popular area for boating, swimming, and camping, the park also allows visitors the opportunity to tour historic ranches built in the late 1800s.

The 59-acre Eagle Valley Reservoir offers fisherman an opportunity to catch rainbow, tiger and German brown trout, and attracts an array of waterfowl and shorebirds, including mallards, herons, avocets and the infrequent, yet beautiful, trumpeter swan.

Campers and hikers share the canyons and valleys with soaring eagles, hawks and songbirds

Valley of Fire in Clark County, NV

Located near Overton, Nevada north of Lake Mead, the Valley of Fire State Park is one of my favorite places to explore in Nevada that features multi-colored sandstone, slot canyons, petroglyphs, and bighorn sheep.

World-renowned for its 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops nestled in gray and tan limestone, Valley of Fire State Park contains ancient, petrified trees and petroglyphs dating back more than 2,000 years.

A Visitor Center provides exhibits on the geology, ecology, prehistory, and history of the park and nearby region.

The park also hosts an Annual Atlatl Competition in which participants test their skills with replicas of ancient spears.

Open year-round, the park has numerous campsites equipped with shaded tables, grills, and water, as well as many intriguing trails to tempt hikers.

Van Sickle in Douglas County, NV

A short walk from the Stateline, NV casinos, Van Sickle is one the most accessible parks in the Tahoe Basin.

A short climb from the trailhead quickly transports visitors to the serenity of the forest.

The park’s easy to moderate trails are studded with rock outcroppings that present grand views of the largest alpine lake in North America and the surrounding peaks.

The Rim Trail Connector provides a tie-in to the famed Tahoe Rim Trail, designated by National Geographic Adventure magazine as one of the nation’s top ten trails. The park is open to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians.

Walker River State Recreation Area

The State of Nevada benefited from an extraordinary opportunity to acquire land to establish the Walker River State Recreation Area.

The acquisition includes several large ranch properties that have been largely closed to public access for over 100 years.

Today, they afford the potential for a vibrant outdoor experience that no other single Nevada State Park can provide. The new state park includes four units: the Pitchfork Ranch, Rafter 7 Ranch, Flying M Ranch* and the Nine Mile Ranch.

The park units will open to the public over time, as development and infrastructure is completed.

Currently, the Elbow section of the Nine Mile Ranch is open for exploration. The Pitchfork Ranch opened to the public on September 22, 2018. Announcements will be made as phased development is completed.

*The Flying M Ranch is currently under a life estate agreement and is not planned for development at this time.

Ward Charcoal Ovens in White Pine County, NV

Perched in the Egan Mountain Range in eastern Nevada, Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is a scenic, forested retreat. Located 20 minutes from Ely in the Egan Mountain Range in eastern Nevada you will find the scenic Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park.

The park features six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens that were used from 1876 through 1879 to help process rich silver ore that was discovered in the area. Once mining ended, the ovens were used to shelter travelers and even had a reputation as a hideout for stagecoach bandits.

The ovens remain today and are open for touring. Visitors can also enjoy camping, picnicking, hiking and fishing while surrounded by a diversity of wildlife within the park, including mule deer, grouse, and elk.

Washoe Lake in Washoe County, NV

Nestled in a scenic valley where bald eagles soar, Washoe Lake State Park offers breathtaking views of the Sierra Nevada, Carson, and Virginia mountain ranges.

A popular area for hiking, camping, picnicking, water sports and equestrian activities, the park also hosts a diverse range of birds and waterfowl, such as American white pelicans and Canada geese.

Anglers can aim for channel and bullhead catfish, wipers, white bass, and Sacramento Perch. Situated between Reno and Carson City, the park is a true treasure for local residents and visitors to enjoy year-round.

Wild Horse in Elko County, NV

Remote and remarkable, Wild Horse State Recreation Area is open year-round.

The park’s reservoir is a popular fishing site, with rainbow and German brown trout, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and catfish awaiting able anglers. Cold winters make the lake an ideal location to ice fish and skate, or to explore on snowmobiles or skis.

Extraordinary wildflowers blanket the park in the spring, and summers offer swimming, boating, camping, and hiking.

Although hunting is not allowed in the park, the campground is a popular base camp for hunting in the surrounding area. Wildlife includes pronghorn, mule deer, and elk as well as a variety of waterfowl and upland game birds.

Other Nevada Explorations and Points of Interest

El Dorado Canyon and Gold Mine

Fly Geyser

Lamoille Canyon

Las Vegas

While Las Vegas is home of bright lights and 24/7 entertainment, the outdoor entertainment can be found at Red Rock National Conservation Area and surrounding areas. Hiking, biking, canyoneering, rock climbing, and more!!! There are some fun touristy things to do around the town such as various museums, Seven Magic Mountains, and more.

Laughlin

Laughlin is a popular casino town but don’t let that deter you from an area that is great for hiking, fishing, diving, kayaking, and more.

RELATED ARTICLE>> Things to Do in Laughlin.

Little Finland aka Hobgoblin’s Playground and Devil’s Fire

Mt. Charleston

RELATED ARTICLE>> Mt. Charleston Near Las Vegas, NV

Nevada Ghost Towns

RELATED ARTICLE>>> Ghost Towns in Nevada

Nevada Hot Springs

Nevada has over 300 hot springs throughout the state.

Nevada Waterfalls

Rhyolite

An old ghost town, Rhyolite is a neat place to kill some time if you are passing through. We drive through it when going to Death Valley in California and will stop to step back in the past.

Ruby Mountains

Tahoe

Exploring Nevada