10 State Parks In Nevada That Are Stunningly Beautiful

Nevada has some of the most beautiful state parks you'll ever see. Beautiful lakes, lush mountain forests, and scenic canyons are just a few of the things you'll encounter if you're fortunate enough to visit our state parks. And if you enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, swimming, boating, and exploring nature - Nevada has you covered! If you're looking for some road trip inspiration, we have10 state parks in Nevada that are stunningly beautiful, and absolutely worth adding to your itinerary.

1. Cathedral Gorge State Park - Panaca

Cathedral Gorge State Park was one of Nevada's first four state parks; it was founded in 1935. This state park is nearly 2,000 acres in size and is situated in a long and narrow valley. Everyone loves exploring the slit canyons in this epic state park.

For more information, be sure to read our previous article about Cathedral Gorge State Park.

2. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park - Gabbs

Established in 1957, Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park protects and displays North America's largest known ichthyosaur fossils (try saying that three times fast!). This state park also preserves the mining town of Berlin.

For more information, on this state park in Nevada check out our previous article.

3. Cave Lake State Park - Ely

At this Nevada state park, which is open year-round, you'll enjoy warm weather recreational activities such as trout fishing, hiking and swimming, and winter recreational activities such as ice skating and cross-country skiing. In other words, Cave Lake State Park is always a good choice!

For more information, check out our previous article about Cave Lake State Park.

4. Spring Mountain Ranch State Park - Blue Diamond

Located only 15 miles outside of Las Vegas, Spring Mountain Ranch State Park is both a working ranch and luxurious retreat that sits on 520 acres. You will have no idea you're so close to the Neon Capital of The World.

For more information, check out our previous article about this state park in Nevada.

5. Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park - Incline Village, Nevada

Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park offers a number of different areas for visitors to enjoy, such as Sand Harbor, Memorial Point, Hidden Beach, Cave Rock, Spooner Lake and Marlette/Hobart Backcountry. These areas combined are more than 14,000 acres, and are stunningly beautiful.

Read more about Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park in our previous article!

6. Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park - Ely

Located in the Egan Mountain Range, this state park is known for its six, very distinctive, beehive-shaped historic charcoal ovens. These behemoths operated from 1876 to 1879, which happened to be the silver boom years of the Ward Mines. It's a fascinating place to visit.

For more information about this intriguing place in Nevada, be sure to check out our previous article.

7. Spring Valley State Park - Pioche

The Spring Valley State Park area was originally settled by Morman pioneers in the 1860s, and many of their homes still stand today.

For more information about Spring Valley State Park, check out our previous article.

8. Washoe Lake State Park - Carson City, Nevada

Washoe Lake State Park was established in 1977, and its original inhabitants were Washoe Indians, hence the park's name. This state park in Nevada is a very popular area for camping, boating, and hiking.

9. Kershaw-Ryan State Park - Caliente

Kershaw-Ryan State Park is located in a beautiful, scenic canyon in Eastern Nevada. This canyon was settled in 1873 by Samuel and Hannah Kershaw. In 1904, the couple sold the property to James Ryan, a local rancher. Mr. Ryan eventually donated the land to the Nevada State Parks in 1926; in 1935, it became known as Kershaw-Ryan State Park. It's one of Nevada's first four state parks.

For more information on this historic park, check out our previous article.

10. Valley of Fire State Park - Overton

Valley of Fire State Park, dedicated in 1935, is Nevada's oldest and largest state park. The way this state park received its unique name is actually quite interesting. The red sandstone located throughout this state park were formed from shifting sand dunes more than 150 million years ago, during the time of the dinosaurs. As the sun's rays reflect off these red sandstone formations, they look as if they are on fire -- it's truly a sight to behold.

For more information about Valley of the Fire State Park, be sure to read our previous article.

If you've been to any of these Nevada state parks, please feel free to share your experience(s) in the comments below. If you have a favorite Nevada state park that's not a part of this list (and for that I apologize), please feel free to share that, too!