Myth vs. Fact

Recreate Responsibly

In love with the Silver State as much as we are? Get the lowdown on how to explore it safely, as well as responsibly, to ensure Nevada’s sacred spaces remain pristine and special for generations to come.

STICK TO THE ROADS, TRAILS, AND TRACKS

If you head out into the desert, you’ll discover there’s going to be a road—paved or otherwise—that takes you where you need to be, so no need to blaze your own.

EVERYONE’S LAND

More than 80 percent of Nevada is federally managed, which means this land is literally your land. But remember, whatever land you’re on—private or public—it’s owned and managed by a person or an agency. Please respect all posted No Trespassing signs.

LEAVE NO TRACE (LNT)

Nothing is worse than driving across Nevada’s pristine landscape and seeing a grocery bag stuck in the sage or a bottle on the side of the road. Familiarize yourself with the “Seven Principles” of LNT outdoor ethics. Always travel with extra garbage bags so you can pack out all your own—and anyone else’s—trash: leave every place better than you found it.

Finders does not mean keepers. Whether it’s a ghost town mining relic, arrowhead, or any other kind of artifact, leave all objects where you found them (but take all the photos you’d like). Feeding wildlife of any kind is not only extremely uncool, it’s also illegal. Human food is not healthy for wild animals, and they do not need food from humans to survive.

WATCH FOR WILDLIFE

Beyond the asphalt, Nevada’s diverse fauna ranges from rabbits to rattlesnakes, burros to bighorns, reptiles to rare birds, cattle to coyotes, pronghorn aplenty, more wild horses than anywhere else, and an abundance in between. If you’re going so fast that you miss them—or worse, that you can’t when you need to—then you’re going too fast.

FIRE DANGER

TRAVEL NEVADA PRO TIP

Sometimes you’ll come across a fence with a cattle guard gate. You’re free to open it and drive through, just be sure to put the gate back how you found it.

Fire season hits Nevada harder than ever these days, and catastrophic blazes can easily be started by campfire embers, vehicle undercarriages, hot bullet casings, and more. All of this is preventable. Always check local fire restrictions and use common sense.

DIRT ROAD CODE

STARLIGHT? TOO BRIGHT

Nevada’s night skies are some of the darkest in the Lower 48. Many visitors take to remote campgrounds primarily for our unrivaled galactic view, so be aware of the light pollution you bring with you: it doesn’t take much to blow out another camper’s night vision. Help protect this disappearing natural resource by lighting your camp mindfully.

Study up on the Dirt Road Code if you plan on hitting the road outside of the metro areas for an unscripted adventure. You’ll find packing tips, vehicle suggestions, and how to safely navigate Nevada backroads like a dusty ol’ pro.

Don’t count on your phone to bail you out TRAVEL NEVADA PRO TIP of a jam! Nevada’s wild places are some of the country’s most remote, which means they’re often out of cell service and far from help. Plan accordingly.