When you think about Nevada, you likely picture the neon lights of the Las Vegas Strip. It might surprise you to learn that 80 percent of the state is wild land, making Nevada the road trip capital of the United States.
After exploring Nevada for eight days, it’s not at all what I thought. Get ready to be surprised by everything the Silver State has to offer.
Rock Climbing in Reno
Dubbed “The Biggest Little City in the World,” Reno boasts the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall. Located at the Whitney Peak hotel, Basecamp Reno has a large indoor bouldering space and an intimidating 50-metre outdoor climbing wall.
Standing at the base looking up, my goal was to make it halfway and stand on the ledge that overlooked the street below. I ended up making it past that point and when I did fall, swinging out over the road was equal parts thrilling and terrifying—an absolute must-do for any adrenaline junkie.
Cycling and Kayaking Lake Tahoe
After driving part of the Lake Tahoe Loop, we jumped on e-bikes from Flume Trail Bikes to get closer to Lake Tahoe’s iconic blue hues. We cruised the Tahoe East Shore Trail to Sand Harbor State Park, stopping at various viewpoints along the way. It’s a fun and easy ride with several bridges, a tunnel covered in murals and a lovely beach the end. Paddling Lake Tahoe’s crystal waters in a clear kayak is also a must!
The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort is our top pick for where to stay when visiting Lake Tahoe. This lakeside gem is currently undergoing a stylish refresh, including a reimagined beachfront restaurant. We ate locally sourced ingredients and house-made pasta at Osteria Sierra. Our room overlooked the outdoor pool and hot tub–the ideal place to relax and rejuvenate our muscles at the end of the day.
Visiting a Charming, Historic Community
Next, we visited Genoa, the oldest permanent settlement in Nevada. This quaint community is home to charming Victorian buildings and Nevada’s oldest Thirst Parlor, the Genoa Bar & Saloon, which opened in 1853. Its artwork and decor transport you to simpler times. We also stepped back in time in Virginia City, where Nevada’s Wild West is still very much alive and the entire town has earned a spot on the National Register of Historic Places.
Driving the Loneliest Road in America
Our journey began at Sand Mountain Recreation Area, home to the Great Basin’s largest single dune. From there, we made our way to Middlegate Station, a Sagebrush Saloon. Originally a Pony Express stop in the 1860s, it now serves legendary burgers and plenty of history.
We continued eastward, making a brief stop at the iconic Shoe Tree before having lunch in Austin, visiting Eureka, and gathering supplies in Ely—a gateway to some of the best mountain biking in the state. Our final destination was Baker, where we officially earned bragging rights for surviving the Loneliest Road in America. Mission accomplished, as we settled in at the Stargazer Inn—an ideal place to stay and, well, stargaze at Great Basin National Park.
Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park
We hiked the lower elevations of Great Basin National Park, taking in the quiet beauty of its landscape. The highlight of our day was touring Lehman Caves. This single-cavern cave is 3.2 kilometres long and full of intricate formations, including several rare and stunning parachute shields. While this cave is home to bats, we didn’t see any on our ranger-led tour.
Exploring Slot Canyons at Cathedral Gorge State Park
Departing from Baker, we headed out on the Great Basin Highway to Cathedral Gorge State Park. This stunning park boasts cathedral-like spires and slot canyons you can weave your way through. Some of them are very narrow, so I suggest leaving your backpack in the car so you can squeeze through the small spaces. I turned sideways to hop through a few of them, but it’s well worth the effort. After recharging with a picnic lunch, we were off to drive the Extraterrestrial Highway to Tonopah.
A Ghostly Encounter at Mizpah Hotel
If you enjoy ghost stories, staying at Mizpah Hotel is a must. But be warned, if you stay in the Lady in Red room, like I did, she might pay you a visit in the middle of the night. Yes, I had a 3:30 a.m. visitor, but don’t worry, she was friendly and disrupted nothing more than a good night’s sleep. The most haunted hotel in America lives up to its title.
We left the spirits behind and hit the Free-Range Art Highway, first stopping at the International Car Forest of the Last Church, home to the world’s largest collection of graffiti-covered cars. We spent almost an hour photographing the forty colourful cars buried nose-first in the desert. We toured the Goldwell Open Air Museum and the ghost town of Rhyolite, before continuing along the Death Valley Rally into Death Valley National Park.
With no cell service in the park, we stopped at the visitor center for a paper map—unplugging is part of the magic. At Badwater Basin, we stood 90 metres below sea level on the vast salt flats, then climbed to Dante’s View for sweeping vistas made famous by Star Wars. My favourite stretch, though, was Artist’s Palette—a surreal drive through technicolour hills. With its varying shades of white, brown, tan, pink and even green, it’s easy to see why it earned its name.
That night, we stayed at Tarantula Ranch in charming Burro trailers and sipped local merlot under the stars. I’m pleased to report there were no tarantulas (thank goodness!), just a resident turtle whose enclosure is next to the Wine Hall and Camp Store. Before flying home, we made a final stop at Spring Mountain Ranch State Park for a short hike and a moment of peace in the sunshine.
Nevada has a lot more to offer than I expected. I can’t wait to go back and explore more of its untamed beauty.
This article was sponsored by Travel Nevada
Gear up for golden-hour ghost towns, stunning parks and wildlands, and history-packed communities. Whether you’re a step-by-step traveler or a let’s-see-what-happens adventurer, surprises await in Sagebrush Saloons, Uncommon Overnighters, and epic road trips. Where will your story take you?
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