14 Spectacular Places In Nevada You Simply Have To Visit

The best of the Silver State

From the blinding lights of Las Vegas to the great open expanses of the Black Rock Desert – and with plenty of atmospheric one-horse towns in between – Nevada is rich in beautiful sights. Whether you're after otherworldly state parks or cities heavy on Old West charm, you'll find it in the Silver State. Here are 14 of Nevada's most spectacular places.

Cathedral Gorge State Park, Lincoln County

This state park in southeastern Nevada is so pretty that locals have nicknamed it 'Cathedral Gorgeous'. It's a fitting moniker for the site, which is crowned with dramatic siltstone bluffs and spires that have been eroded into shape over several thousands of years. Another highlight is the labyrinth of narrow slot canyons that winds its way through the landscape.

Cathedral Gorge State Park, Lincoln County

Cathedral Gorge is a treat from up high. Strike out on the Miller Point Trail which beats a rugged path through the landscape (peppered with a series of bridges and staircases) and eventually reaches a lookout point that offers impressive views over the park's otherworldly expanse. Look out for wildlife such as kit foxes and mule deer along the way too.

Great Basin National Park

Arguably one of the USA's most underrated national parks, Great Basin was established back in 1986 and it's a wonderland both above and below ground. Following the mountain-fringed Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is one of the park's most popular activities. You'll inch higher and higher as you drive the 12-mile (19km) route, eventually topping 10,000 feet (3,048m) above sea level, and coming face to face with the drive's namesake: the snow-crowned Wheeler Peak. 

Great Basin National Park

There are subterranean sights aplenty too. Lehman is one of the most impressive cave systems in the USA, spilling out for some two miles (3km) in a riot of stalagmites, stalactites and curious shield formations. A mix of ranger-led excursions are available, with the 90-minute Grand Palace Tour covering the greatest hits. The cave is home to some resident bats too, though you'll be very lucky to spot any. 

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The Strip, Las Vegas

Unlike the twisted rock and shrub-scattered desert of Nevada's state and national parks, Vegas's big, brash beauty is all manmade. The light-drenched Strip is an assault on the senses, with winking neon, multi-story ads, towering palm trees and music pooling from speakers all around. A favored photo stop is the 'Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas' sign, which marks the southern end of the Strip.

The Strip, Las Vegas

The Fountains of Bellagio are a hero of The Strip too. Illuminated jets of water are choreographed to classic tunes from Chicago's All That Jazz to Sinatra's Fly Me To The Moon and crowds gather daily to enjoy the show. Keep your eyes peeled for Vegas's own glittering Eiffel Tower (home to a viewing deck and a sought-after restaurant) and the skyline of New York-New York, which includes replicas of the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. 

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Lake Tahoe

Straddling the California-Nevada border are the impossibly blue waters of Lake Tahoe. There are endless scenic spots to discover, including Sand Harbor (pictured). As its name suggests, this swathe of the lake is fringed by Champagne-colored sands that are strewn with rocks and pine trees. It's close to the pretty mountain town of Incline Village too.

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe's Bonsai Rock (pictured) is a particularly photogenic spot. It's a craggy formation floating in the lake's cobalt waters and it's known for the smattering of hardy trees that push their way from its surface. The Spooner Lake backcountry area offers stellar views over Tahoe and plenty of hiking and biking trails too.

Caliente, Nevada

Backdropped by scrub-covered mountains, teensy Caliente feels every inch the Wild West town, right down to the false front architecture and railroad tracks beating their way towards the horizon. Make time for some classic American comfort food at down-to-earth Side Track Restaurant.

Caliente, Nevada

The most impressive building in town is the Caliente Railroad Depot, which was built in 1923. At its peak, the building included a popular restaurant and a hotel and today there's an adjacent museum with fascinating Union Pacific railroad relics on show. Make time to stop by and admire the fine Mission Revival architecture. 

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Virginia City, Storey County

This birds-eye shot of Virginia City in western Nevada shows off its stirring mountain location. It's enclosed by the Virginia range, so it's the perfect springboard for outdoor activities like hiking and biking. The town is a top spot for history lovers too: in 1859, the Comstock Lode, a major deposit of silver, was discovered here and Virginia City mushroomed into a mining boomtown.

Virginia City, Storey County

A huge store of beautiful Victorian-era architecture is still preserved today. Wander along historic C Street and spot old-school saloons, galleries and general stores – legend has it the Washoe Club and Haunted Museum, a historic saloon, is teeming with ghosts. The mountain-backed Silver Terrace Cemetery is hauntingly beautiful too.

Fly Ranch Geyser, Washoe County

The Fly Ranch Geyser looks like it belongs on another planet. It was created by accident, when a geothermal energy company failed to plug up a test drill. The result is a man-made geyser with scorching water and a psychedelic surface created by algae that makes its home on the rocks. You can reach the rainbow wonder via State Route 34.

Black Rock Hot Springs, near Gerlach

Another geothermal showstopper in the far northwest of Nevada, Black Rock Hot Springs is enveloped by the Black Rock Desert. You'll need to go off road to reach this desert oasis, but it's well worth the effort. It's a picture-perfect sight with impossibly blue waters surrounded by reeds and mountains rising in the distance. Bring your swimmers and make time for a soak.  

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Sand Mountain Recreation Area, Churchill County

Nevada's high desert has some spectacular sand dunes too. This 4,795-acre recreation area in the state's Great Basin is dominated by its namesake: the aptly named Sand Mountain, which sprawls out for 3.5 miles (5.6km) and soars to 600 feet (183m). The landscape originates from an ancient body of water, Lake Lahontan, which vanished some 9,000 years ago. 

Sand Mountain Recreation Area, Churchill County

Now the area is a haven for adventure lovers with some 23 miles (37km) of trails for ATVs – sand boarding is another popular activity here. If you can't tear yourself away from the sand, back-to-basics campgrounds are available too. Or for those not after an adrenaline hit, Sand Mountain is a top spot for a picnic with a view.

Public art in Reno, Washoe County

Bohemian Reno has earned the nickname 'the Biggest Little City in the World' for its glittering casinos and top-notch entertainment. But it's the huge store of public art that really makes the city stand out, with more than one hundred murals beautifying the buildings in the downtown and midtown districts. Pictured is Expression of the Soil by Erik Burke in the midtown area.

Public art in Reno, Washoe County

As you wander through Reno's streets, you'll find everything from stirring portraits and animal effigies to kaleidoscopic patterns. Art Spot Reno runs monthly guided tours, or you can go it alone with their mural map. Reno's dramatic mountain backdrop loves the camera too.

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Loneliest Road in America, Highway 50

zSpend some time driving on Nevada's Highway 50 and you'll soon realize why it's nicknamed the 'Loneliest Road in America'. It starts way out west, in the little Black Rock Desert town of Fernley, and strikes east towards Ely, with its murals, casinos and handful of quirky restaurants. But the open road is the real destination. Along the way, it's, well, lonely, with nothing but mountains and desert scrub for company. Those epic views are worth the solitude (but make sure you have provisions).

Neon Museum, Las Vegas

Ever wondered what happens when Las Vegas's neon signs are retired? If they're lucky, they end up at the city's Neon Museum, a boneyard of sorts where the glittering relics live out their golden years. Come by for a tour after sunset and see the winking neon vestiges of landmark venues from Caesars Palace to the Sahara. 

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Tonopah, Nye County

A historic mining city, Tonopah is known as 'Queen of the Silver Camps' and you can learn about that heritage at Tonopah Historic Mining Park. Beyond that, the Main Street oozes Old West atmosphere (quirky places to stay include the supposedly haunted Mizpah Hotel) and the mountain location wows to boot. But the real drawcard is Tonopah's beautiful dark skies.

Tonopah, Nye County

Tonopah Stargazing Park is one of the finest places to see the cosmos in all of America – check the Tonopah Clear Sky Chart before you head out for a night searching the stars (there are special concrete pads to set up a telescope if you've got access to one). The town is right along the Extraterrestrial Highway too, so you might even see more than you bargained for. 

Valley of Fire State Park, Clark County

It's not hard to see how this Mars-like state park, just an hour drive from Las Vegas, got its name. The whole landscape could be ablaze as flaming Aztec sandstone formations rise from the desert floor, some of them covered in ancient petroglyphs. For an easy jaunt into the rockscape, try the Mouse's Tank Trail – it's less than a mile (1.6km) long and leads through gnarled red rock to a natural basin.

Valley of Fire State Park, Clark County

Another of the site's impressive formations is the Fire Wave (pictured). The namesake, out-and-back trail is one of the most popular routes at the park – it wriggles out for 1.5 miles (2.4km), reaching a spectacular rock formation that's covered in a pattern of salmon, crimson and white swirls. Make time to see the Seven Sisters too – several of these hulking red boulders look just like sculpted busts.

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