Adventures in the Nevada Desert East of Reno

Reno residents are accustomed to heading up to Tahoe and crossing the California border as part of their camping excursions. Yet the Nevada desert too often remains overlooked and unexplored. While it’s true that much of it is dry and barren, there are several watering holes and special places that offer a unique aesthetic and uncrowded surroundings.

Photo: The turquoise waters and surreal desert landscapes of Pyramid Lake are less than an hour outside Reno. Photo credit: Dan Bablinskas

So, during the next holiday weekend when long lines of cars and RVs are heading into the Eastern Sierras to crowd the campgrounds there, head East into Nevada’s hinterland and explore one of these hidden treasures, most of which are free or nearly free to visit.
 

Nevada's Desert Lakes and Reservoirs

Nevada has several large lakes outside of Lake Tahoe that rival those across the country for their grandeur and epic surroundings.

Pyramid Lake, for one, is less than an hour outside Reno and is an amazing boating location with surreal desert vistas and beautiful turquoise waters. While there is limited developed camping around at Pyramid, there’s lots of BLM land around where you can boondock to your heart’s content. Also, Pyramid Lake offers world-class cutthroat trout fishing.

Topaz Lake, southeast of Reno by around one hour, is another great desert lake. Boating, kayaking, beach-going and camping are all options at Topaz, and there are hotels, restaurants and casinos near the lakeshore. Here again, you can expect unique desert surroundings and a notable dearth of people.

Then there is Walker Lake, about two hours southeast of Reno. Now we are getting deep into the Nevada desert. At the Walker Lake Recreation Area, developed campsites cost a whopping $6 a night.

Rye Patch Reservoir sits along the I-80 corridor, making it an easy stopover location. It has campsites, hiking trails and picnic areas and a reservoir for boating, fishing and other lake activities. 

And we can’t forget the Lahontan Reservoir. Named after the ancient Lake Lahontan, this reservoir and recreation area has numerous beaches and camping areas. Entrance fees are $5 for NV residents, and there is a huge variety of things to do, from off-roading and canoeing to horseback riding and birdwatching. And being less than an hour outside Reno, this is an easy place to hop to for a quick daytrip.

Photo: The Lahontan Reservoir and Recreation Area offers a huge variety of things to do outdoors. Photo credit: Dan Bablinskas

Bumming Around Austin, NV

Venturing farther east of Reno, into some of the least populated parts of the country, we find ourselves near the town of Austin, Nevada, less than three hours outside of Reno. Austin itself is a quirky “living ghost town” with a population of less than 200. Worth a visit is the Stokes Castle, an 1890s stone structure built as a monument to Austin’s silver wealth. Much like Austin’s success, it was short-lived and was only inhabited for one month. Now it sits in ruins, like much of Austin itself, but all of this adds to the mystique of this unpopulated region.

Not far south of Austin is a camping area that runs along Big Creek, known as the Big Creek Campground. This is a beautiful mountainous area with creek access and an abundance of wildlife. Here you can camp for free in partially developed campsites with plenty of mountain hiking and water nearby.

Photo: Mountain hiking is a great outdoor activity near Big Creek Campground. Photo credit: Dan Bablinskas

To the east of Austin is a petroglyph site known as the Hickison Petroglyph Area. These ancient carvings are estimated to be 10,000 years old, making them some of the oldest rock carvings ever discovered.

Last but not least, there is Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, which I have written about more extensively in a previous article. Here, you’ll find a campground, ghost town and one of the most significant fossil sites in the world, all in one small corner of Nevada outside of Austin. And while it’s three hours from Reno, the whole trip can easily be done in a day or with one night of camping under the stars.

Photo: An abandoned mill and mining buildings reveal the past in Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park. Photo credit: Dan Bablinskas

Cave Exploration in Nevada

Desert surroundings and caves go hand in hand. The lack of overgrowth and moisture that help with the preservation of ancient rock carvings also expose entrances into the subterranean world.

Just outside Fallon and only an hour and fifteen minutes from Reno is Hidden Cave, an archaeological site displaying artifacts of the Toi-Ticutta culture, ancestors of the Falloon Paiute-Shoshone tribe. Public tours are held on every other Saturday, giving attendees deep insider knowledge of the archaeological findings in the cave.

Then there is Lovelock Cave, another bastion of Great Basin archaeology. Less than two hours outside of Reno and accessible down a dirt road, this cave features interpretive signs and a walkway through the cave. Artifacts have been removed from display, and the tour is self-guided, but this remains a significant historic site as well as a safe way to view the underground world without the need to wait on a tour.

As you can see, there is a lot to do in Central Nevada. On the milder days of spring, summer and fall, these are all great places to visit and show your Nevada pride by enjoying Nevada’s untouched wilderness.