Nevada Field Trips

Pony Express National Historic Trail
Most of the original trail has been obliterated either by time or human activities. Along many segments, the trail's actual route and exact length are matters of conjecture. In the western states, the majority of the trail has been converted, over the years, to double track dirt roads. Short pristine segments, believed to be traces of the original trail, can be seen only in Utah and California. However, approximately 120 historic sites may eventually be available to the public, including 50 existing Pony Express stations or station ruins.

California National Historic Trail
The road to California carried over 250,000 gold-seekers & farmers to the gold fields & rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's – the greatest mass migration in American history. More than 1,000 miles of trail ruts and traces can still be seen in the vast undeveloped west – reminders of the sacrifices, struggles, and triumphs of early American travelers and settlers.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park - Austin
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is located 23 miles east of Gabbs, via State Route 844. The park is open all year but extreme winter weather may prohibit travel. Nestled at 7,000 feet on the scenic western slope of central Nevada's Shoshone mountain range, the park provides a vast array of stimulating recreational opportunities. The forested slopes provide shade and breezes help to moderate the summer temperatures which seldom exceed 90 F (32º C). Late spring and early fall can often be the nicest times of the year. Winter visits to the park are possible, but be certain to call for weather and road conditions. The Diana Mine tours are suspended until further notice, pending a thorough assessment of the mine's safety.

Great Basin National Park - Baker
In the shadow of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, 5,000 year old bristlecone pine trees grow on rocky glacial moraines. Come to Great Basin National Park to experience the solitude of the desert, the smell of sagebrush after a thunderstorm, the darkest of night skies, and the beauty of Lehman Caves. Far from a wasteland, the Great Basin is a diverse region that awaits your discovery.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park - Blue Diamond
Spring Mountain Ranch is located within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, beneath the colorful cliffs of the magnificent Wilson Range. The many springs in these mountains provided water for Paiute Indians and later brought mountain men and early settlers to the area. This 520 acre oasis was developed into a combination working ranch and luxurious retreat by a string of owners who have given the area a long and colorful history. Past owners of the ranch included Chester Lauck of the comedy team "Lum & Abner," German actress Vera Krupp, and millionaire Howard Hughes.

Kershaw-Ryan State Park - Caliente
Kershaw-Ryan State Park is located two miles south of Caliente via U.S. 93 and State Route 317. It is situated in a colorful, scenic canyon at the northern limit of Rainbow Canyon. Steep canyon walls tower over a long, narrow valley. Early settlers here cultivated a garden of grape vines, trees, and grassy lawn surrounding a spring-fed pond, providing a sharp contrast to the rugged landscape. A picnic area, restrooms and trails offer visitors nature study, photography, picnicking, and hiking.

Beaver Dam State Park - Caliente
Beaver Dam State Park is Eastern Nevada's most remote park, and is a popular area for hikers and nature enthusiasts who enjoy its primitive and rustic character. Deep canyons, pinion and juniper forests, a flowing stream and numerous beaver dams are the primary features, offering fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, photography and nature study. Facilities include campgrounds, a group use area, a day-use picnic area, and hiking and interpretive trails. Beaver Dam is open year-round, weather permitting, but travel is not advised during winter months.

Washoe Lake State Park - Carson City
Washoe Lake and Little Washoe Lakes are located in the heart of scenic Washoe Valley, between Carson City and Reno. Here, visitors will find spectacular views of the majestic Sierra Nevada and the Carson Range. Popular activities in the park include nature study, bird watching, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, windsurfing, water skiing, catamaran sailing, jet skiing and fishing. A campground, boat launches, group use area, day-use picnic sites and equestrian trailhead are available. A wetlands area with a viewing tower and interpretive displays is a new addition to the park.

Dayton State Park - Dayton
Dayton State Park is located in the town of Dayton, one of Nevada's first permanent settlements. The Carson River flows through the park and offers fishing and bird watching. The Rock Point Mill, built in 1861, was once used to process rich silver ore from nearby Virginia City. Remnants of the mill are still visible within the park, just west of U.S. 50. Picnicking, camping and group use facilities are available. Dayton summer temperatures range from 80-100 degrees Fahrenheit with lows around 40-50 degrees.

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley
A Land of Extremes: Hottest, Driest, Lowest: A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and three million acres of stone wilderness. Home to the Timbisha Shoshone and to plants and animals unique to the harshest deserts. A place of legend and a place of trial.

Wild Horse State Recreation Area - Elko
Wild Horse State Recreation Area is located on the northeast shore of Wild Horse Reservoir. The 140 acre recreation area is an excellent focal point when visiting Wild Horse. Visitors to the area enjoy camping, picnicking, hunting, fishing and boating. Facilities include campgrounds, a trailer dump station, boat launch and ranger station. The park Wildhorse Reservoir is open year-round, but access may be hampered by extreme cold and snow in winter months. Wild Horse Reservoir commonly boasts the state's lowest winter temperatures.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park - Ely
W ard Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is located in the Egan Mountain Range approximately 18 miles south of Ely, Nevada. This beautiful park is mostly known for its six beehive-shaped historic charcoal ovens; however, the park offers an array of recreational opportunities. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and ATV riding. There are abundant wildlife viewing and birding opportunities. Willow Creek, a small perennial stream, supports naturally reproducing Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout for a unique fishing experience. In addition there are facilities for picnicking and camping. The park also has fantastic views of Wheeler Peak, located in the Great Basin National Park. In addition, if you decide to stay the night you will be treated to some of the starriest skies in the West.

Cave Lake State Park - Ely
Cave Lake is open year round and is popular for trout fishing, crawdadding, boating, hiking, picnicking and camping. The park offers outstanding scenic views and opportunities for nature study and photography. Facilities include campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails and a boat launch. Winter sports such as ice fishing, cross-country skiing and ice skating are also available. Snow sculpting is becoming a popular activity, and the White Pine Fire & Ice Show is the premier winter event in the area.

Walker Lake - Fallon
Walker Lake is one of the last remnants of an ancient inland sea which covered much of western Nevada nearly 10,000 years ago. Visitors enjoy fishing, boating, swimming and picnicking, plus facilities at the park include shade ramadas, tables and grills along a sandy beach.

Lahontan State Recreation Area - Fallon
Lahontan State Recreation Area is located on the Carson River. Facilities & Amenities: Camping, Group Camping, Dump Station, Showers, Picnicking, Group Picnicking, Boat Launch, Nature Study, Swimming, Fishing and Hunting.

Belmont Courthouse State Historic Park - Fallon
Built in 1876, the Belmont Courthouse was the seat of Nye County government until 1905. The building is partially restored and offers a glimpse into Nevada's colorful past. Although no developed facilities are available, camping and picnic facilities are available on nearby public lands. The Courthouse is open to the public.

The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park - Genoa
The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is one of Carson Valley's first and largest ranches. The ranch was home to German immigrant Heinrich Friedrich Dangberg who founded the site in 1857. A local businessman, rancher and politician, Dangberg started his ranch with just a log cabin. At the time of his death in 1904, he had created a 20,000 acre ranching empire that his sons expanded to 48,000 acres. More than five acres of the ranch are now owned by Douglas County and managed by Nevada State Parks. The county and state are restoring the original buildings, including a main house, a stone cellar, a laundry building, a carriage house, a garage and a bunkhouse. These buildings and original artifacts are on display.

Mormon Station State Historic Park - Genoa
Mormon Station is the site of Nevada's first permanent nonnative settlement. A replica of the original trading post built in 1851 houses a small museum with relics of pioneer days. Picnic and group facilities are available.

Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park - Incline Village
Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park offers a number of different areas for visitors to enjoy. Sand Harbor is the most popular, with sandy beaches, a boat launch, picnicking and group use facilities.

Old Las Vegas Mormon State Historic Park - Las Vegas
Old Vegas Mormon State Historic Park is located in downtown Las Vegas, at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue. The first permanent non-native settlers in the Las Vegas Valley were a group of Mormon missionaries who built an adobe fort along Las Vegas Creek in 1855. They successfully farmed the area by diverting water from the creek. Today, the park includes a remnant of the original adobe fort, which contains interpretive displays. The Visitor Center contains exhibits on the history of the site, as well as historic artifacts. Historic interpretation is and will remain the focus of the park. There are series of programs throughout the summer. The "Friends of the Fort" also provide a series of programs throughout the year.

Bid Bend of the Colorado Recreation Area - Laughlin
Big Bend State Recreation Area is located five miles south of Laughlin on the Needles Highway. Facilities & Amenities: Camping, Picnicking, Hiking, Boat Launch, Nature Study, Swimming and Fishing.

Elgin School House - Lincoln County
The Elgin Schoolhouse is a historic school in rural Nevada's Lincoln County. The schoolhouse was used from 1922 through 1967, when its last student reached eighth grade. In 1998, the building was restored to its original appearance and volunteers opened the building for tours by request. It became a State Historic Site in July 2005. The Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site features half of the house's original items. SR 317 was heavily damaged in 2005 floods. Until the reconstruction on SR 317 (Rainbow Canyon Highway) is complete, the Elgin School house State Historic Site will be closed.

Rye Patch State Recreation Area - Lovelock
ye Patch Reservoir, along the Humboldt River, covers 11,000 acres when full. Here, visitors enjoy fishing, boating, water skiing, camping, and picnicking. A campground, boat launch and picnic sites are provided.

Valley of Fire State Park - Overton
Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest and largest state park, dedicated 1935. The valley derives its name from the red sandstone formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyph. Popular activities include camping, hiking, picnicking and photography. The park offers a full-scale visitor center with extensive interpretive displays. Several group use areas are also available. The park is open all year.

Cathedral Gorge State Park - Panaca
Cathedral Gorge is located in a long, narrow valley where erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay. Trails abound for exploring the cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires. Miller Point, a scenic overlook just north of the park entrance on U.S. 93, offers excellent views of the scenic canyon. Shaded picnic areas and a tree-shaded campground area are open all year. Hiking, picnicking, camping, nature study, photography and ranger programs are the most common activities at the park.

Spring Valley State Park - Pioche
Spring Valley State Park offers water oriented recreation at the 65 acre Eagle Valley Reservoir. Boat launching, picnicking and camping facilities are available. Visitors also enjoy hiking, exploring and touring the historic Ranch House museum.

Echo Canyon State Park - Pioche
Echo Canyon State Park offers a 65-acre reservoir with a campground, picnic area, group use facilities and boat launch. The park is popular for camping, fishing, hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery of eastern Nevada. Abundant wildlife, a wide variety of native plants and unique rock formations make exploration a favorite activity. Echo Canyon State Park is a popular area for camping, fishing, hiking and enjoying the beautiful scenery of eastern Nevada.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park - Silver Springs
Fort Churchill was once an active U.S. Army fort. Built in 1861 to provide protection for early settlers. It was abandoned nine years later, and today the ruins are preserved in a state of arrested decay. A visitor center displays information and artifacts of the fort's history. The Pony Express and the Overland Telegraph once passed through this area. Nearby is Buckland Station, a Pony Express stop, supply center, and former hotel built in 1870. Facilities at Fort Churchill State Historic Park include trails, a campground, picnic area, group-use area and access to the Carson River. Visitors can enjoy hiking, historic and environmental education, camping, picnicking, photography and canoeing.

South Fork State Recreation Area - Spring Creek
South Fork Reservoir covers 1,650 acres and is surrounded by 2,200 acres of wildlife-filled meadow lands and rolling hills. It is popular for hunting, camping, boating, picnicking, winter sports and wildlife viewing. The park is best known for its trophy-class trout and bass fishery. Facilities include a boat launch, campground, trailer dump station and picnic area. South Fork State Recreation Area's water system was shut down early for the winter season on September 2, 2008 for repairs. The 62,000 gallon water storage tank is undergoing repairs, which mean closing the park's developed campground until spring 2009.