5 fan-favorite stops in the Nevada State Parks Passport

From gigantic ancient rock formations to the country’s largest alpine lake, here are five spots to stamp on your Nevada State Parks Passport.

Nevada is home to 27 state parks, each with its own set of unique natural, cultural, and recreational gems, from gigantic ancient rock formations to the country’s largest alpine lake.

The Nevada Division of State Parks, which manages and maintains those parks, wants you to see them all. So much so that the agency’s Nevada State Parks Passport provides an opportunity to gain free access to these resources. Visitors who have their passport stamped at 15 of the nearly 30 state parks are eligible for an annual pass to all of them.

While the physical passport can be picked up at any Nevada State Park, digital nomads may opt to check in and earn their pass on the mobile app. Both the physical passport and the app contain photos and a description of each park and its amenities.

Not sure where to start? Here are five Nevada State Parks with outstanding visitor reviews.

1. Cathedral Gorge State Park

Where: 111 Cathedral Gorge State Park Road, Panaca

Visitor Center: Open daily, except during winter holidays

Campground: 28 sites and two well-equipped group camp areas

Fees: Park fee is $5 for Nevada residents; campgrounds are $15 for Nevada residents

One of Nevada’s four original state parks, Cathedral Gorge State Park is a cacophony of rust-colored landscapes, featuring canyons, spires, and hoodoos that were created over tens of millions of years by volcanic activity, an ancient lake, and erosion. A stunning backdrop for photographs, “It feels like you’re in a different planet,” writes TripAdvisor contributor asminebigornia. It’s also less crowded then other parks, making it “an amazing hidden treasure,” according to a Google Review by Boo Bry.

Designated as a state park in 1935, Cathedral Gorge State Park is a hikers’ paradise with tons of trails, a hidden network of tunnels, wildlife, and some plant life. Maureen Bourke recommends the 3-mile Juniper Loop, writing in a Google Review that the trail “goes by some of the most interesting features of the park.”

The campground is described as well-maintained, easy to navigate, and safe for campers with clean, heated bathrooms and showers. Google reviewer Blackbeard The Biker compliments the accessibility of Cathedral Gorge State Park, noting “the ground is uniquely very solid and level, so kids and seniors can experience nature in a very memorable way.”

Note: Miller Point Overlook at Cathedral Gorge State Park is closed for safety upgrades until July.

2. Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks

Where: NV-28, Incline Village

Visitor Center: Located at Sand Harbor and Spooner Lake

Campground: Three primitive, walk-in campgrounds. Two backcountry cabins.

Fees: $10 per vehicle with a Nevada license plate

Covering 14,301 acres on the northeast shores of the country’s largest alpine lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks are gorgeous destinations for scuba diving, swimming, boating, fishing, sunbathing, hiking, mountain biking, equestrian activities, and camping–not to mention snow-related winter activities.

The park is comprised of more than a handful of recreational areas, including Sand Harbor, Cave Rock, Spooner Lake, Van Sickle, the Marlette Lake Water System, and the hidden beaches of the Highway 28 corridor. The sandy beaches and clear blue waters of Sand Harbor are among the most popular areas, while Van Sickle is among the most accessible, with easy and moderate trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

Due to the outstanding views and plethora of recreational opportunities—land and water—the park is often very busy. In July and August, you may be able to catch the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor. Visitors will also find quaint lakeside communities, busy waterfront markets, and an active local scene.

Google reviewer Igor Furtuna describes the Lake Tahoe park as “a true marvel” with “unparalleled beauty. The crystal-clear waters, framed by the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains, create a postcard-perfect scene that never fails to captivate.”Joao Viana describes it as “a piece of heaven,” while Nicole P writes, “not a bad spot anywhere.”

3. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park

Where: Northwestern Nye County, 23 miles east of Gabbs

Visitor Center: No

Campground: 14 well-spaced units (open year-round)

Fees: $5 per vehicle with a Nevada license plate

Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park is a blast from the prehistoric past, home to “the most abundant concentration, and largest known remains, of Ichthyosaurs,” according to the park website. The ancient marine reptiles swam in the ocean covering Central Nevada more than 225 million years ago, and their remains are preserved for your viewing pleasure.

In addition to the fossil shelter, the park is home to the ghost town of Berlin, a 20th-century mining boomtown (1896-1911) where an ore mill, homes, blacksmith shop, stage coach shop, stable, machine shop, and assay office are still standing. Guided tours are available for the fossil shelter and the mine (check for tours in advance).

This “off the beaten path trip” is a treat, writes Jan01234 in a TripAdvisor Review, adding that Berlin was “the best preserved ghost town we’ve visited.”

Hans Gyswyt calls it “an amazing history lesson” that was worth the visit.

In addition to its historical components, the park is a great place for camping, picnicking, and hiking past sagebrush, pinyon pine, and juniper.

On Google, FranRaz expresses appreciation for the solitude and the secluded, well-maintained campground. “The wildflowers were spectacular, as was the night sky,” she writes on TripAdvisor.

4. Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Where: 20 miles south of Ely

Visitor Center: No

Campground: Willow Creek Campground

Fees: $5 per vehicle

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park offers all the typical features of a state park, including camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, horse riding, wildlife, and plant life. The centerpiece is its six 19th-century beehive-shaped kilns, once used to process silver ore, now fun to explore and photograph.

Considered the best preserved of their kind in the state, the 30-foot by 27-foot ovens were listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. “The workmanship in the construction of these ‘bee hives’ is something to marvel over,” writes Kenneth Davis in a Google Review. Donna Theimer writes that she “really loved the educational placards.”

Coastal63723176948, who uses a walker, had no problem getting to the ovens and even saw five prolong horn antelope on the way, according to a TripAdvisor review.

The 700-acre, dog-friendly state park has a “perfect campground” with clean facilities and helpful park rangers, according to a Google Review by Daniel Bustos, who writes it’s “a must visit when coming through Nevada.”

5. Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area

Where: 4220 So. Needles Hwy. #3, Laughlin

Visitor Center: No

Campground: 24-unit campground, open year-round

Fees for Nevadans: $10 per vehicle; $20 for camping

Just downstream of Lake Mohave and Davis Dam (which straddles Nevada and Arizona), Big Bend of the Colorado boasts two miles of scenic sandy shoreline, canyons, and washes just a hop, skip, and a jump from the gaming town of Laughlin. Whether tubing, boating, fishing, or swimming, you’ll find the water cool and clear all year-round, even when the temperature is soaring. “It was already over 100, but the water is nice and chilly,” confirmed Laura D. on TripAdvisor, adding, “the water felt great.”

In addition to water play, visitors may also explore the area on four miles of developed and undeveloped hiking trails that wind through the area. With waterfowl and shorebirds like mallards, herons, and geese, bird watching is also big at Big Bend. It’s well worth the entry fee, writes Trip Adviser user lowens311, who saw Abert’s Towhee, Costa’s hummingbird, and a variety of other passerines and ducks.

Thanks to its proximity to Laughlin and Bullhead City, Ariz., larilu writes on TripAdvisor that it’s easy “to stock up on supplies/groceries,” adding that cell service was great. You might not ever want to leave, according to Donna K. who “liked it so much we bought a house near the river…. a beautiful playground yearround [whether] you’re in the water or on it.”

Big Bend of the Colorado gets busy in the summer and the parking lot often fills up, so carpooling or early arrival is recommended.