Nevada is the US region most synonymous with gambling. Officially known as the Silver State, this part of America is also famous for the Hoover Dam, the Burning Man festival, Area 51, and its various natural beauties. Nevada is home to the Red Rock Canyon, the Grand Canyon West, Lake Tahoe, the Mojave Desert, the Valley of Fire State Park, the Great Basin National Park, Lake Mead, the Cathedral Gorge, and many other spots worth visiting.
Hiking enthusiasts will find no shortage of adventure treks in this part of the US that showcase its diverse landscapes, and below, we list the best ones.
Turtlehead Peak
We kick off this listicle with a famed trail near Blue Diamond, primarily reserved for experienced hikers, as it is a seven-and-a-half-kilometer-long course that can be completed in about three and a half hours on average and features challenging terrain through the Red Rock Canyon area. Thankfully, many choose to walk this footpath, so one should encounter many people while exploring it. But before embarking on this adventure, hikers should be aware that the terrain here is rocky and not apt for people of older ages. Also, bringing water and good shoes is mandatory for beating Turtlehead Peak, which can be reached from Charleston Rd, around five kilometers or three miles from the Sandstone Quarry pull-off.
The Railroad Tunnel Trail
A fun track open year-round near Boulder City, thirteen kilometers long.
The cool thing about it is that it is a wheelchair-friendly stroller and can easily be biked or jogged. What we love about it is that while going through it, five gigantic tunnels can be visited, carved out of the surrounding mountainside, on top of various other remnants of the Hoover Dam’s construction. The Dam is, without question, a modern marvel, and the railroad built to help construct it was essential in its creation. Therefore, this area was rightly added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Calico Tanks Trail
Situated in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, as the Turtlehead Peak, the Calico Tanks Trail is a moderately difficult track almost four kilometers long, set on an elevation of one hundred and thirty-three meters. It is a super popular path for running and hiking from September to May, known for its stunning sandstone formations on rolling hills and breathtaking views of Sin City. And, due to its relative closeness to the world’s gambling capital, it frequently gets noted by local guides among the finest places to visit in Vegas for nature lovers. When journeying it, the quarry found on it, functional from 1905 to 1912, should get examined, renowned for its impress ten-ton sandstone slabs and the historical Big Devil Wagon, which burned four hundred gallons of crude oil per Vegas trip.
Monkey Rock
The Monkey Rock trail is one of the best things one can do in Lake Tahoe to absorb phenomenal, uninterrupted views of this area. The terrific thing about this hike is that it is easy and excellent for those who want to take in a lakeside sunset. Its name stems from a carved granite rock that resembles a monkey. It begins near Incline Village and offers paid parking. Note that the trail features an entry fee and can be walked even during wintertime. According to online reviews, the main downside of Money Rock is that this is a highly established course that gets walked by hundreds of people per day. So, the chances of passing dozens of hikers while trekking is a strong possibility.
Hunter Creek
Here is a lesser-known trail in Woodchuck Circle, Reno, about twenty minutes from the city’s
Downtown and Midtown sections. The top reason tourists and locals walk this path is to watch what many believe is Reno’s most picturesque waterfall, a thirty-foot one, surrounded by gorgeous mountain views, found at the trail’s end. Hunter Creek gets most crowded between August and October, and it is a middle-of-the-road course with multiple creek crossings that are chiefly shallow and simple to pass. Interested parties can reach Hunter Creek from Reno using I-80 and then take the exit at North McCarran Boulevard, going south before turning right at Mayberry Drive. Those who pick it for a trek should know that there are lengthy sun-exposed stretches, so putting on loads of sunscreen is more than wise.
Mount Rose Peak
Another Lake Tahoe hiking route. However, this is one with a beloved summit at the Basin’s third tallest peak. It is pivotal to highlight that this is the longest trail on this list, at over seventeen kilometers, and it is a hard one, set at a high elevation with some steep slopes. Per most visitors, the primary reason for undertaking this is to soak in the Remarkable wildflowers in the Galena Creek area. Concerning flora and fauna, few places in Nevada beat Mount Rose Peak and Incline Village. Aside from its remarkable summit, its other highlights are the Tamarack Peak and Galena Falls.