Nevada
Red Rock Canyon offers sandstone routes near Las Vegas, and Great Basin National Park's Wheeler Peak brings a cooler alpine challenge. Desert distances and…
Red Rock Canyon offers sandstone routes near Las Vegas, and Great Basin National Park's Wheeler Peak brings a cooler alpine challenge. Desert distances and heat deceive, so carry more water than you think you need.
Why Nevada is really two hiking states in one
Nevada's trails split into two very different worlds. Near Las Vegas, Red Rock Canyon serves up warm sandstone routes you can reach on a short drive from the city. Far away at Great Basin National Park, Wheeler Peak rises into cooler alpine air that feels like another climate entirely. That contrast is the state's gift to hikers: desert colour and high-mountain challenge, with the space and quiet that come with both.
What to do, step by step
- Pick your world first — desert sandstone or alpine peak — because the gear, timing, and risks are completely different.
- Check conditions before you go: heat and storm forecasts for the desert, and wind and snow for high country.
- Start early, especially on desert routes, and plan to be finishing as the strongest heat builds.
- Carry more water than you think you need, plus sun protection, and tell someone where you are headed.
- Leave no trace: desert soils and alpine plants recover slowly, so stay on durable surfaces and pack everything out.
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