Scenic Byways & Drives

BYWAYS & DRIVES

Hit the asphalt and take in Nevada’s backcountry beauty.

Given its natural beauty and wideopen spaces, the Silver State is unrivaled when it comes to experiencing the great American road trip. Set the cruise control and load up your playlists; out here, there’s always something on the horizon.

VALLEY OF FIRE STATE PARK

SCENIC BYWAYS

The U.S. Department of Transportation established its Scenic Byway program in 1991 to promote America’s roads less traveled. Highways with something special to offer make the short list, and Nevada is chock-full of them.

VALLEY OF FIRE SCENIC BYWAY

8 MILES | 2+ HOURS

This may be one of the most breathtaking 8-mile drives you ever take. Roll through narrow canyons lined by wind-sculpted red sandstone into Harley Davidson commercial territory. Be sure to pull off and take in the arches and overlooks of Nevada’s oldest and largest state park.

ANGEL LAKE SCENIC BYWAY

12 MILES | 30+ MINUTES

Short but mighty State Route 231 (aka Angel Lake Road) begins in Wells and rises several thousand feet into the East Humboldt Range, up from the sagebrush-swept high desert to the paradise that is Angel Lake. Ascend through groves of pinyon pine, mountain mahogany, and aspen while Angel Creek flows downward. Along the way, keep your eyes peeled for bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and pronghorn antelope.

WHEELER PEAK

SCENIC DRIVES

Nevada is a land of rainbowhued deserts and towering mountains with enough alpine lakes and forests to satisfy the nature lover in all of us. Scenic drives highlight the best of the state, offering well-maintained paved highways on your tour of the state.

WHEELER PEAK

12 MILES | 40+ MINUTES

The National Park Service calls it “driving into the clouds.” Probably because you climb 4,000 feet from a sagebrush steppe to a 10,000-foot alpine wonderland crowning Great Basin National Park. Take in panoramic views of Nevada’s second highest peak that include bristlecone pines—the world’s oldest trees—and glacially carved lakes.

PLANNING CHECKLIST

Check road conditions

All routes are subject to closures and unsafe weather conditions.

Know before you go and check with state highway resources before planning your next trip!

GOLD BUTTE NATIONAL MONUMENT

LOVELOCK CAVE

BACKCOUNTRY BYWAYS

The Bureau of Land Management classifies these adventurous routes into four categories: the higher the number, the more rugged the route. Type I routes are paved roads, but they’re also windy and narrow. With Type II, you better hop in a highclearance rig, preferably with 4WD.

GOLD BUTTE BACKCOUNTRY BYWAY

TYPE II – 62 MILES | 5+ HOURS

This extremely remote road traverses Gold Butte National Monument, a stunning slice of pure Mojave Desert backcountry. Motor past colorful sandstone, thousands of ancient petroglyphs, and dreamlike formations at Little Finland that seem to ignite as the sun sets over nearby Lake Mead.

LOVELOCK CAVE BACKCOUNTRY BYWAY

TYPE I/II – 20 MILES | 2+ HOURS

Pick up a free driving tour brochure from Lovelock’s Marzen House Museum before rumbling through an ancient lakebed turned to farmland. At the cave, you’ll find a modern viewing deck with interpretive signs that tell the stories of the 2,000-year-old artifacts found here.