I haven’t spent much time in Nevada, but I’m excited to wrap up the Southwest US. I’ve driven through part of the state on the way back from California a couple of times. I’ve also spent time in Las Vegas, but lets take a look at what else the state has to offer.
Nature
Nevada is a pretty wide open place with all of its hot deserts, but wide open means lots of opportunities to enjoy nature! The Southwest is home to gorgeous rock formations and Nevada is no different. The Valley of Fire is one such example.
Elephant Rock is one gorgeous, an iconic, rock formation within Valley of Fire State Park. This park has 40,000 acres of Southwestern beauty – red sandstone outcroppings (like Elephant Rock), petrified trees, and petroglyphs. Eleven trails will keep me amply busy while exploring all the sites have to offer!
The Hobgoblin’s Playground is another example of an area of really cool rock formations. Its also more of a hidden gem than say, the Valley of Fire is. This area is also known as Little Finland. Its home to unusually shaped rocks (hence Hobgoblin’s Playground). You can reach it by 4WD or via a 12 mile hike, but by the looks of the pictures, it’s work it!
Then there is Fly Geyser, which is absolutely stunning. It’s an amalgamation of human-made and nature-made, but I’m going to include it here because its creation was accidental. Discovered during two separate attempts to make a well, the hot water began erupting from the geyser in the 1960s. The erupting water caused mineral build-up, which led to its appearance today. Its on private property, but you can take a nature walk tour to see some Burning Man art along with Fly Geyser.
There are also great ways to experience the water in Nevada that doesn’t include boiling hot water. Emerald Cave can only be accessed via the Colorado River. It’s a 2-mile paddle starting in Lake Mead. You can rent a kayak if you don’t have one with you and you can either paddle yourself or take a tour. Tour guides point out historical markers along the way, so there’s an added level of interest if you opt for a tour.
Of course, Nevada also has its share of National Park Sites, including Death Valley National Park, Great Basin National Park, and Gold Butte National Monument!
Art
I also feel like the desert and art go hand in hand. I can’t say what the connection is per se, but where there is desert there is usually really funky, fun art! Queue the 7 Magic Mountains Exhibit. If you’re in Las Vegas, this is a great place to escape the city and still enjoy some art. Located only 10 miles South of Vegas, this exhibit was created in 2016. It was only supposed to be on exhibit here for 2 years, but due to its success, it’s still there in 2025!
While the Las Vegas Strip itself didn’t make the list, some of the neon signs did. The Neon Museum houses reclaimed neon signs from Las Vegas. It includes an outdoor exhibit great for viewing after dark, as well as an indoor exhibit of nonfunctional signs brought to life with projection mapping.
Similar to Cadillac Ranch in Texas, there’s also the International Car Forest of the Last Church in Nevada. There’s even a bus jutting out of the ground here, taking the whole buried car thing to a whole new level! This art exhibit isn’t interactive in the same way Cadillac Ranch is, though, and they do request you leave the items as is.
Even the original settlers of the area had the right idea. Enjoy the Grimes Point Archaeological Area to explore art of indigenous peoples who originally lived in the area (as far back as 8000 years ago). The Petroglyph Trail is only a quarter mile but you can see four different types of petroglyphs along the trail. There’s also some longer hikes at the site, including the guided hike to Hidden Cave. This cave includes archaeological discoveries still in place right where they were found.
Haunts
Nevada is no stranger to ghost towns, haunted cemeteries, and all facets of the paranormal. The infamous Area 51 is located in Nevada and while the area isn’t open to the public, the road nearby is! That would be the “Extraterrestrial Highway” where supposed UFO sightings are plenty. Towns along the route also have dedicated shops to picking up all you could hope for in the way of alien-themed souvenirs.
As for ghosts, you can’t visit the Southwest and not expect ghosts to come with the territory. The Wild West featured brothels, the railroad, and of course, the mining booms! Ghost towns dot Nevada all across the state, so I have plenty to choose from depending on where I find myself at.
The most notorious haunt in the state is supposedly also the most haunted hotel in the Unites States – the Mizpah Hotel. It’s rumored to have ghosts of past brothel workers who conducted business at the site. One particular spirit is rumored to rub up against men. While I don’t think that’s an experience I’ll be having, it would be really cool to spend a night or two there and see if there’s any truth to the alleged haunts.
In close regard, would be the abandoned Yellowjacket Mine. The site of a horrible mining disaster, its now abandoned. Allegedly, however, the hike between the Gold Hill Hotel (also rumored to be haunted) and the mine is incredibly haunted. People report seeing orbs and even the full body apparitions of perished mine workers.
Virginia City might not have much to do otherwise, but the entire town is rumored to be haunted. I like small, historic towns as I find them quite charming. Add in multiple haunted locations, and I’m in! Apparently, there’s also some great events Virginia City puts on, too.
Then, there’s kitschy meets haunted meets downright creepy at the Clown Motel. If ghosts don’t do it for you, you can always sign up to be creeped out by hundreds (thousands?) of clowns staring at you. Maybe you have nerves of steel and that doesn’t bother you either, I don’t know how much more roadside kitschy you can get than a dude’s collection of clowns!
Honorable mention: This is the first time I’ve put an honorable mention on any of my travel goals lists, but I think this one really needs it. It’s Burning Man. For a very long time, it was something that I kept on my bucket list. It always felt so unattainable and now, as its more attainable than ever, I wonder if its really something that I need to do. Every time I get excited about it, the culture of drugs surrounding Burning Man starts to creep its way into the experience. That’s not my personal vibe and I honestly wonder if its as enjoyable if you’re sober. I have yet to find a community of Burning Man sober folks, so if that’s you and you think I should definitely add it back to my bucket list, please reach out! I’d love to hear from you!
While Nevada may be a desert, its so much more than that! It has so much history as part of the Wild West and there’s so much more to it than just Las Vegas. Tell me – what did I miss and what would you add?
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