Discover Nevada: Nature, Water and History

Nevada reveals itself through red sandstone outcrops, lakeshores, mountain roads and historic places. When planning your trip, you can start by considering whether you’re most interested in landscapes and hiking, water activities or traces of history. The state has more than 60 million acres of public land. Several destinations in Nevada are also officially recognized by DarkSky International as places with particularly dark skies.

Rock Landscapes and Trails

At Valley of Fire State Park, vivid red Aztec sandstone outcrops meet gray and beige limestone. The park is known for 40,000 acres of these sandstone outcrops. Among its notable features are ancient petrified trees and petroglyphs more than 2,000 years old. The visitor center has exhibits dedicated to the park’s geology, ecology, prehistory and history.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area was designated Nevada’s first National Conservation Area. A 13-mile scenic drive leads through the area, and hikes on offer range from a few minutes to a full day. Four designated picnic areas offer views of Red Rock Canyon and access to easier trails. The visitor center has exhibits and a bookstore.

Great Basin National Park covers around 77,000 acres. Its paved Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a 12-mile round trip and reaches an elevation of more than 10,000 feet. Along the road, you may spot mule deer, marmots, coyotes and rabbits. Viewpoints offer opportunities to see and photograph Mount Moriah, Lehman Creek, Wheeler Peak, Doso Doyabi Peak and the Snake Valley below. The road also provides access to trails to the Alpine Lakes, the Bristlecone Pine Interpretive Trail, Osceola Ditch and the Wheeler Peak Summit Trailhead.

Lakes and Water Activities

Sand Harbor lies on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, which Nevada State Parks describes as North America’s largest alpine lake. Visitors can swim in the lake’s clear waters and go diving there. Two ramps are available for launching boats and other watercraft. Picnic areas with grills and tables round out the facilities.

Boating and fishing are possible in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The area has more than 900 campsites and RV sites. These water destinations offer different activities: at Sand Harbor, diving and boat ramps are among the offerings described alongside swimming; boating and fishing are possible at Lake Mead.

Explore History

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park preserves six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens. They were used to process silver ore from 1876 to 1879. Fishing is also possible in the park’s Willow Creek. At Fort Churchill State Historic Park, you can see the fort’s ruins. Buckland Station was an important stop for pioneer travelers on the Overland Route in the 19th century; the ground floor of the historic residence is open for self-guided visits. The Nature Trail is an easy, 2.2-mile one-way trail along the Carson River.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park preserves a ghost town established in the 1890s, with many original buildings still standing. The park is also home to the largest known concentration and the largest known remains of ichthyosaurs. The Fossil House displays the park’s protected ichthyosaur fossils, and the Berlin Townsite can be explored on a self-guided visit. At this destination, visitors can learn about two distinct aspects of the park: local history and fossils.

Nevada’s architectural and everyday history can also be experienced at various places. The reconstruction of Mormon Station, built in 1851, is used as a museum displaying original pioneer artifacts. The Kinsey House, built in 1856, is one of Nevada’s oldest surviving homes. Elgin Schoolhouse preserves a one-room schoolhouse where students in grades one through eight were taught from 1922 to 1967; many of the school’s original items are on display there.

Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort preserves the historic remains of an adobe fort built by Mormon missionaries in 1855. Exhibits and photographs in the visitor center tell the story of the site. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park borders Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and preserves some of Nevada’s oldest buildings. Visitors can explore the interior of the Ranch House on a self-guided visit. Living history programs include role-playing in historical costumes, demonstrations and reenactments.

At Hoover Dam, the observation deck offers 360-degree views of the dam, the Colorado River, Lake Mead and the Hoover Bypass Bridge. The Original Exhibit Building houses a narrated 3D model of the region’s dams and power systems. Comparing these destinations shows how varied a stay in Nevada can be: focused on nature and scenic views, water activities or specific insights into the state’s history.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Clark, Carson City, Washoe, Lander County, Elko County, Douglas County, Churchill County, Humboldt County, Lyon County, Nye, White Pine County, Lincoln County, Storey County.

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