Looking to escape the wet days of winter? Head east to Nevada and find adventure.
There is so much to see in the Silver State! Most travelers think of Reno, Las Vegas, or WW II bomb testing sites when they think of Nevada, and wonder why anyone would want to explore this desert state. But stunning scenery and amazing adventures abound here, waiting to be explored.
We headed out in our camper this winter with our Jeep in tow, exploring the highways and byways of this picturesque state. Most of Nevada is public land: state parks, national forests, nature conservancy areas, and more. There is adventure waiting in every direction. We’ve made many trips to discover the hidden treasures of this state. Here are a few highlights from our recent trip:
Heading down Highway 95 you’ll discover Comstock Mining towns. Tonopah is a true curiosity, with its historic mining park, vintage Mizpah Hotel, and famous/creepy Clown Motel. Don’t just drive through the town, though. Instead, park your rig and look around. The Tonopah Historic Mining Park is a huge highlight, featuring over 100 acres of early 1900s mining structures you can explore on foot or by ATV. It’s an impressive collection to rival the best mining parks in the West. There are several mines here, each with carefully restored headframes, hoist houses, rock crushing mills, and intact equipment. The harsh climate made it hard for miners to work on site, enduring freezing cold temperatures in winter, and soaring temperatures during the hot desert summers. The visitor center has an impressive display of rocks and minerals, a theater, and a gift shop. Guided tours are available for a small fee.
Just 30 minutes south of Tonopah lies Goldfield. This living ghost town is a National Historic District. With a resident population of around 300 today, it once housed over 20,000 gold seekers at the turn of the 20th century. Between 1903 to1940 the town produced over $86 million in gold, which is equivalent to around $2.7 billion today. You can walk past mining equipment and wooden cabins from 1910 standing alongside modern houses today. It’s fascinating to peer inside the windows and gaze 125 years into the past. Some very impressive brick structures still stand tall today, like the Goldfield Hotel and the county courthouse. Or you can stroll up alongside a vintage water tank on wheels!
Southwest of Goldfield is Tecopa Springs, a little hamlet with several hot springs resorts. Our favorite is the Death Valley Hot Springs (formerly called Delight’s Hot Springs). Here you can stay in one of the resort cottages, or park your camper in an RV site with full hookups and relax in comfort. Enjoy private indoor hot pools, or swim in the large outdoor hot pool with views of the colorful desert hills all around. We spent three days here, feeling our aches and pains melt away in the soothing mineral waters.
The nearby China Ranch Date Farm, a lush oasis set against the barren desert landscape, offers date-flavored milkshakes, freshly harvested dates from the orchard, and other intriguing curiosities. But the true wonder is the Amargosa Desert hiking trail. Hike downstream into colorful slot canyons and gaze out at the remnants of the old Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. The scenery is breathtaking here.
Heading north along Highway 15 toward Overton brings another reward: Valley of Fire State Park. This spectacular 46,000 acre park features campgrounds, a visitor center and miles of jaw-dropping sights. Our favorite sites include the Fire Wave Trail, Mouse’s Tank (a narrow canyon with amazing petroglyphs), and Fire Canyon.
Leaving Valley of Fire we headed north to Overton, visiting the Lost City Museum and learning about the Pueblo residents who once inhabited the area. Next, we headed northwest to the beautiful Pahranagat Valley, a wetlands park along Highway 93. Roadside campgrounds along the lake offer a welcome respite from a long drive. We pulled into camp and watched a striking sunset.
The next morning we set out across the Extra Terrestrial Highway featuring Area 51, where tales of an alien landing have haunted avid sci-fi fans for a lifetime. There are interesting shops along the way, especially in the little town of Rachel. We got a big kick out of this giant space alien:
So, do alien sightings really happen out there? We didn’t see any low flying aircraft, but our cell phones did act strangely. Who knows? This giant sign featuring cows being sucked up into a spaceship advertises “Fresh Jerky from Area 51”. Would you want to sample this fare? Hmmm …
Rosanne S. McHenry is the author of Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger, and Tales from a Rogue Ranger. To learn more about her please visit triptalesbook.com or email her at RangerRose123@gmail.com