The Silver State
Nevada
Basin and range desert, Great Basin peaks, and more mountain ranges per square mile than anywhere in the country.
Nevada at a Glance
Basin and Range
Nevada has over 300 mountain ranges separated by flat desert basins, creating some of the most dramatic topography in the west
Bristlecone Pines
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest contains ancient bristlecone pine groves in the Snake Range, some over 4,000 years old
Dark Skies
Nevada has some of the darkest skies in the contiguous US, with the Great Basin being the only place to see a complete view of the Milky Way core
Lehman Caves
Great Basin National Park's Lehman Caves contain rare shield formations, cave coral, and over 300 different speleothem types
Pronghorn
Nevada's high desert valleys support significant pronghorn antelope populations, with herds visible from major highways
Toiyabe Crest Trail
The 72-mile Toiyabe Crest Trail through Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest traverses a remote ridge above 9,000 ft for most of its length
When to Visit
May through October for most mountains. Desert-adjacent terrain is best in spring and fall. Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park is accessible June through October. Summer can exceed 110 degrees in desert valleys.
Top Activities
Gateway Cities
Reno
Northern Nevada hub adjacent to Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada, with Toiyabe National Forest's recreation areas within an hour's drive.
Ely
Remote basin-and-range town nearest Great Basin National Park and Wheeler Peak, serving as the main supply point for eastern Nevada backcountry.
Elko
Northeast Nevada city near the Ruby Mountains Recreation Area, with access to the Lamoille Canyon National Scenic Byway and high-country hiking.
Did You Know?
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest is the largest national forest in the contiguous US by area, covering 6.3 million acres across Nevada and a portion of California.
Nevada is the driest state in the nation, with average annual precipitation of just 9.5 inches statewide.
Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park contains a glacier, one of only a handful of glaciers outside Alaska and the Cascades.
Nevada has 172 named mountain ranges, more than any other state in the country.
The Ruby Mountains in northeast Nevada are sometimes called the 'Alps of Nevada' for their dramatic granite peaks, glacial lakes, and wildflower meadows.