Perched halfway up the eastern slope of the Providence Mountains surrounded by the 1.6 million-acre Mojave National Preserve, a remote California desert park invites visitors to enjoy varied pursuits. Activities in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area include cavern touring, hiking, camping, wildlife watching and scenic viewing.
Horseback excursions into Southern Nevada’s scenic outback remain among the most popular outdoor adventures available for both visitors and residents. Guided trail rides explore remote areas away from paved highways. Riders experience the trail on treks lasting from an hour to several hours when combined with meals, such as pack-along box lunches or breakfast or dinner cooked trailside.
Clark County marks its 100th birthday with special observations and programs throughout this year with emphasis on its colorful past and a century of phenomenal changes. Clark County presents special historical exhibits at the Clark County Museum and the county government center. Nearly a dozen roundtable history panel discussions appear on the county’s television channel. The Review-Journal has featured historical photos and print material from county archives. Special events dot the county’s 2009 calendar.
Cheerful golden sun rays nod their welcome to Valley of Fire State Park. These handsome relatives of sunflowers steal the wildflower show this spring, their exuberance drawing attention away from many other varieties. When visiting the park this month, take note of some of the lesser blooms, such as white-flowered gravel ghost, orange globe mallow, pale yellow primrose, pinkish-white dune primrose, lavender Mojave aster and tiny white rock aster. Several varieties of cactus finish up the spring show as hot summer days approach.
