Cathedral Gorge State Park is open all year long, although it's unusual cliffs can be particularly stunning in the winter with a covering of snow. If you're looking for a time to visit this spectacular park, now is it! Hikers, campers and photographers will find this to be the perfect Winter Nevada park.
Cathedral Gorge State Park is known for its rock formations and peaks. With a covering of snow, they can be strikingly beautiful.
The park was one of the first four parks designated by the state of Nevada in 1935.
There are many stone buildings you can find in the park that were built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. While not all of the buildings are still in use, such as the stone restrooms, the picnic areas they built are still used today by visitors.
During the Pliocene Era, about one millions year ago, the area of the park was covered with a freshwater lake.
The lake eventually emptied out over time, leaving behind a lake bed covered with soft clay and shale. The resulting rock formations were created through wind, rain and melting snow erosion of the dried lake bed over time.
The park is popular with campers and hikers all season long. Be aware if you go in winter, it can be quite cold, with temperatures below freezing.
There are 22 campsites with table, grill, water, electric hookup, restroom and shower facilities.
There are also many easy to moderate trails with scenic views. If you love slot canyons, there are some you can walk or crawl into to find "hidden" rooms in the canyons.
The park has an interesting history prior to becoming a state park. It was actually very popular with actors and was used to stage pageants and Shakespearean plays because of the dramatic background of the rocks and the gorge.
Cathedral Gorge State Park is located off of US 93 where it intersects with State Route 319. The closest town is Panaca. The park is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every day, except for winter holidays. There is a fee for day use and for camping.
Do you plan on visiting Cathedral Gorge this winter? Share in the comments!
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