If you’re pining for a freshly cut Christmas tree this holiday season, you could go to one of the pop-up, tented tree lots that dot the Las Vegas Valley this time of year. But if you’re feeling more adventurous, you could round up the family and make a day of it by traveling to more forested parts of Nevada, as well as Utah, Arizona and California, to search for a perfect tree to harvest yourselves.
This agricultural area along the east fork of the Carson River in northwestern Nevada is best visited from May through October.
A gold rush in the early 1900s spawned the town of Beatty, 115 miles northwest of Las Vegas, and the nearby ghost town of Rhyolite.
The two-lane highway from Searchlight to Nipton, Calif., runs 21 miles through scenic high desert and rugged foothills. It often boasts a fair springtime show of desert wildflowers, many varieties of cactus and an extensive forest of Joshua trees.
Sparsely populated Lincoln County comprises old towns, ancient rock art, numerous all-terrain vehicle trails and five outstanding areas preserved as state parks. Visit this autumn and you’ll enjoy seasonal color until the snow flies.
One of those hidden beauty spots that delight desert lovers, scenic Afton Canyon lies off Interstate 15 between Baker and Barstow in Southern California.
Cut by a little creek, peaceful meadows surrounded by wooded hills in southwestern Utah belie the horrific events that occurred there in 1857 when 120 California-bound emigrants died during the Mountain Meadows Massacre. Both battlefield and graveyard, the 2,500-acre site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also seeks to have the site memorialized as a national landmark, a lengthy process.
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.
Beatty annually celebrates its colorful history during Beatty Days, slated to coincide with the upcoming statewide three-day holiday for Nevada Day, Oct. 31-Nov. 2. The little town 115 miles from Las Vegas on U.S. 95 schedules family-style events and entertainment reminiscent of celebrations during Beatty’s early years more than a century ago.
