There are 4 National Parks in Nevada.
Parks include Death Valley and Great Basin National Parks, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.
There are also three affiliated areas including the California Trail, the Pony Express Trail, and the Old Spanish Trail.
Nevada National Parks
Nevada is a state of incredible beauty and diversity. Its name comes from the Spanish word nieve meaning snow-capped. This is a reference to the Sierra Nevada mountain range at the west end of the state.
There are relatively few National Park sites considering Nevada had more land owned by the federal government (Over 80%), with sixty-three percent being public use lands, mostly managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is also known as the Silver State for the large amount of silver found here. Of course, we can't forget about Hoover Dam and Lake Mead is a direct result of the dam.
This is a far cry from the stereotypical thoughts of the shimmering lights of Las Vegas, casinos, and wedding chapels. Nevada is a great place to explore the outdoors!
Death Valley National Park
Top Things to do - Sightseeing, Hiking, Ranger-led Programs, go hike the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, stand on the lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level) at Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Artists Palette scenic drive, Father Crowley vista point, Salt Creek Interpretative Trail, and Harmony Borax Works interpretative Trail.
Lodging - There are four National Park Lodges available within the park: The Inn at Death Valley, The Ranch at Death Valley, Panamint Springs Resort, Stovepipe Wells Village
Camping - There are developed campgrounds, primitive campgrounds, and private campgrounds within Death Valley. Campgrounds include Furnace Creek Campground, Texas Springs Campground, Sunset Campground, Stovepipe Wells Campground, Emigrant Campground, Wildrose Campground, and Mesquite Spring Campground.
Park Address - There is no specific street address for the park or the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. The main road transecting Death Valley National Park from east to west is California Highway 190. On the east in Nevada, U.S. Route 95 parallels the park from north to south with connecting highways at Scotty's Junction (State Route 267), Beatty (State Route 374), and Lathrop Wells (State Route 373).
Death Valley has 3 million acres of wildlands and is the largest national park in the Lower 48. It is also known as the "Hottest, Driest, and Lowest" of the deserts. With stunning beauty, mountain peaks covered in snow, and a beautiful array of life, this park is accessible year-round, with Winter being the preferred time of year for most.
In Northern Death Valley "Scotty's Castle" is the home that "Scotty" claimed to have built with the proceeds from his "secret" mine. It was all a scam. He was the guest of millionaires who let him stay there. There are the famous canyons with beautiful layers of stone in Death Valley.
Great Basin National Park
Top Things to do - Check out the exhibits in both visitor centers, Walk the self-guided Mountain View Nature Trail, Attend ranger programs, Enjoy fishing on Lehman or Baker Creek, Visit the Baker Archeological Site, become Great Basin Junior Rangers, stargaze and see the Milky Way, Ride the Star Train, Wildlife Viewing, Wild Caving, Wheeler Peak Scenic, hike to Nevada's only glacier and see the ancient Bristlecone Pines!
Lodging - There are no lodging options within the park. The majority of lodging for Great Basin NP can be found in Ely, Nevada about an hour from the park.
Camping - Great Basin offers five different front country campgrounds: Lower Lehman Creek Campground, Upper Lehman Creek Campground, Wheeler Peak Campground, Baker Creek Campground, Grey Cliffs Campground
Park Address - Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Nevada 488, Baker, NV 89311
This place of strangeness and myth was discovered by travelers over 150 years ago. There is not one basin, but an area of many basins, as this is one of the few places in the country that generates plenty of water at Wheeler Peak, which tops out at over 13,000 feet. But that water stays in the great basins and never reaches the sea.
The diversity of the land ranges from alpine snowfields to marshes, to mountains to limestone caves, and from brush fields to deserts. The vast magnitude of this 200,000 square-mile preserve is evident when the borders are found: the Sierra Nevada mountains to the West, the Wasatch mountains to the East, Idaho to the North, and Southern Nevada to the South.
The most stunning surprise is the view of the Great Basin region as opposed to the reality: It appears to be barren, covered with scrub, and lifeless. But the area is filled with life and biodiversity beyond imagination. People, from Prehistoric dwellers to the Shoshone and Paiute peoples have resided there.
One of the best places to see Bristlecone Pines in the country.
Check out all of the great things to do in Great Basin National Park
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Top Things to do - Backcountry, Biking, Boating, Canoeing and kayaking, Fishing, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Scenic Driving, Scuba Diving, Picnicking, tour Hoover Dam, take a guided tour on Lake Mead Cruises, explore the cactus garden at the visitor center.
Lodging - There are several lodging options within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area such as Cottonwood Cove Resort & Marina and Lake Mohave Resort at Katherine Landing.
Camping - Lake Mead NRA has over 900 camping and RV sites, and there is a variety of desert and lakeside views.
Park Address - Lake Mead Visitor Center, 10 Lakeshore Rd, Boulder City, NV 89005
How would you like to explore slot canyons, see Joshua Trees, and have endless water-based recreation opportunities just minutes away from downtown Las Vegas? Well, I have an answer for you, it's Lake Mead National Recreation Area! Lake Mead offers camping, water sports, and bike trails. The climate is hot and can be visited year-round as it rarely gets any rain. Make sure to take a tour of Hoover Dam and marvel over the new bridge built to take all the motor vehicle traffic off the bridge. Now visitors can walk on the top of Hoover Dam starting in Nevada and by the time they get to the end of the dam they have ended in Arizona.
Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
Top Things to do - Ranger-led Programs and events, Urban Astronomy, Nature-themed Guided Hikes, Junior Ranger Day, Pleistocene Palooza - National Fossil Day, Hike the Trails
Lodging - While there are no lodging options within the monument, visitors have numerous lodging choices in the surrounding area, including Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.
Camping - There are no campgrounds within the National Monument
Park Address - Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument, Durango & Moccasin Parking Area, Durango Drive & Moccasin Road, Las Vegas 89143
Tule Springs Fossil Beds NM is located on the outskirts of Las Vegas. The park was established as the 405th unit of the National Park Service on Dec. 19, 2014. It is still a park in progress.
Visitors can walk a few trails and see the land that has been protected. There is currently no visitor center or services.
The California National Historic Trail
Top Things to do - Visit the California Trail Interpretive Center, Elko Hot Hole, Bird Watching, Become a Junior Ranger, Go See Oregon Trail Ruts, Check out Museums and Visitor Centers, Hiking, Visit Historic Sites
Lodging - While there may not be specific accommodations directly along the California National Historic Trail, these towns and cities in Nevada offer a variety of lodging options to suit different preferences and budgets. Be sure to make reservations in advance, particularly during peak tourist seasons or special events, to secure your accommodations.
Camping - While the California National Historic Trail primarily follows historic routes and roadways, there aren't dedicated campgrounds along the trail itself. However, you can find campgrounds in nearby national parks, forests, and other public lands, as well as private campgrounds in towns and cities along the trail.
This 2000-mile trail traverses 8 states and passes through the southern tip of Nevada. This trail was instrumental in the greatest migration in American History as farmers and miners headed to California in the 1840s and 1850s.
The California National Historic Trail crosses the northern part of Nevada and passes through Reno, with branches that go to past Lake Tahoe and farther into California at the Donner Summit and the Beckworth Pass over the High Sierra Nevadas. Auto tours are available, with spots along the trail where the traveler's stories are available.
The Old Spanish Historical Trail
Top Things to do - visit Callville Bay Launch Ramp, enjoy views at Las Vegas Bay Overlook
Lodging - While there may not be dedicated accommodations directly along the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, these towns and cities in Nevada offer a variety of lodging options to suit different preferences and budgets.
Camping - You can find campgrounds in nearby national parks, forests, and public lands, as well as private campgrounds in towns and cities along the trail.
Park Address - Trail sites are located across 2,700 miles and 6 states.
National Trails Office Regions 6|7|8 Old Spanish National Historic Trail, 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505
It begins in Santa Fe, NM, and ends in Los Angeles, Ca. This beautiful trail traverses the very southern tip of Nevada. Originally it was an Indian trading route. It had its height of traffic from the 1830s to the late 1840s, when woolen goods came from the East by mule train, and California mules and horses went back, as Mexican and American traders worked..
Pony Express Historical Trail
Top Things to do - Hiking, Biking, Horseback Riding, Scenic Views, Junior Ranger Program,Auto Tour Route Interpretive Guides
Lodging - While there are no specific lodging options directly along the Nevada segment of the Pony Express National Historic Trail, visitors can find accommodations in nearby towns and cities within the state. These towns include Carson City, Reno, Fallon, Austin, Ely, Elko, Wells, and West Wendover, offering a range of lodging choices such as hotels, motels, and inns.
Camping - Camping options along the Nevada segment of the Pony Express National Historic Trail are diverse and can be found in nearby national parks, forests, state parks, BLM lands, and private campgrounds in towns and cities along the trail. Visitors can choose from a variety of camping experiences, including established campgrounds with amenities, dispersed camping in BLM lands, and backcountry camping.
Park Address - Trail sites are located across 1,800 miles and 8 states. The Trail is administered by the NPS office located at:
National Trails Regions 6|7|8 Pony Express National Historic Trail, 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87505
The Pony Express Historical Trail was the famous route used by fast-riding horsemen to get the mail from Missouri to California at Sacramento, CA. This trail traversed the northern tier states and was responsible for the unprecedented 10-day trips of the Pony Express riders, as well as Californias alignment with the Union in the Civil War.
Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.
$80.00 - For the America the Beautiful/National Park Pass. The pass covers entrance fees to all US National Park Sites and over 2,000 Federal Recreation Fee Sites for an entire year and covers everyone in the car for per-vehicle sites and up to 4 adults for per-person sites.
Buy your pass at this link, and REI will donate 10% of pass proceeds to the National Forest Foundation, National Park Foundation, and the U.S. Endowment for Forestry & Communities.
National Park Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.
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List of National Parks in Nevada
- Death Valley National Park (CA, NV)
- Great Basin National Park
- Lake Mead National Recreation Area (also Arizona)
- Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument
- California National Historic Trail (CA, CO, ID, KS, MO, NE, NV, OR, UT, WY)
- Old Spanish National Historic Trail
- Pony Express National Historic Trail ( CA, CO, KS, MO, NE, NV, UT, WY)
List of National Parks near Nevada
Nevada State Parks
- Valley of Fire State Park
- Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park
- Sand Harbor State Park
The 4 Nevada State National Parks receive over 5.4 million visitors a year producing over $242 million in economic benefits.
The National Parks in Nevada include 1 National Heritage Area, 3 National Trails managed by the park service, 337 National Register of Historic Places Listings, and 8 National Historic Landmarks.
Nevada National Parks also include 6 National Natural Landmarks, 428 places recorded by the Heritage Documentation Program, and over 1.3 million objects in the Nevada National Park Museum Collection.
There are also 902 Archeological Sites in Nevada National Parks.
For an entire list of US National Parks head over to our list of US National Parks in Alphabetical Order. We also have a printable checklist of all 417 National Park properties in the United States available.
If you have dreamed of working in the National Parks make sure and check out our article on How to Become a Park Ranger. Working in the parks is one of the most amazing jobs you can find. There is just something special about waking up and knowing you are going to work in a beautiful park.
Check out the National Parks in neighboring states
For an entire list of US National Parks head over to our list of US National Parks in Alphabetical Order. We also have a printable checklist of all 417 National Park properties in the United States available.
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