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| Valley of Fire Scenic Byway |
Nevada is a diverse state with a wide variety of scenery. One of the best ways to view all the various landscapes and views is by traveling the state’s 17 official scenic byways.
The Nevada Scenic Byways program was created in the 1980s by the Nevada Legislature, which wanted to draw attention to specific drives that are noteworthy because of their extraordinary visual attributes.
The designated byways, which include routes that are part of the federal All-American Road and National Scenic Byway programs, range from the 12-mile Angel Lake Road/State Route 231, located south of Wells, to an 8-mile section of the Las Vegas Strip.
The Angel Lake road, which climbs into the East Humboldt Range, winds its way through picturesque groves of piñon pine, mountain mahogany and quaking aspen before ending at beautiful Angel Lake.
The Las Vegas Strip stretch includes both the southern end of the Strip, between Russell and Sahara Avenue, which encompasses many of the city’s most spectacular resorts, and a northern part, between Sahara Avenue and Washington Avenue, which takes in some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods.
Other roads on the Nevada Scenic Byway list include:
• State Routes 445/446/447 — A 30-mile route that offers breathtaking views of starkly beautiful Pyramid Lake, including many intriguing tufa rock formations.
• State Route 431 (the Mount Rose Highway)—This 22.2-mile route climbs up Mt. Rose Summit to the 8,911-foot pass, then descends into the Tahoe Basin, and affords a wonderful first view of Lake Tahoe.
• Lamoille Canyon Road—Winding through the steep walls of Lamoille Canyon, which is south of Elko, this 12.5-mile byway passes through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the state.
• Baker Road—This 11.6-mile hunk of highway begins at the junction of U.S. 50 and U.S. 6 and ends at the Nevada/Utah boundary. Along the way, you can catch fabulous views of the eastern face of the Snake Mountain Range, including Wheeler Peak.
• Lehman Caves Road—For 5.4 miles on this route, you can drive from the small town of Baker to the entrance to Great Basin National Park, anticipating the park’s attractions, which include Lehman Caves, a series of underground passages filled with fascinating limestone formations. Be sure to look for the unusual folk art constructed by local artists on the fence posts adjacent to the road.
• U.S. 93 (between the junction with State Route 318 and Majors Junction)—This is not only the longest scenic byway in the state at 148.8 miles but also was the first. The route passes through some of the most wide-open country in Nevada as well as several historic Eastern Nevada communities including Pioche, Caliente and Panaca. It’s also leads to five Nevada state parks, including Cathedral Gorge, Kershaw-Ryan and Echo Canyon.
• U.S. 50/U.S. 6/ U.S. 93 (south of Ely to the Nevada/Utah border)—This 63-miles of pavement parallels and crosses through the Schell Creek Range before skirting the north edge of the Snake Range. It passes by Cave Lake State Park, the Ward Charcoal Ovens Historic Monument and Great Basin National Park—a trifecta of scenic and historic places not to be missed.
• Red Rock Canyon Road/State Route 159—This 8.8-mile road loops through the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is located about 20 miles from Las Vegas. It offers marvelous views of multi-colored rock formations as well as unique wildlife and plants.
• Valley of Fire Road—This scenic byway begins at the west entrance to Valley of Fire State Park and ends at the park’s eastern entrance. Along the way, visitors can view bright red sandstone arches, cliffs and pillars as well as prehistoric Native American petroglyphs and spectacular geological treasures such as the White Domes.
• State Routes 156/157/158—These three mountain roads meander through the scenic Mount Charleston area. Only an hour’s drive from Las Vegas, they comprise a loop that climbs from the valley floor and deep into the mountain. Visitors can sometimes glimpse golden eagles, owls, prairie falcons, and other species. And it’s usually at least 20 degrees cooler than Las Vegas.
• U.S. 50 (between Carson City and the California state line)—This 21.5-mile portion of the highway offers panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and passes through the tunnels at Cave Rock and by some of the state’s most stunning scenery.
• U.S. 50 and Nevada State Route 28 (between the junction of U.S. 50 and the California/Nevada border)—This 16-mile road follows Lake Tahoe’s eastern shore and provides plenty of reasons to see why writer Mark Twain once described the lake as “the fairest picture the whole earth affords.”
For more information about Nevada’s Scenic Byways, go to: www.dot.nv.gov/travel-info/travel-nevada/scenic-byways.
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