This is a distant capture of Stella Lake in Great Basin National Park in Nevada, with Wheeler Peak in the background. Logs litter the shoreline.

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Northern Nevada

Anchored by the population centers of the Reno-Tahoe area to the west, and Las Vegas to the southeast, the vast area referred to as Northern Nevada (or the Great Basin) holds most of Nevada's landmass but relatively few residents. It's a high desert of vast valleys stretching out in all directions until they collide with range after range of great, craggy mountains, draped white in winter, golden with blooms in spring and sage green in the summer sun.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

Kyle Hot Springs
Northern Nevada
Soaking in the sulfuric water of this remote hot spring will turn your skin baby soft, and the endless view across the valley from the tub will seriously…
Lamoille Recreation Area
Northern Nevada
The Lamoille Recreation Area is part of the Ruby Mountains section of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. It comprises the spectacular Lamoille Canyon…
Great Basin National Park
Northern Nevada
Near the Nevada–Utah border, 67 miles east of Ely, this uncrowded national park encompasses the 13,063ft Wheeler Peak, rising abruptly from the desert and…
Grimes Point Archaeological Area
Northern Nevada
About 10 miles east of Fallon, you can walk a ¾-mile trail past rock carvings (petroglyphs) dating as far back as 9000 years. Need more archaeological…
Lehman Caves
Great Basin National Park
A colossal marble cavern, Lehman Caves features a staggering collection of formations including stalactites, stalagmites, helictites, flowstone, popcorn…
Lovelock Cave
Northern Nevada
Just under 20 miles south of town, this sizable cave was used from 2600 BCE by native peoples to store food and seasonal equipment. It was 'discovered' in…
California Trail Interpretive Center
Northern Nevada
If you're driving the I-80, which follows, in parts, the route of the original California Trail that pioneers trod when settling the West, a stop at this…
Western Folklife Center
Northern Nevada
To get a taste of life in the Wild West, aspiring cowpokes should visit this cultural center, incorporating the Wiegand Gallery's impressive collection of…