Great Basin National Park
Baker, NV · Eastern NevadaFree
In eastern Nevada's Great Basin National Park, a bristlecone pine cut down in 1964 turned out to have 4,862 rings. Its stump is still there. The Wheeler Peak grove where it stood…
Canyons & deserts
Valley of Fire State Park
About
Nevada's oldest state park, designated in 1935, covers nearly 46,000 acres of Aztec sandstone that reads as fire under low sun. The rock is Jurassic dune sand, weathered into fins, arches and narrow washes. The Fire Wave is the signature walk, 1.5 miles round trip over slickrock from a pullout on White Domes Road, ending at a striped sandstone bowl. At Atlatl Rock a metal staircase climbs to petroglyphs more than 2,000 years old, named for the spear thrower carved there. Access is all pavement, so a sedan is fine, and no permit, lottery or guide is required. Day use runs $10 for Nevada plates and $15 out of state, sunrise to sunset. Fire Wave, White Domes, Pinnacles and other trails close May 15 through September 30 because heat here has killed hikers, and the park shuts entirely December 1 to 14. Carry far more water than feels reasonable, and stay out of the washes when storms are anywhere upstream.
Highlights
No permit, lottery or guide requiredDay-use fee $10 NV plates, $15 out of stateAll paved access, sedan friendlyFire Wave, White Domes, Pinnacles closed May 15 to Sept 30Entire park closed Dec 1 to 14 for maintenanceFire Wave 1.5 mi round trip on slickrockExtreme summer heat, flash flood risk in washes
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Canyons & deserts