Basin and Range National Monument

Basin and Range National Monument is 704,000 acres (2,800 km²) of rugged wilderness in Southern Nevada. According to the Bureau of Land Management, it is so vast and empty that it "redefines our notions of distance and space" and "opportunities for solitude abound."

Understand

There are no facilities or services in the park. The field office, with information and maps, is located in nearby Caliente.

• Ely District, Caliente Field Office, 1400 South Front St, Caliente, ☏ +1 775-726-8100. 

Landscape

Mountains and valleys in a transitional region between the Mojave Desert and the Great Basin.

Climate

Winter temperatures can get below freezing, while summer temperatures can be 80–90 °F (around 30 °C) or higher. In any season, bring plenty of water.

Thunderstorms happen in the summer. To avoid being struck by lightning, avoid high places and stay inside your vehicle if possible. Flash floods are possible during rainstorms.

Check the weather forecast before you set out.

Visitor information

• Park website

Get in

The closest towns are 1 Alamo, 2 Caliente, and 3 Ely.

Fees and permits

No fees or permits.

Get around

There are no paved roads in the park, so a four-wheel drive vehicle with high clearance is best. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.

For hiking, you're advised to use a physical map (which you can buy at the field office in Caliente) instead of GPS. There are no designated trails, so pay careful attention to landmarks so you can find the way back to your vehicle.

See

Rock art

• Shooting Gallery. Archeological site with lots of rock art. (updated Apr 2020)
• White River Narrows. A canyon carved by the White River during the Pleistocene Era, home to one of the largest concentrations of prehistoric rock art in eastern Nevada. The rock art sites cover more than 4,000 acres and include two styles, one from hunter-gatherers (Basin and Range tradition) and one from Fremont groups. (updated Apr 2020)

Drink

Bring plenty of water with you—the weather can be hot and dry. The rule of thumb is one gallon (four liters) per person per day.

Sleep

Camping is allowed for up to 14 days.

Respect

Practice leave no trace principles. Don't touch the rock art.

Stay safe

Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and venomous spiders live out here, so be careful where you stick your hands. If you see them, leave them alone.

If your car breaks down, stay with it. If you abandon it, it's harder for rescuers to find you.