Bright red sandstone, petrified trees and millennia-old petroglyphs give Nevada a rich history. Ancient petrified trees have been preserved in Valley of Fire State Park; the petroglyphs there are more than 2,000 years old. The landscape also makes its own impression: the park is known for 40,000 acres of bright red Aztec sandstone outcrops set amid gray and beige limestone. The visitor center explores the park’s geology, ecology, prehistory and history. Nevada’s state park system encompasses more than two dozen diverse sites—from unusual rock formations and riverbanks to pioneer forts.

Desert Landscapes and High-Altitude Trails

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area also combines scenery with practical orientation. It was designated Nevada’s first National Conservation Area and features a 13-mile scenic drive. Hikes range from a few minutes to a full day, offering options for different time frames without prescribing a specific route. 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 offers a different high-altitude experience: it covers around 77,000 acres. The 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 scenic drive also provides access to trails to the Alpine Lakes, the Bristlecone Pine Interpretive Trail, Osceola Ditch and the Wheeler Peak Summit Trailhead.

Lakes and Activities on the Water

Sand Harbor is on the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, which Nevada State Parks describes as North America’s largest alpine lake. You can swim in Lake Tahoe’s clear water there, and scuba diving is also possible. Two ramps are available for launching boats and other watercraft. Picnic areas with grills and tables round out the lakeside amenities. Boating and fishing are possible at Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It also has more than 900 campsites and RV sites.

Historic Places, Buildings and Traces of the Past

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is home to six beehive-shaped charcoal ovens, which were used to process silver ore from 1876 to 1879. The park thus tells the story of a specific historical use of the ovens. Those interested in fishing can also check out Willow Creek in the park.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park preserves the ruins of Fort Churchill. In the 19th century, Buckland Station was an important stop for pioneer travelers on the Overland Route. On a self-guided tour, you can explore the ground floor of the historic residence. The Nature Trail runs along the Carson River; the one-way route is 2.2 miles long.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park combines paleontology with local history. It is home to the largest known concentration and the largest known remains of ichthyosaurs. The Fossil House displays the park’s protected ichthyosaur fossils. A self-guided tour is available at the Berlin Townsite, where many original buildings from a ghost town established in the 1890s have been preserved.

Other places also preserve individual chapters of Nevada’s history. Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort preserves the historic remains of an adobe fort built by Mormon missionaries in 1855; its visitor center has exhibits and photographs about the site’s history. Mormon Station State Historic Park is home to a reconstruction of a trading post built in 1851, now used as a museum displaying original pioneer artifacts. The 1856 Kinsey House is one of Nevada’s oldest surviving residences. Elgin Schoolhouse offers a glimpse into another aspect of everyday life: from 1922 to 1967, grades one through eight were taught in this preserved one-room schoolhouse, where many original school items are on display.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park borders Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. The park preserves some of Nevada’s oldest buildings; on a self-guided tour, you can explore the inside of the Ranch House. Living history programs complement costumed characters with demonstrations and reenactments. At Hoover Dam, meanwhile, the observation deck offers a 360-degree view 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.

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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