Official home of the Lincoln County Authority of Tourism (LCAT)
A landscape highly regarded by photographers today was not held in such high esteem by mining operations of the late 19th century. What is now an Instagrammer’s dream was a dumping ground of yesteryear.
Named for stately structures a continent away, Cathedral Gorge State Park is a remarkable pocket of awe-inspiring scenery in the midst of run-of-the-mill terrain. It is a truly unrivaled geologic spectacle that has become much more popular in the last decade with the emergence of social media.
Photo by Sydney Martinez | Travel Nevada
“Several years ago, when I worked for the Nevada State Department of Transportation, a co-worker and I were doing some work in Caliente and other southeastern Nevada communities.
“After work one day, we decided to stop by the nearby town of Panaca to see what the town was like and perhaps have a beer after work. After spending some time looking for a bar or a place to buy some beer, we were told that Panaca was only one of two towns in Nevada where the sale of alcohol was prohibited and gambling was not allowed.
“The area that was to become the Panaca settlement was explored by Mormons in 1857. Brigham Young dispatched the explorers to locate a potential refuge in case of a U.S. military campaign against Utah. The location was selected due to the Meadow Valley oasis at the headwaters of the Muddy River.”
Photo by Sydney Martinez, Travel Nevada
“The town rapidly became the largest mining town in southeastern Nevada in the early 1870s. Population estimates showed 10,000 people by 1871. The town quickly gained fame for its “toughest town” reputation.
“Due mostly to confusion over the exact location of mining claims, mine owners finally resorted to hiring guards. Hired gunmen were imported at the rate of about 20 a day during boom times to fight mining claim encroachments. Mine owners often paid the gunmen a salary of $20 per day – a more certain investment for owners than settling disputes in court where bribery often determined the final outcome. The sheriff’s office was reputed to be worth $40,000 a year in bribes alone.”
Photo by Susan Mowers, Travel Nevada
“Positively brimming with grandeur, Nevada boasts a hefty slice of the American West’s stunning scenery, intriguing geology, and natural wonders. This 355-mile route along the Great Basin Highway takes in the highlights, beginning with red rock spires and sandstone canyons, and ending with mountain peaks, ancient bristlecone pine forests, and some of the nation’s darkest, star-studded skies.”
Popular mountain biking influencer Danica Fife recently took a trip to Caliente to test out new trails in the area. Check out her review below!
Less than 2.5 hours from Las Vegas is a stunning biking destination. In the small town of Caliente, Nev., there are multiple trails to satisfy any type of rider. From the progression jumps at the skills park to chunky rock gardens at Barnes Canyon, this area will bring a smile to any tech or flow rider.
Jumps, skinnies, a pump track, you name it! This mountain bike skills zone is an optimal place to hone in some essential bike handling skills.
My favorite area was the progression jumps. They were poppy and smooth. Also, the jumps were built in a way that made them extremely case-friendly. Trust me, I had my fair share of cases that day!
These trails keep you on your toes. One trail can be full of flow, then the next consists of slow rock moves. After a riding-filled day, I can’t think of a better way to end the adventure than pitching up camp at the bottom of the majestic Tepee Rocks. The scenery here is definitely one of those special places where you have to stop mid-ride just to take it in.
This area has a mellow 5.3 mile loop with views for miles. It has a bonus short black diamond option as well, if you are feeling spicy.
This trail called Skidsteer was the favorite of the trip. Even though it only took a few minutes to ride down! It consisted of steep sandy corners and rock gardens that made you realize the trail’s name was extremely accurate.
You caught me, this isn’t biking. However, we have to strech our legs out every once in a while right? While Cathedral Gorge does have a biking option, I opted for exploring the slot canyons. This state park is 15 minutes out of Caliente and 10/10 would recommend this area. Just the views alone from the road were worth it.
All photos courtesy of Danica Fife.
Visitors to Nevada make contact with a lot of odd things. Monster museums. A micronation in the middle of the state. Maybe even a haunted hotel or two. But all this extraterrestrial themed stuff… alien masks, jerky shops, music festivals… what gives? It all probably comes back to the fact that Nevada is the home of Area 51, the infamously (no longer all that) secret unit of the U.S. Government’s Nevada Test and Training Range that is rumored to house a fleet of extraterrestrial spacecraft and, as the internet jokingly (or otherwise) wondered in 2019, extraterrestrial life forms themselves. Curious? Pilot your vessel down Nevada State Route 375, otherwise known as the Extraterrestrial Highway. Whether you make extraterrestrial contact or not, you may still get into the lore or, better yet, have a close enough encounter with a story-telling local or two that you go home inspired to dig into some of the conspiracies yourself.
Photo courtesy Travel Nevada