What's Hot in Nevada - December 2025Nevada's Surprising Parks

Park-hop Nevada's State Parks, Great Basin National Park, and beyond

8 December 2025: Nevada is home to more than two dozen state parks, one national park and a range of diverse recreation areas; from iconic natural wonders like Lake Tahoe and Valley of Fire - renowned for turquoise waters, fiery red rocks, and rich cultural stories - to hidden gems such as Great Basin National Park and Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Unlike neighbouring states, many of Nevada’s parks remain refreshingly uncrowded, offering road-trippers the chance to savour solitude, stretch under endless skies, and uncover surprising glimpses of the past at historic sites.

Here are just a few of the state parks and the national park that travellers can explore when visiting  Nevada:

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Along the Loneliest Road in America travellers can find a unique two-in-one experience, the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, home to a beautifully preserved mining-era ghost town and the world’s largest concentration of Ichthyosaur fossils. Stand face-to-snout with 225-million-year-old marine giants - the largest concentration of Ichthyosaurs ever discovered - now resting nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

Lake Tahoe’s natural wonders

As the largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is spectacularly scenic - and not just for its famous Caribbean-esque hues. Along the Lake Tahoe Loop, find Sand Harbor State Park, a beautiful haven of sandy beaches, while Spooner Lake and Backcountry State Park offers backcountry trails and access to the Tahoe Rim Trail system. Cave Rock State Park is home to a spectacular natural cave formation that has rich significance to the American Indian Washoe Tribe. In winter, Lake Tahoe is a snow-wonderland for skiing, snowboarding, snow-shoeing and back-country ski adventures. 

Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire State Park was Nevada’s first state park and remains one of its most popular thanks to its fiery red Aztec sandstone formations swirling through the valley, ancient petroglyphs carved into its stones, desert bighorn sheep, and quick access from Las Vegas along the Neon to Nature road trip. 

Valley of Fire State Park | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Located along the Great Basin Highway and Loneliest Road in America road trip routes, Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park offers a window into Ely’s mining past. The park’s six photogenic, beehive-shaped charcoal kilns - once used to fuel smelting operations in the nearby Ward Mining District - stand as impressive reminders of the region’s rich industrial heritage.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

Beaver Dam State Park

Looking for a true off-grid reset? Head for Beaver Dam State Park on the Great Basin Highway. Nevada’s most remote state park beckons solace-seekers with deep canyons, trout-packed streams, waterfalls, and thickly wooded forests that homes porcupines, bobcats and beavers.

Fort Churchill State Historic Park

Also along Loneliest Road in America is this former United States Army fort, built to protect early settlers as they made their way across the American West. Today,  Fort Churchill State Park’s ruins stand in a fascinating state of arrested decay thanks to northern Nevada’s arid, high desert climate. Much still feels like the Wild West, but the sky’s the limit when imagining what life must’ve been like here more than 150 years ago in a lawless territory. 

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

Set against the spectacular red rock formations of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, the historic Spring Mountain Ranch sprang up before statehood and had quite the list of riveting owners, including a chinchilla baron, the original owner of the 30-carat Elizabeth Taylor diamond, and even Howard Hughes. 

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

Great Basin National Park

Discover why “half the park is after dark” at  Great Basin National Park, a stellar national park which is not only one of the darkest, quietest places in the country, but also among America’s least crowded and most underrated national parks. Hike Nevada’s second tallest peak or partake in stellar stargazing thanks to the park’s remote location. It’s also home to the ancient bristlecone pine - Earth’s oldest living trees - and a variety of hiking trails in the stunning high country that stretches along the Great Basin Highway.

Death Valley National Park

Nevada is the gateway to Death Valley National Park, known for its striking desertscapes, thermometer-shattering climate, and all around extreme reputation. The lowest, hottest, and driest place in North America, Death Valley’s beauty is as varied as it is austere, characterised by miles of sweeping sand dunes, kaleidoscopic canyons, towering peaks, and a stunning assortment of native wildlife. It’s most easily accessed through Las Vegas along one of Nevada’s wildest road trips: the Death Valley Rally.

Death Valley National Park | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

Lake Mead National Recreation Area

This glimmering desert jewel is the largest manmade lake in America, created by the mighty Hoover Dam. Lake Mead National Recreation Area is known for rugged mountains, slot canyons, and shimmering water, and is the perfect place to swim, hike, bike and fish. Tour Hoover Dam on a cruise on the water-or explore its underground original tunnels. A great Neon to Nature daytrip just under an hour’s drive out of Las Vegas.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area | Photo Credit - Travel Nevada

To find out more about Nevada’s national park and state parks visit: travelnevada.com/state-national-parks/get-to-know-nevada-parks 

ENDS