Exploring Nevada

Hoover Dam was built during the Great Depression. Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the US and is contained by the 726-foot-high dam. The dam provides hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, and California. It was built on the Nevada/Arizona state line and is a 45-minute drive from the center of Las Vegas or a short helicopter flight away. Visitors can walk out onto the dam and look out over Lake Mead.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area stretches along the shores of Lake Mead and Lake Mohave. Recreation here includes beaches, hiking, boating, and camping.

Boulder Basin is the most popular section of Lake Mead north of Hoover Dam. Boulder Beach is popular for swimming. Campgrounds surrounded by lovely nature accommodate both tents and RVs.

Here you'll also find the Historic Railroad Trail. Hikers walk along the old railway bed and through tunnels.

Valley of Fire State Park has dramatic rock formations. There are wide vistas of colorful stones making for an impressive landscape. There are hiking trails that lead you past canyons, rock walls with petroglyphs, old filming locations, and other amazing things.

You can enjoy wildlife along the way. Camping is popular here.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is among the most popular hiking areas in Nevada. Huge rock formations jut out above the Mojave Desert. Among the highlights are box canyons and mountains. Popular activities are rock climbing, road biking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and picnicking.

Great Basin National Park is located in east/central Nevada near the border with the state of Utah. The park is dominated by Wheeler Peak. You can explore the Lehman Caves.

The park protects Bristlecone Pines nearly 5,000 years old. Camping sites are available.

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive offers great scenic views.

Burning Man Flying Geyser is part of the Burning Man Festival a pop-up city event in the desert held annually in the Black Rock Desert three hours north of Reno. The event focuses on art and self-expression and is held in late August and early September. The geyser is located on the Fly Geyser Ranch.

Lamoille Canyon is located in the heart of the Ruby Mountains in Elko County.

The Lamoille Canyon Road is an officially designated National Forest Road winding around the base of the Ruby Dome. The road climbs up into an 8,800-foot-high canyon carved by glaciers ages ago, It is beautiful during the summer with alpine meadows full of wildflowers.

Waterfalls and wildlife like bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and birds are on the hills and in the meadows.

Winter fun and skiing can be enjoyed at the Lee Canyon Ski Resort with the backdrop of Mount Charleston. There are 26 runs and three lifts. In the summertime, visitors can enjoy hiking, waterfalls, and McWilliams Campground.

Rhyolite is one of the best-preserved ghost towns. There are interesting structures to see like the ruins of the Cook Bank building, the railway station, and the bottle house. This ghost town has been used for movies with the recent being “The Island” starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson.

Nearby is the Goldwell Open Air Museum with 12 life-sized sculptures depicting a religious scene.

Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in the southeastern part of the state. It has impressive cathedral-like spires. Choose the Miller Point or Juniper Draw trails for great views of the jagged peaks.

Death Valley National Park is located in both Nevada and California. For fans of The Addams Family Death Valley was where Morticia and Gomez spent their honeymoon. This is one of the hottest places in the US with summer temperatures over 100 degrees.

Highlights here are:

Artists Palette

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Zabriskie Point with rolling hills

Badwater Basin Salt Flats is the lowest point in North America