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THE SILVER STATE — Utah's neighboring Nevada is a dynamic state with more camping opportunities than people may realize. From enjoying the solitude of alpine lakes, to staying the night in a ghost town, there are all kinds of ways to explore.
Here are five areas you might want to consider for your next Nevada adventure. Know of an even better place than what we have listed? If you don't mind sharing it in the comments, we'd love to hear it!
The Ruby Mountains
Just south of I-80 and not too far from the city of Elko you'll find the Ruby Mountains (named for the red garnets in the area). The glaciated peaks here are sometimes compared to the Alps, with the 11,387-foot Ruby Dome marking the range's highest point.
A gorgeous drive up the Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway puts you in prime position for fishing, hiking and camping in the Ruby Mountains. There are several campgrounds to choose from, so visit the Forest Service website for directions and details on making reservations.
Beaver Dam State Park
Just a hop, skip and jump from the Utah border, this rugged state park is a short drive from the St. George area. Beaver Dam State Park is known as the quietest of all of Nevada's state parks and offers plenty of opportunities for solitude. On an offseason day, you might see more turkeys, porcupines and foxes than you do humans.
You'll find two campgrounds in the park, neither of which take reservations. So you'll need to arrive early in the day and hope that you can snag one before other campers arrive. There's also a group area that can be reserved if you call the park office at 775-728-8101.
Angel Lake
The East Humboldt Mountain Range is home to some beautiful lakes, with Angel Lake being one of the highest you can reach by vehicle. Bring your canoe, kayak or paddleboard and enjoy the calm (but very chilly) waters. Anglers will find rainbows, tiger trout and my personal favorite, brookies.
There are both single and double campsite options right near the lake. You can get details and make reservations through Recreation.gov.
Valley of Fire State Park
Located in southeastern Nevada, between I-15 and Lake Mead, the Valley of Fire State Park got its name when an AAA official witnessed a sunset here back in the 1920s. Valley of fire, indeed. With more than 40,000 acres of stunning sandstone and limestone features, it's home to historical highlights such as petrified trees and delicate petroglyphs.
There are 72 units in the park's two campgrounds. It's all first-come, first-served unless you reserve one of the group-use campsites by calling the park office at 702-397-2088.
Great Basin National Park
This national park is criminally underrated. You can climb to the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak or explore the subterranean wonders of Lehman Caves (check out a virtual tour here). Hike amongst the bristlecone pines during the day and then stargaze at night in this International Dark Sky Park.
Great Basin National Park offers a range of developed and primitive campgrounds. The Grey Cliffs Campground is the only location that can accommodate large groups. All reservations are handled through Recreation.gov.
Best Plan B: New York-New York Hotel
If bad weather puts a damper on your camping plans, you may want to relocate to somewhere with warmer temperatures. One of my favorite places in the Las Vegas area is the New York-New York Hotel. The hotel recently renovated all of its rooms and they're extremely clean and comfy. I've also found that the check-in process is faster here than any of the other big resorts, and my family loves the hotel's Food Hall because it has pizza and subs and is open almost around the clock.
Another solid option is Mandalay Bay, since it has the state's most amazing pool facilities for families. My kids absolutely love the wave pool, sandy beach and lazy river.
