Best Hikes in Nevada
Nevada's hiking ranges from the alpine terrain of Great Basin National Park and the Ruby Mountains to the red rock slot canyons near Las Vegas and the Black Rock Desert playa.
Great Basin NP: Wheeler Peak Summit Trail (8.6 miles)
The premier Nevada hike — through ancient bristlecone pine forest (among the oldest trees on Earth), past the remnant Wheeler Peak Glacier, to the 13,063-foot summit. The summit provides a 200-mile view across the Great Basin. The forest of bristlecones at 11,000 feet is otherworldly — the trees, gnarled and ancient, have survived thousands of years of wind, drought, and cold.
Red Rock Canyon: Calico Hills and Turtlehead Peak
The Calico Hills loop (6 miles) is the finest moderate hike in Red Rock Canyon — through brilliant red and cream sandstone formations, past natural water pockets, and into the quieter back sections of the canyon. Turtlehead Peak (5.7 miles round trip) is the most strenuous Red Rock hike, with 2,000 feet of gain to a summit with views of the entire Red Rock escarpment and the Las Vegas valley.
Lamoille Canyon: Ruby Mountains Traverse
Lamoille Canyon in the Ruby Mountains is accessible from Elko — the canyon road (a glacial U-valley) dead-ends at the Liberty Pass trailhead. From there, the Ruby Crest National Recreation Trail traverses the range with views of alpine lakes, glacial cirques, and the broad Nevada valley below. Multi-day backpacking is superb.
Valley of Fire: Fire Wave Trail (1.5 miles)
A short but spectacular hike to a wind-sculpted formation of swirling red and white sandstone — the Nevada equivalent of The Wave in Arizona. The Fire Wave is more accessible than Arizona's Wave (no permit lottery required) and nearly as beautiful.
Black Canyon (Colorado River): Hot Spring Hike
Below Hoover Dam, the Colorado River flows through Black Canyon on the Nevada-Arizona border. Hiking along the river to riverside hot springs — some at exactly the right temperature for soaking — is a unique experience accessible by paddlecraft or a short hike from the Nevada side.
Sources
This article was compiled using reference material from the following organizations. See our Editorial Policy for how we research and maintain content.