Burning Man is over, but there are still many things to do on the playa.

Burning Man is one of Northern Nevada’s most known-for annual events. The Playa’s spectacular art scene, amazing music, and unique fashions make it something to return for again and again. However, this event is very clearly not for everyone and if Burning Man is not for you and you have never been out to the Black Rock Desert, there are so many great things to do and see. Check out these few!

Silence

Peace and quiet are a rare gift these days, but the playa is so peaceful when the festivities of Burning Man have come to an end. The Black Rock desert may be visible from space, but if you pause and take a breath you can hear your surroundings and even your own heart beat.

Mammoths

Several pre-historic mammoths have been discovered in the Black Rock desert, some with human bones. It has since been revealed that the human bones were on top of the mammoth bones, meaning they did not co-exist in this region. There is also evidence that even the mammoth bones do not lie in their original place, so it it believed that they were brought here by humans. However, you can see the casts of mammoth bones on display at the Nevada State Museum in Carson City, Nevada.

Petroglyphs

All throughout the Black Rock Desert you can see amazing petrophyphs (rock carvings, especially pre-historic). From glyphs of mammoths to humans and everyday life, keep an eye out for petroglyphs as they are a different and interesting vision into the past.

Lake Lahontan

You’re right, there is not a lake in the Black Rock Desert. Black Rock was at one point a large inland sea now known as Lake Lahontan! Lake Lahontan would have stretched from northwestern Nevada into eastern California and into southern Oregon. At it’s peak, this great sea would have stretched about 8,500 square miles and been about 900 feet deep at it’s deepest point. Thanks to this lake we now have the Lahontan cut throat trout which currently exists in the waters of the Great Basin and has been reintroduced into Pyramid and Walker lakes.

Stay Active

Whatever your speed, the Black Rock Desert has activity offerings for anyone and everyone. This National Conservation Area is home to a variety of performances, events, rock-collecting, hunting, camping, hiking, horseback-riding, wind-sailing and off-road driving, so whatever you’re in the mood for (or up-to-speed with) there’s always a way to stay active.

Summit Lake Reservation

If you’re in the mood to fork out the $100 for the driving permit, you can enjoy a beautiful oasis in the desert, the Summit Lake Reservation on Paiute land. One of the most remote Indian reservations in Nevada, this Paiute reservation is home to evidence of Basque arborglyphs (tree carvings in the bark of aspen trees) all throughout the forested lands.

Set a Land Speed Record

The world land speed record title is held by Andy Green. He reached 714.144 mph in his Thrust SuperSonicCar in 1997, right in the Black Rock Desert, along with many other land speed records. Go ahead and break it! (Or don’t, that’s probably a better idea… It’s a fun fact though!)

Fly Geyser

If you head about 1/3 of a mile down state Route 34, you’ll be able to gaze at this accidentally man-made wonder shooting water about 5 feet into the air. This attraction is fairly secret, as even a lot of Nevada locals don’t know it exists, and it is not accessible to the public up close. This alien-like mound was not always the sci-fy sight that it is now. In the early 1900’s, the Fly Geyser was drilled as a normal man-made well. Eventually, boiling hot water began to leak through the cracks in the well and up to the surface. There was an attempt to cap the geyser to prevent loss of hot water, which was obviously a failed attempt. The odd shape comes from minerals being deposited from the hot water, and thermophilic algae collecting on the mounds gives the geyser its green and red streaks.

Gerlach

On the Feather River Route of the Western Pacific Railroad, which was built to connect Oakland, California with Salt Lake City, Utah, Gerlach is the Gateway to the playa and the Black Rock Desert. This historical city is known for its quiet times and its gorgeous skies.

Guru Road

Also known as Doobie Lane, after it’s creator DeWayne “Doobie” Williams in the 1980s and 1990s during the last 15 years of his life, Guru Road is a scenic path that is always open right outside of Gerlach. When you come to take in the quiet times and gorgeous skies of Gerlach, be sure to drive the 1.25 miles of road lined with clever sayings, quotes, and tributes to his friends and family. Some large pieces include a weather station, a tribute to Elvis “The King”,  Aphrodite and the Desert Broadcast System.

All photos courtesy of Google Images. 

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