Camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, nature study, star gazing — not your thing? How about mountain biking, horseback riding, boating, water skiing, snowshoeing, ice-skating? Choose your favorite outdoor activity and Nevada State Parks will provide a place for it. Nevada’s 24 state parks, recreation areas, and historic sites are stretched across terrains as diverse as alpine forests and bone-dry deserts. Among them are natural lakes and man-made reservoirs, such as world-famous, 22-mile-long Lake Tahoe or the much smaller Echo Canyon and its 35-acre reservoir.
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Other parks provide glimpses into the past. Valley of Fire is one of the state’s oldest, with 3,000-year-old petroglyphs carved in sandstone and breathtaking views of maroon-colored rock formations created during the age of the dinosaurs. Mormon Station in Genoa and the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort feature replicas of 19th-century fortifications and visitor centers explaining regional history.
Many campgrounds and RV facilities are open all year, depending on the weather — you even can stay in a yurt at Cave Lake State Park near Ely. All single campsites are first come, first served. Reservations are required for areas designated for group camping or day use. Trailheads are well marked, and facilities at many parks include RV dump stations, showers, and day-use facilities for groups. For information on Off-Highway Vehicles (OHV) registration, go to Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) website.
Several parks offer seasonal programs: You can see Civil War re-enactors fire their rifles or go on a moonlight hike. Live performances in summer include the Shakespeare Festival at Lake Tahoe’s Sand Harbor and Super Summer Theater at Spring Mountain State Park near Las Vegas.
Although you can get into most parks year-round, it’s best to check ahead in winter, as access roads can be blocked by snow. Sledding, ice skating, and ice fishing are popular cold-weather activities. Cave Lake State Park near Ely hosts the White Pine Fire and Ice Show, which features a snow sculpture contest and fireworks.
Nevada State Parks offer you plenty to do all year long. Please enjoy your visit to our website — and to our many state parks.
- David Morrow | Administrator
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES:
CAVE LAKE STATE PARK – White Pine Fire and Ice show, January 18-20, 2013. More info at http://www.elynevada.net/events/fireice.html.
FIRST HIKE/SNOWSHOE OF THE YEAR! The following parks will have FREE entrance if attending the First Hike of the Year on January 1, 2013. Southern Parks include: Big Bend of the Colorado, Kershaw Ryan State Park and Valley of Fire State Park. Northern parks are Fort Churchill State Historic Park, Lahontan State Recreation Park, Spooner Lake Management Area, and Wild Horse State Recreation Area. On January 6, South Fork State Recreation Area will have their First Hike/Snowshoe of the Year. More information such as times of hikes will be on the Events website.
LAKE TAHOE NEVADA STATE PARK-SPOONER LAKE RFP: Nevada State Parks is soliciting proposals for Spooner Lake Recreation Services concession. View Request for Proposal No. LTNSP-13-01. Deadline for questions, January 23, 2013 at 2:00 pm. Deadline for submission is February 15, 2013 at 2:00 pm.
LAKE TAHOE NEVADA STATE PARK-SAND HARBOR: “No Walk-Ins or Drop-Offs Are Being Allowed At Sand Harbor Due To Highway Safety Concerns.” A new transit system to access Sand Harbor from Incline Village is available for your convenience June 15 through Labor Day. Any changes to this schedule will be updated here.
