List of Nevada state parks facts for kids

Nevada is home to many amazing natural places and historical sites. These special spots are called Nevada State Parks. They are protected areas managed by the state of Nevada. This includes state parks, historic sites, and recreation areas.

The Nevada Division of State Parks takes care of these places. This group was created in 1963. They manage 23 different state park locations. Some of these locations even have multiple parts! The main office is in Carson City. There are also two regional offices: one in Fallon for the northern part of the state and one in Las Vegas for the southern part.

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  Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park

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  Cathedral Gorge State Park

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  Washoe Lake State Park

Nevada's Awesome State Parks and Recreation Areas

Nevada's state parks and recreation areas offer many cool things to see and do. From ancient fossils to beautiful lakes, there's something for everyone!

Park Name	Image	County	Size		Height Above Sea Level		Opened	What Makes It Special
			acres	ha	ft	m
Beaver Dam State Park		Lincoln	2,182	883	5,348	1,630	1935	This is Nevada's most remote state park. It protects a part of the Beaver Dam Wash in eastern Nevada.
Berlin–Ichthyosaur State Park	Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park	Nye	1,116	452	6,975	2,126	1957	See real ichthyosaur fossils, which are ancient marine reptiles. You can also explore the ghost town of Berlin.
Big Bend of the Colorado State Recreation Area		Clark	2,105	852	500	152	1996	This park offers great views of the Colorado River near Laughlin.
Cathedral Gorge State Park	Cathedral Gorge State Park	Lincoln	1,632	660	4,819	1,469	1935	Explore a unique gorge with soft clay walls. These walls have been shaped by nature into amazing spires and columns.
Cave Lake State Park	Cave Lake State Park	White Pine	4,081	1,652	7,198	2,194	1973	This park has a 32-acre lake perfect for fishing and boating. It's located in the Schell Creek Mountains.
Dayton State Park		Lyon	152	62	4,360	1,329	1977	Enjoy a part of the Carson River. You can also see the site of an old mill from 1861, used to process silver ore.
Echo Canyon State Park	Echo Canyon State Park	Lincoln	1,055	427	5,348	1,630	1970	This park is next to a 65-acre reservoir, great for water activities.
Ice Age Fossils State Park		Clark	315	127	2,340	713	2017	Opened in January 2024, this park has trails leading to fossil beds and old archaeological sites.
Kershaw–Ryan State Park	Kershaw-Ryan State Park	Lincoln	265	107	4,805	1,465	1935	This park features a green canyon that was first settled by pioneers in 1873.
Lahontan State Recreation Area	Lahontan State Recreation Area	Churchill, Lyon	28,892	11,692	4,258	1,298	1971	This area surrounds Lake Lahontan, a large 10,000-acre lake on the Carson River.
Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park	Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park	Carson City, Washoe County	14,301	5,787	7,880	2,402	1963	This park includes six different areas along the beautiful northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe.
Rye Patch State Recreation Area	Rye Patch State Recreation Area	Pershing	2,449	991	4,137	1,261	1971	It's located next to the 11,000-acre Rye Patch Reservoir on the Humboldt River.
South Fork State Recreation Area	South Fork State Recreation Area	Elko	3,903	1,579	5,226	1,593	1983	This park surrounds the 1,650-acre South Fork Reservoir on the South Fork Humboldt River.
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park	Spring Mountain Ranch State Park	Clark	539	218	3,727	1,136	1974	It protects the historic Sandstone Ranch, which was first built in 1876.
Spring Valley State Park	Spring Valley State Park	Lincoln	927	375	5,869	1,789	1969	This park is next to the 65-acre Eagle Valley Reservoir.
Valley of Fire State Park	Valley of Fire State Park	Clark	45,938	18,590	2,464	751	1934	Nevada's oldest and largest state park! It's famous for its bright red sandstone rock formations.
Van Sickle Bi-State Park		Douglas	725	293	6,283	1,915	2011	This park is managed with California. About 575 acres are in Nevada, and 150 acres are in California.
Walker River State Recreation Area		Lyon	12,856	5,203	4,580	1,396	2018	This park includes five old ranch areas along a 30-mile stretch of the East Walker River.
Washoe Lake State Park	Washoe Lake State Park	Washoe	3,775	1,528	5,033	1,534	1977	It offers fun activities on Washoe Lake, located between Carson City and Reno.
Wild Horse State Recreation Area	Wild Horse State Recreation Area	Elko	120	49	6,250	1,905	1979	Enjoy water fun on the northeast side of the 2,830-acre Wild Horse Reservoir on the Owyhee River.

Nevada's Historic State Parks and Sites

These special places help us learn about Nevada's past. They protect old buildings and important historical locations.

Park Name	Image	County	Size		Height Above Sea Level		Opened	What Makes It Special
			acres	ha	ft	m
Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site	Elgin Schoolhouse State Historic Site	Lincoln	0.7	0.3	3,402	1,037	2005	This site protects an old schoolhouse. It was used by students from 1922 to 1967.
Fort Churchill State Historic Park	Fort Churchill State Historic Park	Lyon	3,944	1,596	4,255	1,297	1957	Explore the ruins of an old U.S. Army fort from the 1860s. It was also a stop on the Pony Express route.
Mormon Station State Historic Park	Mormon Station State Historic Park	Douglas	3.5	1.4	4,783	1,458	1955	This park teaches about Nevada's first permanent settlement by non-native people. It was started in 1851 by Mormon pioneers.
Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park	Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park	Clark	3	1.2	1,923	586	1991	See a rebuilt part of a fort built by Mormon missionaries in 1855. This was the first non-native building in what is now Las Vegas.
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park	Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park	White Pine	700	283	7,054	2,150	1994	This park protects six tall, 30-foot charcoal ovens. They were used from 1876 to 1879 to make fuel for melting silver ore.

Parks That Are No Longer State Parks

Sometimes, parks change how they are managed. Here are a few that used to be Nevada State Parks:

• Floyd Lamb State Park became Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs on July 2, 2007. It is now managed by the City of Las Vegas.
• Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park was a state park until June 30, 2011. It is now managed by Douglas County.
• The former Walker Lake State Park is no longer managed by the Nevada Division of State Parks.

See Also

• List of national parks of the United States