Nevada State Parks

Nevada's state park system has 30 parks spanning the state's diverse geography — from the Mojave Desert petroglyphs of Valley of Fire to the alpine forests of Cathedral Gorge.

Valley of Fire State Park
Nevada's first and most spectacular state park — 40,000 acres of brilliantly red Aztec Sandstone formations 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The Fire Wave, the Wave, Elephant Rock, the Beehives, and the ancient Atlatl Rock petroglyphs (accessible via a metal staircase) are the key attractions. The park has two campgrounds with electric hookups in the desert. The name comes from the red rock formations that appear to be on fire in direct sunlight.

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
The east shore of Lake Tahoe — Sand Harbor is the park's jewel, with white sand beaches, clear turquoise water, and large granite boulders. Underwater visibility in the lake exceeds 70 feet; snorkeling reveals a remarkable clarity. The Spooner Lake trail system and the Flume Trail (a mountain bike trail along a historic flume on the lake's east slope) attract outdoor enthusiasts.

Cathedral Gorge State Park
Near Panaca in southern Nevada — a narrow valley of eroded bentonite clay formations that create a labyrinth of slot canyon-like passages and spires. The formations look like cathedral arches and spires in cream and gray clay. The campground is quiet; the trail system through the gorge passages is unique.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
A ghost town (Berlin, 1897–1907) and a paleontological site where 37 Ichthyosaurus fossils (marine reptiles from 225 million years ago) were found — the world's most significant concentration of Ichthyosaur fossils. Nevada was a shallow tropical sea in the Triassic period; these fossils are Nevada's state fossil.

Pyramid Lake
A terminal lake north of Reno on the Paiute Tribal Reservation — tufa rock formations (calcium carbonate towers), clear deep-blue water, and ancient Lahontan cutthroat trout make this one of Nevada's most distinctive natural areas. Fishing permits are required from the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.