Nevada Family Vacation
Nevada Family Vacation Ideas #1:For a family vacation idea in the true spirit of the Old West, head for Nevada Silver Trails, a large area of Utah between Las Vegas and Reno. It’s also called The Pioneer Territory but by either name, this is a landscape of small friendly western towns and wide open spaces; just right for an outdoors family vacation in.
This is the real Nevada, far away from the glitz and showboating of the famous gambling vacation spots to the north and south. It doesn’t matter how old (or young) you are, Nevada Silver Trails will serve up a Western-style adventure vacation for you. Here are 6 vacation ideas located in the Nevada Silver Trails Area.
Nevada Family Vacation Ideas #2:Walker Lake State Recreation Area, home of Walker Lake and its population of Lahontan cutthroat trout, is an oasis for visitors who enjoy fishing, boating, water skiing, canoeing and kayaking, as well as camping, hiking and bird watching. Located 11 miles north of Hawthorne on U.S. 95, the park is open all year.
Family Vacations in Nevada #3:Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is home to nearly 40 preserved ichthyosaur fossils as well as the turn-of-the-century mining town of Berlin. An interpretive trail winds through the ghost town of Berlin and leads to the Fossil House where the fossils of the giant marine reptiles that swam in a warm ocean 225 million years ago are located. The 1,540-acre park has a visitors center, 14 well-spaced camp sites ideal for individuals or groups and numerous of hiking trails. It’s located in western Nevada, just 23 miles east of Gabbs via state Route 844
Nevada Family Vacation #4:Cathedral Gorge State Park is a long, narrow valley with cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires. Miller Point, a scenic overlook just north of the park entrance on U.S. 93, offers unsurpassed views of the scenic canyon. The tree-shaded campground area is open all year offering hiking, nature study and ranger programs. It’s located in eastern Nevada, just 20 miles west of the Utah border,
Nevada Family Vacation #5:Beaver Dam State Park is Eastern Nevada’s most remote park, and is a popular area for hikers and nature enthusiasts who enjoy its deep canyons, pinion and juniper forests, a flowing stream with fishable trout and numerous beaver dams. The park offers fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking, photography and nature study along with campgrounds, hiking and interpretive trails. Beaver Dam is open year-round, weather permitting, but travel is not advised during winter months.
Nevada Family Vacation Ideas #6:Echo Canyon State Park features a 65-acre reservoir with a campground, group use facilities and boat launch. Filled with abundant wildlife, a variety of native plans and unique rock formations provide a playground for camping, hiking and fishing for rainbow trout, largemouth bass and white crappie. Echo Canyon is located 12 miles east of Pioche via state Routes 322 and 323.
Nevada Family Vacation #7:The Tonopah Mining Park was named “Best Museum in Rural Nevada” by Nevada magazine. Here you can explore the rich history of an important turn-of-the-century Nevada silver mining with restored buildings and mining exhibits and a mining tour. Tonopah Mining Park is located in the city of Tonopah, once called the Queen of Silver Camps. The park features a variety of mining equipment and interesting displays but the most exciting part is the Underground Tour. Here visitors walk into the old mine and are able to gaze down a 160m / 500ft tunnel shaft.
Hiking or Driving in Red Rock Provides Unique Desert Experience
Hike this area and view the unique geologic features, plants and animals that represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert. Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA) is located 15 minutes west of Las Vegas, Nevada. Designated as an NCA in 1990, there are 19 different stops along the scenic loop drive. Featured here are the nine stops that make up the second half of the loop drive, along with level of difficulty and estimated hiking time. Choose one or more to explore based on time constraints and fitness levels. These stops on the loop drive include viewing highlights, degree of difficulty and estimated round-trip hiking times.
SMYC
Access this trail from either Lost Creek or Ice Box Canyon trails. The trail follows the terrain at the base of the steep slope and connects the two trails. Moderate. 2 hours; 2.2 miles.
Ice Box Canyon
Proceed to Mile 8 to access the parking lot for this trail. The trail crosses open desert before it enters the canyon. The trails are unimproved and may require some rock scrambling. Highlights include seasonal waterfalls (January – March). Moderate. 2 hours; 2.6 miles.
Dale’s
Trail access can be found either at Ice Box Canyon or Pine Creek Canyon. The trail follows the terrain at the base of the steep slope and connects the two trails. Moderate. 2.5 hours; 4.4 miles.
Pine Creek Canyon
This trail has its own parking lot accessed from the Loop Drive. The trail traverses across the open desert, past an old homestead site and on into the canyon. Highlights include seasonal waterfalls. Unimproved trails within the canyon may require some tricky rock scrambling. Easy to Moderate. 2 hours; 3 miles.
Fire Ecology
Branching off Pine Creek Canyon Trail, this short, figure eight trail winds through a stand of Ponderosa Pine where a controlled burn had taken place. Easy. 55 minutes; .75 miles.
Oak Creek Canyon
Access via a dirt road from the Oak Creek Turnoff from the 13-mile Scenic Drive. Also accessible from State Route 159. The trails heads through open desert and on into the mouth of the canyon. Caution is recommended here as unimproved trails lead deep into the canyon. Easy to Moderate. 1.5 hours; 2 miles.
Arnight Trail
This trail can begin at the Oak Creek Canyon parking lot or by hiking the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. The trail actually connects the Oak Creek parking lot with the end loop of the Pine Creek Canyon Trail. Moderate. 1.5 hours; 2.4 miles.
Knoll Trail
The best way to access this trail is via the Oak Creek Canyon Trail. The trail links the upper section of the Arnight Trail with the Oak Creek Canyon Trail and follows the base of the steep slope. Moderate. 2.5 hours; 3
