10 Unique Places to Visit in Nevada
When thinking about Nevada, if you’re like most people, you’ll generally think of labels like “weird” or “haunted” when describing its wide variety of destinations. However, us locals tend to prefer referring to our state as “unique”, more than anything.
Don’t get me wrong, we do have some arguably weird things here. Additionally, with our history being intertwined with the pioneer days, wild west, and early mining efforts, we definitely have our fair share of haunted buildings.
In my opinion, though, those myths or beliefs (whatever you want to call them) only add to the overall uniqueness of this state. If you look outside of Las Vegas and Reno, I believe you’d be genuinely surprised at all of what Nevada has to offer (I know I was when I first moved here nearly twenty years ago).
If you’re eyeballing Nevada for your family travel plans but want to go outside of the box, read on to discover my recommendations for ten unique places to visit in Nevada. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a great place to start. Let’s get into it!
1) Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park
Located 20 miles up the road from the small town of Gabbs, the abandoned ghost town of Berlin gives visitors a glance of what life was like in Nevada’s gold rush era. Many of the original buildings, including the mill, still remain.
The other awesome feature of the park is the large concentration of Ichthyosaur fossils on display inside the fossil house. The fossils were first discovered in 1928 and excavations continued until the mid-60’s. All told, 40 near complete fossils were found here.
READ ALSO: “How to Visit Berlin-Ichthyosaur Historic State Park”
2) Wilson Canyon
At first glance, Wilson Canyon may seem like it offers nothing more than a beautiful section of Walker River to gaze at. That couldn’t be further from the truth as the canyon offers hiking, camping, fishing, and motor bike opportunities.
Wilson Canyon can be found roughly 12 miles from the town of Yerington. There are plenty of pull outs for you to use and towards the end of the canyon just before and after the bridge are large dirt lots. Coming from Yerington, the left side of the canyon is for hikers while the right side is where you can use your motorbikes and ATV’s.
READ ALSO: “Hiking Wilson Canyon: A Hidden Gem in The Nevada Desert”
3) Fly Geyser
It doesn’t get much more unique than Fly Geyser. Situated right outside the tiny town of Gerlach (near where the annual Burning Man Festival is held), is an ever evolving, sulphuric formation that was initially and accidentally created by humans, but over time has been formed and perfected by nature.
Currently, Fly Geyser is only accessibly via a tour with the Friends of Black Rock, a local non-profit. Included in your tour is a visit to historic Fly Ranch, which has numerous art installations from Burning Man on display. You can read more about the tour in the post below.
READ NEXT: “The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Fly Geyser in Gerlach”
4) Pyramid Lake
If you’re an avid fisherman, there’s a good chance you’ve at least heard of Pyramid Lake. Located on Paiute Tribe land, and not very far from Reno and Carson City, this beautiful desert lake is home to some of the best fishing in the state.
If fishing isn’t your thing, then it’s gorgeous landscape, captivating sunsets, and eye-catching geology will leave you wanting to return again and again. Photographers, drone operators, kayakers, history buffs, and more, will love recreating here.
5) Historic Genoa
When it comes to Genoa, an argument could be made that it’s the most historically significant site in the entire state. After all, Genoa is the location of the very first settlement in Nevada. It was founded with the opening of the Mormon Station in 1851, which was a full thirteen years before Nevada earned statehood.
These days, visitors of Genoa can explore a full scale replica of the aforementioned Mormon Station, the town’s preserved courthouse and jail at the Courthouse Museum, enjoy a drink at Nevada’s oldest operating thirst parlor, enjoy a family meal at The Pink House, and more.
6) Rhyolite & Goldwell Open Air Museum
When it comes to unique places to visit in Nevada, Rhyolite and the Goldwell Open Air Museum are up there with the best. After the discovery of high grade ore in 1905, Rhyolite stood out among the rest of the mining camps of the time. Even attracting the attention of Charles M. Schwab in 1907. Despite its success, the town’s quick decline was just as impressive as it’s rise. By 1920, all but 14 people had moved on.
The Goldwell Open Air Museum was established in the 1980’s as a direct result of the increase in tourism at nearby Death Valley. Artist Albert Szukalski created the museum’s most famous sculpture, a ghostly take on the, “The Last Supper”, painting. Both of these attractions are located just a few miles outside the town of Beatty.
READ ALSO: “Visit Rhyolite Ghost Town and Goldwell Open Air Museum in Beatty”
7) Extraterrestrial Highway
Officially known as Nevada State Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway is a near 100-mile stretch of desolate road between State Road 318 in Crystal Springs and U.S Route 6 in Warm Springs. The highway was given its official nickname in 1996, following the success of the Hollywood blockbuster, Independence Day, which was partially filmed in the area.
There isn’t much in the way of sights, aside from the dramatic landscapes and various mountain passes. The main attraction, the tiny town of Rachel, features a motel called Little A’Le’Inn, various Alien-related art, a monument given to the town by the producers of ID4, and more.
8) Lovelock Cave
While not big and expansive by any means, the cave near the tiny town of Lovelock is both easy to get to and rich in history. It doesn’t seem like much at first glance, but read about its history before visiting and you’ll see it in a whole new perspective.
It was once home to Northern Paiute American Indians and during an archaeological dig in 1912, skeletal remains of ancient giants and artifacts were discovered, making this cave popular with historians, scientists, and history buffs alike.
READ ALSO: “How to Visit the Historic Lovelock Cave”
9) International Car Forest of the Last Church
The International Car Forest of the Last Church (mouthful, isn’t it?) in Goldfield is a collection of dozens of vehicles, most of which are planted halfway into the ground, covered in a variety of painted art and general graffiti.
The car forest can be accessed right off of Highway 95 and there are no entry or parking fees, but they do accept donations if you feel inclined. It’s a great way to stretch your legs during a road trip. If you or someone with you is an artist of any skill level, you’re invited and encouraged to leave your own mark here.
READ ALSO: “How to Visit the International Car Forest in Goldfield”
10) Valley of Fire State Park
Of all the unique places to visit in Nevada, Valley of Fire should be at the top of every traveler’s “must-see” lists. Valley of Fire became the first state park in Nevada in 1935 for its captivating landscapes of red and white sandstone rock, creating stunning formations and insane color swirls of red, white, and even pink hues.
There are many popular attractions and hiking trails to experience at Valley of Fire, including Atlatl Rock, Mouse Tank Road, White Domes Loop, Fire Wave, Elephant Rock, and more. If you’re considering visiting for the first time and are short on time, see my itinerary below on how to see many of the above attractions in just a few hours.
READ ALSO: “How to Spend a Few Hours at Valley of Fire in the Summer”
