Nevada
These 10 Nevada outdoor thrills are one of a kind
Plenty of gems throughout the Silver State await those who are willing to wander outside of the Las Vegas Valley.
In a list released this month, the Nevada Division of Tourism, also known as Travel Nevada, detailed 10 hand-picked experiences that its staff considers off-the-beaten-path outdoor adventures. Titled the “Top 10 ‘Out There’ Experiences,” it is sure to help Las Vegans discover new, outlying places.
For those with desert wanderlust — or who would enjoy a skydiving free fall with views of Hoover Dam at 120 mph — the list is fodder for bucket lists and exploration in the new year.
“Nevada’s public lands are home to some of the nation’s most diverse landscapes and exhilarating outdoor activities, and there’s something extraordinary waiting for everyone,” said Tracie Barnthouse, chief communications officer at Travel Nevada, in a statement. “Whether you’re chasing adrenaline or craving solitude, this list is a call to embrace the spirit of Nevada and ‘Get a Little Out There’.”
Heli-ski in the ‘Swiss Alps of Nevada’
Southern Nevadans may never have heard of the Ruby Mountains, near the city of Elko in northeastern Nevada. The snowy range, which was recently awarded 20-year federal protections against oil and gas exploration, is one of the state’s lesser-known untouched places.
National Geographic considers heli-skiing in the range one of its “Best American Adventures.”
In the rural town of Lamoille at the foothills, the Royer family owns the Ruby 360 Lodge — an idyllic home base for those looking to ride a helicopter up to the top of the mountain for skiing in the winter.
To book the aerial experience, Nevadans can go to helicopterskiing.com.
Skydiving near Hoover Dam
Standing on top of Hoover Dam conjures up a feeling of immensity felt in few other places in the world.
Millions of visitors make the trip each year to the dam located near Boulder City, but only a select handful can say they had the guts to jump out of a plane above it and fall at 120 mph.
Skydive Las Vegas, based out of the Boulder City Municipal Airport, boasts that it is has the only drop zone in the country with views of Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, the Colorado River and the golf courses of Boulder City. It also has views of the Las Vegas Strip, Mount Charleston, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and Valley of Fire.
Information about pricing can be found at the company’s website.
Look up at the dark sky at Massacre Rim
To find the most impressive part of the state’s untouched landscapes, look up.
Massacre Rim Dark Sky Sanctuary in northwestern Nevada has been recognized as one of the darkest places on the planet by DarkSky International.
Located hours from hotels, electricity or paved roads, the experience is prime for backcountry exploring — and, of course, stargazing.
Hot springs, spooky town
Among the best-kept secrets of Nevada’s desert are its hot springs and its ghosts towns.
In an ideal one-two punch, the list recommends Gold Point, a ghost town in Esmeralda County where mining slowly died off at the start of World War II.
At its peak, the town had 125 houses, a post office, hotels, a store and saloons. It’s preserved today largely because of a Las Vegas jackpot earned by Herb Robbins, the man who bought most of the buildings alongside his partner Walt Kremin.
The town is a stone’s throw from Fish Lake Valley’s hot springs, a remote soak with views of the White Mountains.
Mine Nevada’s state gemstone
Nevada’s state gemstone, the Virgin Valley black fire opal, can only be found just south of the Oregon border and nowhere else in North America.
Rockhounding, as it’s called, is a popular outdoor activity in the Silver State, with many rare gems to be found across the Great Basin and Mojave Desert.
The Bonanza Opal Mines, Rainbow Ridge Opal Mine and the Royal Peacock Opal Mine all offer such an experience for those who relish in the rarity of gemstones.
World’s tallest outdoor climbing wall
Residents of the world’s biggest little city may be familiar with what claims to be the world’s tallest artificial climbing wall on the side of Reno’s Whitney Peak Hotel.
It reaches 164 feet, where climbers can see above the city’s downtown arch. Those seeking the thrill can find prices and information at basecampreno.com.
Mountain biking in Ely
The city of Ely, about 240 miles north of Las Vegas, features dozens of miles of trails that amount to a mountain biker’s paradise.
That includes Nevada’s only national park, Great Basin, as well as Ward Mountain Recreation Area and Cave Lake State Park. The relatively remote city is naturally stunning, home to 5,000-year-old bristlecone pine trees.
Zip line in Old Vegas
The Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas is known for its world-class performances, bars and dining experiences.
It’s also the location of the only travel adventure in the Las Vegas Valley to make the list: a zip line just below the attraction’s ceiling screen that launches riders off a 12-story tower. Riders can choose between a start point of 77 feet or 114 feet high.
Reservations are available at vegasexperience.com/slotzilla-zip-line/.
Be one with marine life at Lake Tahoe
Arguably one of the most well-known spots for recreation in Nevada, deep blue Lake Tahoe has plenty to see.
At South Lake Tahoe, Nevadans may be interested in see-through boats with Clearly Tahoe Kayak Tours. Several tour lengths are available to fit different paddling abilities.
To reserve a tour, go to clearlytahoe.com.
See ancient rock drawings
The final entry on the list is in Austin, about 325 miles northwest of Las Vegas.
So-called “petroglyphs,” or images carved into rocks, can be found throughout the state, including within the Las Vegas Valley. However, the ones in Toquima Cave are unique, largely because they are pictograph drawings rather than carvings.
The bright red, yellow, black and white colors of the pictographs at the Western Shoshone heritage site have allowed the drawings to withstand the test of time.
Contact Alan Halaly at ahalaly@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlanHalaly on X.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada is teaming up with a screen tourism app to help visitors find, and go to, the real-world locations behind famous movie and TV moments.
The Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Film Nevada announced a new partnership with SetJetters, an app that maps filming locations around the world and encourages users to visit them in person.
Film Nevada Director Kim Spurgeon says the app makes it easier for fans to “relive their favorite cinematic moments,” pointing to Nevada staples like The Shootist house in Carson City, Genoa’s main street featured in Misery, the Ocean’s Eleven closing scene at the Fountains of Bellagio, and the Hangover quote many visitors still repeat in Las Vegas: “Did Caesar live here?”
AMPLIFIED: New guidebook highlights hidden gems across Las Vegas for locals, visitors alike
So what changes for movie fans—and for Nevada tourism?
Through the SetJetters campaign, users will be able to discover more movie, TV, and video-game locations across Nevada, along with additional film-related points of interest. There’s also a new Las Vegas-area badge users can earn by visiting 12 select scenes, and the app allows people to submit filming locations they think should be included.
“Screen tourism is no longer a niche campaign idea; it’s a core travel channel,” said SetJetters CEO Erik Nachtrieb. “Nevada’s cinematic history, from mountain and desert backdrops to the neon of Las Vegas and Reno, makes it a natural stage for this next phase of bringing films to the state. The real opportunity now is conversion, and this is exactly where Film Nevada’s partnership with SetJetters comes in. What we’re really looking at is the evolution from destination marketing to destination storytelling with screen content at the center.”
You can download the app from Apple or Google.
Copyright 2026 KVVU. All rights reserved.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — State officials say they are ready to provide assistance to the 999 people laid off from Spirit Airlines.
The Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR) said it will support former Spirit employees with reemployment services, retraining opportunities and more.
Impacted workers can also file for unemployment insurance at NUI.nv.gov.
“DETR is committed to supporting every Nevada worker affected by the Spirit Airlines layoffs,” department Director Christopher Sewell said in a statement. “Our team is ready to provide timely resources, guidance, and individualized assistance to help impacted employees navigate their next steps.”
Rapid Response is a free program that provides strategies for layoffs and plant closures. It quickly coordinates services and provides immediate support to employers and affected workers.
Employees can access no-cost career and training services through EmployNV. This includes career counseling and job-search assistance, skills assessments and re-skilling opportunities, and training grants for high-demand career fields.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo encouraged anyone who was laid off to use DETR’s resources.
“Our priority is getting folks back to work right away, and the state stands ready to assist with no-cost employment services to help with the transition,” Lombardo said in a statement.
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Spirit ceased operations on May 2 after failing to secure a government bailout. The company notified Nevada DETR that it was laying off 999 employees based at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas as a result.
LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — A case out of Southern California is raising new concerns for parents across Nevada as high-powered electric motorcycles grow in popularity.
In the California case, a mother is facing criminal charges after prosecutors said her 14-year-old son hit and killed an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran with an e-motorcycle. She is now charged with involuntary manslaughter after law enforcement reportedly warned her about her son using the device a year ago.
Legal experts said similar consequences could apply in Nevada, depending on the circumstances.
“I think that warning is what’s triggering the criminal liability and this intention of involuntary manslaughter case,” Ray Johnson, a Nevada attorney and former FBI assistant special agent in charge, said. “In Nevada, you would have something similar, but it’s got to be around willful misconduct and delinquency. So, if a mom, the dad, the parent, or the guardian is willfully involved with not teaching them to do the right things, or it’s improper equipment, or they’re allowing them to do things, they could get a criminal charge.”
Across the Las Vegas Valley, electric motorcycles and other high-speed e-devices are becoming more common, especially among young riders. Law enforcement said some can reach speeds of 60 miles per hour, raising safety concerns when used by minors.
Under Nevada law, parents can be held financially responsible, up to $10,000, for damages caused by a minor’s willful misconduct, which results in any injury or death to another person or injury to the private property of another or to public property.
In some cases, parents could also face criminal consequences if they knowingly allow a child to engage in illegal or unsafe behavior involving vehicles.
Officer Luis Vidal with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said those situations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, with investigators looking at the circumstances.
“I think it’s very important for parents to understand that when the police department investigates anything that is something that we look at.”
The Clark County District Attorney’s Office would formally file charges in a case. News 3 has reached out to the office and is waiting for a response regarding what prosecutors would consider in a case involving a minor and an e-motorcycle.
North Las Police shared with News 3, “The topic of potential parental liability related to incidents involving e-motorcycles or e-bikes is best addressed by the City Attorney’s Office, as it involves legal interpretation and potential charging considerations.
Additionally, the City of North Las Vegas does not currently have a finalized version of specific e-bike or e-motorcycle ordinances in place. As such, any enforcement or liability would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis under existing laws.”
As these devices continue to surge in popularity, authorities said awareness and supervision are key to preventing serious accidents and potential legal consequences.
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