In the heart of the American Southwest, there is a state with a city known the world over. However, if you asked the average citizen to tell you a little more about the rest of the state, many might find themselves stumped.
The words “desert” might come up in response to this query. Perhaps there would be a mention of a certain feat of modern engineering named after a former president.
But there is so much more to the great state of Nevada than Las Vegas and The Hoover Dam.
Indeed, the “Silver State” — so known due to the importance of silver mining to its history and early survival — contains a multitude of geological, topographical, and natural wonders. The big-ticket items of “Sin City” or Lake Tahoe (which it shares with California) could easily overshadow these oddities and attractions.
But there is so much more to experience in the state that emblazoned “battle born” on its flag — a nod to its achieving statehood during the Civil War. Many of these hidden treasures can be found in the National Monuments enshrined within its borders.
Below are some incredible sites to visit:
Gold Butte National Monument: While Nevada is a large state — the seventh most extensive in the Union — it is one of the least densely populated. Thus, it boasts thousands of acres of virtually untouched backcountry. At Gold Butte National Monument, more than 300,000 acres of rugged Mojave Desert land is preserved for enthusiasts of backcountry hiking, exploring, and even visiting the mining “ghost town” on its property. The dramatic red painted rock formations rising above the desert floor and the steep canyon walls make for an unearthly feeling landscape that must be seen to be believed.
Photo Courtesy Bureau of Land Management
Basin And Range National Monument: Clear across the state to the north, Basin and Range National Monument protects more than 700,000 acres of Nevada wilderness. Fans of solitude flock to this spot due to its vastness, seeking to “get lost” in nature. The monument is also a popular destination for rock climbers and typical outdoor activities like hiking, all-terrain off-roading, cycling, and camping. Its unique topographical diversity ranges from mountains to deep gullies, flat desert land, and rushing rivers. There is something for every outdoor lover at this destination.
Photo Courtesy Bureau of Land Management
Avi Kwa Ame National Monument: This site protects some of the most sacred land on Earth for certain Native Tribes. The Mojave, Chemehuevi, and some Southern Paiute people hold the area now preserved in the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument as having the highest spiritual importance. Their people have inhabited the lands for thousands of years, long before White explorers and settlers made their way west into present-day Nevada. The more than 500,000 acres of the monument encompasses the McCullough and Lucy Gray Mountains to the west, the Piute and Eldorado Valleys in the middle, the Castle and Dead Mountains to the south, and the Eldorado Mountains in the east. The massive area gives visitors a veritable smorgasbord of hiking, camping, and off-roading options. Nevada and this spot are truly an outdoor lover’s paradise!
Photo Courtesy Bureau of Land Management
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument: Some 570,000 years ago, after the last Ice Age, the melting waters formed one of the most unique National Monuments in the U.S. Enshrined in 2014, it protects one of the largest deposits of ancient fossils in the American Southwest! Human habitation dates back more than 11,000 years in the area now known as Tule Springs, and remnants of their lives and cultures, as well as the wildlife of the ever-changing ecosystem, can still be seen today. Once a cooler, wetter climate thousands of years ago, the climate evolved into the dry, arid Las Vegas Valley of today. The monument is a haven for adventure seekers who prefer solitude and quiet, boasting numerous remote hiking trails. Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument is a desert experience that should be experienced.
Photo Courtesy NPS/Andrew Cattoir
