Astronomical events largely go unnoticed in urban settings where artificial lighting dims views of night skies. But beyond the glare of city lights, Nevada’s open spaces offer wonderful views of some of the darkest skies in the country.
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Scattered across Nevada’s vast outback, several working livestock ranches welcome vacationing guests.
Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada boasts the state’s only glacier, a subterranean wonderland in Lehman Caves, some of the world’s oldest trees, nearly 50 miles of fishing streams, 60 miles of hiking trails, and dazzling nights beneath some of the nation’s darkest skies.
Outside the urban Las Vegas Valley, vast portions of Nevada invite exploration. Neighboring Lincoln County offers open space, scenic vistas, historic small towns, widely varied recreation and fascinating side roads into Nevada’s outback.
It is not too soon to plan a leaf-peeping outing, as the show typically begins by the end of September. If you head for the high country first and explore lower elevations later, you can enjoy Utah’s autumn color through mid-November.
A treasury of artifacts from ancient Native American cultures awaits visitors to the Lost City Museum in Overton.
Summer and fall are brief but glorious seasons in Southern Utah’s high country, where snow blankets the forests nearly half of the year. Cedar Breaks National Monument, located atop a 10,600-foot plateau, draws more than a half-million visitors during the few months a year that it is open.
Thousands of miles of track once connected Nevada towns with the transcontinental railroads. From territorial days to modern times, at least 70 railroads operated in the state, both standard and narrow gauge. Built to move ore from mines to mills, the lines also carried freight and passengers.
Laughlin hosts the second annual Wings and Wildlife Festival scheduled for March 11-15, an award-winning event created by the Southern Nevada Birding and Wildlife Trails Partnership. Participants explore a tri-state region rich in varied Southwestern habitats on guided nature walks and hikes, during seminars and workshops conducted by experts and while on field trips led by knowledgeable guides. During the festival weekend, at least 20 special exhibits by federal and state agencies and organizations concerned with nature, the environment and conservation will be open to the public free of charge.
Central Arizona’s Verde Valley lures visitors with stunning scenery, varied recreational opportunities and fascinating remnants of the past. The region boasts scenic highways, ghost towns, historic railways, state parks and national monuments. Within a half-day’s drive from Las Vegas, the Verde Valley invites Southern Nevadans to visit and explore year-round.
