The Real Nevada: 17 Nuggets of Knowledge

April 18, 2015 In Arts and Culture, Outdoor Activities, Reno Tahoe

Hiking trails are abundant all throughout the beautiful state of Nevada, and northern Nevada is no exception, with many in Parc Forêt’s backyard.

It’s not all flat desert: There are 314 named mountain ranges, and over 100 unnamed mountain ranges that cut through the deserts at random, with 40 summits throughout the state exceeding 10,000 feet in elevation, making Nevada the most mountainous state in the United States.
Mountains are full of hiking and biking: Within the mountains of Nevada, there are thousands of hiking opportunities. From Bootleg Canyon to Badger Pass Loop to The Zipper, mountain biking is also extremely prevalent throughout the desert and mountains. The newest addition to the bike trails of Nevada hails from Carson City, called Ash and Kings Canyon Loop, which encompasses 7 miles of single track riding through 2 different NV canyons.
Nevada is full of sporting adventures: From north to south, and all throughout the state, there are many sporting options to choose from if hiking and biking do not interest you. Nevada is home to world-class ski resorts, snowmobiling, fly fishing, horseback riding, and even white water kayaking on the Truckee River in the heart of downtown Reno, NV.
Area 51 exists!: That’s right, it’s not a myth, Area 51 is a real place! Heading down Route 375, the Extraterrestrial Highway, in the town of Rachel, you can buy all kinds of souvenirs and even camp out hoping to make a UFO sighting.
Gourmet foodie scene: Celebrity chefs of Las Vegas light up the cuisine of the strip nightly, but its the farm-to-table feasts being prepared in Reno that are creating a great new foodie scene. All throughout Reno’s Midtown and Riverwalk Districts, even all the way to South Reno, local restaurants are reaching out to the Great Basin Food Co-op and local farmers and ranchers so that they can guarantee their customers the food is fresh and healthy.
Campo, in downtown Reno, has become a staple for farm fresh, gourmet meals. Enjoy a drink on the patio, over looking the Truckee River.
Breweries brewing delicious brews: With almost 40 breweries in Nevada, its hard to not want to try some of the delicious beers and ales that are being made right here instate. From Vegas to Reno, and everywhere in between, you can taste and be refreshed by local brews. In Reno, head over to Great Basin Brewing Company and say “Give me an Icky!” Named after Nevada’s state fossil, the ichthyosaur dinosaur, the Icky IPA is a local, and personal, favorite.
Mustangs run wild and free: Since 1885, Nevada has been home to over half the nation’s wild horses and burros, at around 25,000. These gorgeous creatures are protected, but not managed, by The Bureau of Land Management, so if they become a nuisance in the area, they are removed, and everyone is encouraged to not feed the animals. In related politics, a bill who’s purpose was to round up approximately 300 wild horses was rejected because there is fear it may cause harm to the animals.
Silver state tops charts in US gold: I know, I feel lied to as well. Growing up in California’s gold rush central this bit was news to me, but it’s true 80% of all gold mined in the US comes from Nevada. You can mine for it yourself if you’ve got the patience, nuggets of gold can still be found within streams and rivers with nothing more than a gold pan and some time to kill.
Excellent skiing and riding: Throughout the state, you can find beautiful ski and snowboard resorts, whereas most of the resorts are in northern Nevada, there are even some down south! However, as gorgeous and groomed as these resorts are, Nevada’s back country skiing is what many consider the cream of the crop (especially in the Ruby Mountains).
Mount Rose Ski Resort, only 10 miles from Parc Forêt, overlooks the sparkling city of Reno on one side, and Lake Tahoe’s breathtaking north shore on the other.
“Mark Twain” is a Nevada native: Samuel Clemens came to prospect in Virginia City in 1861, and after not striking it rich, became a featured writer for the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise, and became known by his pen name, Mark Twain.
Beautiful sculptures by nature: In the Gold Butte region of Nevada, you can see rock formations that have been millions of years in the making. What started as a sand dune buried and solidified has been eroded and windblown to transform into a gorgeous piece of natural art protruding from the earth in which it was formed.
Amazing rock climbing opportunities: Climbing enthusiasts have been flocking to the mountainous regions of Nevada for its amazing climbing opportunities, since the 1970s. However, in 1990, when The Red Rock Canyon of Nevada received its National Conservation Area designation, its sandstone climbing has become some of the best in the world.
Desert mountains are home to petroglyphs: Petroglyphs, the ancient carvings of Nevada natives, cover the state from top to bottom, some dating as far back as 10,500 to 14,800 years. The oldest known petroglyphs in North America can be found at Winnemucca Lake, northern Nevada. Here carved into the soft limestone of the dried lake bed, you can see geometric patterns and tree shapes, some as wide as 3 feet. Newer artwork in the form of pictographs, drawings rather than carvings, can be found in the Toquima Cave in central Nevada and are some of the best preserved in the nation. These flashy drawings, in white, red, yellow, and blue pigments, highlight geometric patterns and the plants and animals of the central Nevada region.
Clear skies day and night: The Nevada skies are not all lit up with the neons and brights of the Vegas strip. Beyond the glitz and billboards of the cities, the cloud-free skies are lit with the light of the moon and stars reflecting off of beautiful low desert sands and high desert lakes.
Playing Montrêux’s beautiful Jack Nicklaus signature golf course is a great way to spend a beautiful sunny day.
Abundant hot springs: No matter where in Nevada you call home there are plenty of hot springs, more than almost anywhere else, for you to soak in the naturally hot water. Though they each differ in terms of accessibility and the level of development of the springs, they all prove to be a great adventure spot for the jacuzzi-aficionado. On of Reno’s favorite local spots, Frog Pond located in the Black Rock Desert, is a privately owned artesian well with hand-built steps that welcomes guests as long as they are respectful of the protected tribal land that surround it.
Home of the ichthyosaur: The ichthyosaur, a giant marine reptile that lived an estimated, 217 million years ago and the bones of several have been found by miners in central Nevada. In 1928, the bones were attributed to the ichthysaur. Some of the skeletons reachalmost 50 feet in length and remain some of the largest ichthyosaur fossils found. Visit the Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park, in Gabbs, NV to see the original findings.
It’s absolutely beautiful underground as well: Taking a break from the mountains and rivers can lead to more beauty than is above the surface. In one of the states most popular caves, you can take a 2 mile adventure below the surface in the Lehman Caves of the Great Basin National Park. These caves are some of the most decorated, being home to stalagmites, stalactites, columns, flowstone, cave popcorn, and rare shield formations.