Aussie athlete Ellie Salthouse recently spent a week discovering Nevada alongside her partner, Zac.
Starting at Cathedral Gorge State Park, the journey included explorations in the Great Basin National Park and Lehman Caves, sightseeing under the bright lights of Reno before winding their way around the scenic Lake Tahoe Loop road trip.
During the last few days of the visit, Ellie and Zac cruised the Free-Range Art Highway, stopping along the way at Tonopah for an ATV adventure at one of Nevada’s most famous and historic silver mines, taking a selfie by the colourful International Car Forest and quirky Goldwell Open Air Museum.
Q: What did you love most about Nevada?
A: Everyone knows Las Vegas, though it’s always such a surprise to discover the variety of experiences that are further afield in broader Nevada; it’s a classic American road trip.
As nature lovers who enjoy hiking, cycling and generally exploring the great outdoors, there is so much to see and do in Nevada, with the landscape incredibly diverse from north to south of the state.
One minute you’re stopping in these incredible, historic towns that feel as if you’re on a movie set. The next you’re hiking impossibly beautiful trails – all to yourself at times – and really making the most of Nevada’s state parks that are the ultimate adventurer’s playground.
Q: Were there any particular Nevada highlights?
A: North Lake Tahoe was a spectacular highlight, with beautiful clear blue waters to hike and mountain cycle around.
There is also a real sense of camaraderie and community spirit in the area. We found ourselves chatting to other like-minded walkers and cyclists in the local cafes, or out on the trails. Everyone was so friendly and there was a real energy that was infectious in Tahoe.
We also loved the great food and getting out on the water in the clear bottom kayaks that are available to hire. A must stop for any visit to Nevada!
With its network of underground chambers, Lehman Caves in the Great Basin National Park was unlike anything we’d experienced before.
We booked a guided tour in advance and learned that it’s Nevada’s longest cave system. After the underground tour we hiked right above in the national park; it was a real thrill knowing we’d just been exploring the ground that was below our feet.
An ATV tour of the Tonopah Historic Mining Park was a real surprise. It’s a fun way to scoot around the 40 hectares while learning at the same time about this former silver mine that dates back over a century. It’s like visiting a town that time forgot!
Q: Favourite hiking and cycling routes?
A: Lake Tahoe was pure magic for hiking. For cycling, we loved the bicycle access and dedicated trails in Reno. There’s a lot of variety between trails, whether you bring your own or hire bikes from Reno.
The Reno to Lake Tahoe route was a highlight as you pass beautiful scenery along the way: from the bright lights of Reno to the natural surrounds by the lake at Tahoe.
Q: Was there anything unexpected from this trip?
A: We loved the village atmosphere of many of the smaller towns including Fallon, which was a particular favourite, located just outside of Reno.
We found out that it’s referred to as “The Oasis of Nevada” and has wetlands teeming with wildlife and waterways that are perfect for kayaking and paddle boarding.
It’s also home to Sand Mountain for sandboarding and other off-road dune adventures.
