Nevada
3
Day Itinerary •
USA
Three days in Nevada gives you the essential Silver State experience far beyond the Las Vegas Strip, from the extraordinary Valley of Fire State Park, the most magnificent red rock landscape in the American Southwest, to the remarkable Great Basin National Park with its ancient bristlecone pines and the extraordinary Lehman Caves. This route covers the finest of Nevada. The extraordinary Valley of Fire sandstone arches and petroglyphs, the magnificent Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area just outside Las Vegas, the remarkable Lake Tahoe basin shared with California and the extraordinary historic ghost towns of central Nevada.
Best Time To Visit
March to May or October to November. Summer extremely hot.
Getting There
Fly into Las Vegas Harry Reid (LAS)
Getting Around
Rental car essential outside Las Vegas
Budget Per Day
Approx $110 to $180 per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, some desert and cave hiking
DAY 1
VALLEY OF FIRE AND RED ROCK CANYON
MORNING
VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY RED ROCK LANDSCAPE IN NEVADA
Valley of Fire State Park is the most extraordinary red rock landscape in Nevada, its extraordinary 40,000 acres of ancient Aztec sandstone in shades of deep crimson, orange and pink carved into extraordinary domes, arches and canyon formations giving the finest desert scenery in the Silver State. The extraordinary Fire Wave, a swirling formation of red and white sandstone bands, the Elephant Rock natural arch and the Rainbow Vista overlook are the most extraordinary formations in the park. Entry $10 per vehicle. Drive: 1 hr drive
MIDDAY
ATLATL ROCK PETROGLYPHS AND MOUSE'S TANK TRAIL
The petroglyph sites in Valley of Fire are the most extraordinary ancient rock art in Nevada, the extraordinary Atlatl Rock with its steel staircase giving close-range views of 2,000-year-old Ancestral Puebloan and Paiute carvings of lizards, bighorn sheep and human figures. The Mouse's Tank trail at 0.75 miles round trip through a narrow red canyon passes the finest concentration of petroglyphs in the park. Both free with park entry. Drive: 15 min drive
AFTERNOON
RED ROCK CANYON NATIONAL CONSERVATION AREA
Red Rock Canyon is the most extraordinary desert landscape within easy reach of Las Vegas, its extraordinary 13-mile one-way Scenic Drive past the Calico Hills of red and cream sandstone, the Keystone Thrust fault and the dramatic escarpment of the Spring Mountains giving the finest geological introduction to the Mojave Desert. The Ice Box Canyon trail at 2.6 miles gives the finest narrow canyon experience near Las Vegas. Entry $15 per vehicle. Drive: 1 hr drive
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary White Domes loop trail in Valley of Fire at 1.25 miles is the finest hidden hike in the park, its extraordinary slot canyon, collapsed arch, old movie set ruins and vivid white and red sandstone formations giving the most extraordinary concentrated variety of landscapes in the park. Free with park entry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Coffee Cup Cafe, Boulder City The finest breakfast near Valley of Fire. Extraordinary local Nevada eggs and strong desert coffee. | Lunch: Picnic at Valley of Fire Pack lunch from Overton. The extraordinary red rock picnic tables at the Arch Rock campground. | Dinner: Downtown Container Park restaurants, Las Vegas The finest independent dining in Las Vegas downtown. Extraordinary local Nevada produce.
DAY 2
RED ROCK CANYON AND LAS VEGAS ENVIRONS
MORNING
RED ROCK CANYON CALICO HILLS AND TURTLEHEAD PEAK
The Calico Hills in Red Rock Canyon are the most extraordinary sandstone formations in the Las Vegas region, their extraordinary bands of cream and deep red Aztec sandstone domes rising from the desert floor in the most photographed landscape in Nevada. The Turtlehead Peak trail at 5 miles round trip gives the finest summit view of the Las Vegas Valley, the Spring Mountains and the Mojave Desert from 6,323 feet. The Calico Hills scramble trail is extraordinary. Entry $15. Drive: 45 min drive
MIDDAY
SPRING MOUNTAINS NATIONAL RECREATION AREA AND MOUNT CHARLESTON
The Spring Mountains National Recreation Area gives the most extraordinary alpine escape from Las Vegas, its extraordinary mountain range rising to 11,918 feet at Charleston Peak just 35 miles from the Strip giving a complete ecosystem change from Mojave Desert to subalpine forest in 40 minutes. The extraordinary Trail Canyon waterfall and the Mary Jane Falls trail at 3 miles give the finest hiking near Las Vegas. Entry free. Drive: 30 min drive
AFTERNOON
HOOVER DAM AND LAKE MEAD NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Hoover Dam is the most extraordinary engineering achievement in Nevada, its extraordinary 726-foot concrete arch-gravity dam built between 1931 and 1936 by 21,000 workers in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River giving the finest industrial heritage experience in the Southwest. The dam tour gives extraordinary access to the power plant and intake towers. Lake Mead behind the dam is the largest reservoir in the United States. Dam tour approx $30.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Calico Basin Red Rock Overlook trail near Red Rock Canyon gives the finest hidden sunset viewpoint in the Las Vegas region, its extraordinary elevated view of the Calico Hills turning crimson and gold at sunset entirely free from the main scenic drive crowds. Free. The most extraordinary hidden gem near Las Vegas.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Red Rock Casino resort cafe Extraordinary breakfast at the finest resort near Red Rock Canyon. Local Nevada ingredients. | Lunch: Spring Mountains resort cafe Outstanding mountain lunch above Las Vegas. Local Nevada produce at 7,700 feet elevation. | Dinner: Esther's Kitchen, Las Vegas Arts District The finest Italian restaurant in Las Vegas. Extraordinary local produce in the Arts District.
DAY 3
GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK
MORNING
GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK, ONE OF THE LEAST VISITED PARKS IN AMERICA
Great Basin National Park is the most extraordinary and least visited national park in the contiguous United States, its extraordinary 77,180 acres of the Great Basin Desert rising to 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, sheltering the Lehman Caves, one of the finest decorated limestone caves in America, and the Wheeler Peak Glacier, the southernmost glacier in the United States. The extraordinary isolation 290 miles from Las Vegas gives the finest dark sky in Nevada. Entry free, caves approx $10. Drive: 4.5 hr drive
MIDDAY
LEHMAN CAVES TOUR
Lehman Caves inside Great Basin National Park is the most extraordinary limestone cave in Nevada, its extraordinary single large cave room decorated with an extraordinary density of stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, cave popcorn and the remarkable shields, a formation found in extraordinary abundance here and rarely elsewhere, giving the finest cave experience in the Great Basin. The Grand Palace Tour at 90 minutes gives the most extraordinary access. Entry approx $10. Drive: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
WHEELER PEAK SCENIC DRIVE AND BRISTLECONE PINE GROVE
The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive climbs to 10,000 feet giving the most extraordinary alpine landscape in Nevada, its extraordinary subalpine forest of Engelmann spruce and limber pine surrounding the Wheeler Peak Glacier overlook. The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Grove trail at 2.8 miles round trip passes trees over 4,000 years old, the oldest living organisms on earth, in the most extraordinary ancient forest in Nevada. Both free with park entry.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Lexington Arch in Great Basin National Park is the finest hidden natural arch in Nevada, its extraordinary 75-foot limestone arch accessible by a 3.4-mile round trip trail giving the most extraordinary natural arch experience in the Great Basin entirely unknown to most visitors. Free with park entry.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: The Border Inn, Baker The only restaurant near Great Basin National Park. Extraordinary Nevada diner breakfast before the park. | Lunch: Lehman Caves Visitor Center Outstanding park visitor center cafe. Local Nevada produce before the cave tour. | Dinner: The Border Inn, Baker The only dinner option near Great Basin. Outstanding local Nevada beef and strong coffee.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Las Vegas or Overton, Night 1 The Mob Museum area hotels or Lake Mead RV resort. Approx $80 to $180 per night. Las Vegas, Night 2 Downtown Container Park area or Red Rock Resort. Approx $80 to $200 per night. Baker or Great Basin, Night 3 The Border Inn or Great Basin NP campground. Approx $40 to $120 per night.
Top Tips
1. Valley of Fire at sunrise is the most extraordinary red rock spectacle in Nevada. Camp nearby to catch dawn.
2. Great Basin Lehman Caves tours book up fast. Reserve at recreation.gov before your trip.
3. Wheeler Peak at 13,063 feet in Great Basin has the finest bristlecone pine grove in Nevada. Allow 4 hours.
4. Red Rock Canyon Scenic Drive opens at 6am. The first car through at dawn gets the best light on the Calico Hills.
5. The Fire Wave trail in Valley of Fire at 1.5 miles round trip gives the most extraordinary sandstone formations.
6. Great Basin National Park is one of the least visited national parks. The Milky Way above Wheeler Peak is extraordinary.
Total Budget
$110 to $180/day