This is a nice stop, especially if you're a history buff. We spent about 40 minutes here walking…read morethe trail and looking at some of the petroglyphs. Most of the trail is marked and they even have trail maps available for you to grab at the trailhead with a little information on what you'll be seeing. In addition to the petroglyphs, they also showcase some local and historical plants, which I found very interesting. It's free and dog friendly. Although we didn't camp her personally, we did check out the campsite on our way out. It was almost full and each site looked well maintained and well equipped. I especially liked the curved coverings over the picnic tables. If we are ever in the area again, I would definitely give their campsite a try.

such a true gem on this earth! I take my grandchildren camping every year, we love this place so so…read moremuch we decided to make it a tradition. I recommend taking the kiddos fishing and hiking, one of the most safest places to relax with the family

This was my first time at a genuine public hot spring and I had a really good time. I've been to…read moreHot spring resorts before but nothing where. You are completely out in nature and everyone is welcome. I thought it was serendipitous that I was able to find a spot right next to one of the hot springs, but now I realize that I may have been violating Hot spring etiquette by parking myself so close. There were definitely a lot of other people there, but they were further away so I assumed they had their own hot spring or place that they liked and no one said anything to me, but I probably should have researched the etiquette and culture of places like this a little bit more before coming. The water was incredibly hot. Someone had recently added a metal pipe and cleaned up the tub a bit as was obvious from previous pictures. I really appreciated that. Still there was algae everywhere and I made sure to use water shoes. I think they really helped. It's absolutely amazing to just sit in the hot water out in nature and relax in the beauty of your surroundings. There was a ridge not too far away where a few gentlemen kept walking over to look at the hot spring and watch me while I was in the water, but I realized afterwards that they were probably just waiting for me to leave so that they could use it themselves. I found that because after drying off and having a snack I laid down for a nap and when I woke up there were multiple gentlemen in the springs. Some of those gentlemen were nude. They stayed in for over 2 hours and that's just the time that I'm aware of. I don't know how they did it because I didn't last more than 30 minutes in the hot water. Anyway, it was clear that some of them live there as they have RV's and solar panels mounted to the ground near their campsites. I decided to go back in a little bit before sunset and I was able to see some wild donkeys frolicking which was absolutely incredible. I also travel with my dog and the springs are far too hot for pets so I made sure to bring a chair for her to sit and be cozy next to me while I was in the spring. On my second visit, while I was enjoying the donkeys and the sunset, she started barking ferociously and I realized there was a man walking towards us. I tried to calm her down but she was incredibly upset and she doesn't usually act like that. The man walked right up to the tub, stripped naked and got in right next to me. It was a bit awkward, but I understand that it is the culture. It was still a sour note to end my visit on. I had to calm down my dog and try to get her and all my property away from the springs and then I left shortly thereafter. Overall, it was a very neat experience and I am glad I was able to visit. Being in nature that way I think is very important for us as humans. I would not suggest bringing children or coming alone if you are a young woman and I would definitely suggest reading these reviews and doing your research before making the trek out here.

This place was amazing! Sad thing folks bring in the middle of nowhere generators that distract…read morefrom the beautiful silence and darkness to awe at the stars. Wish folks with class can understand and accept the way of the Nevada desert. Best! Go to the highest spring. Only comes up on satellite directions. Two lower springs dominated by trailers parked, and generators humming on them.

This is one of my favorite hikes in Nevada! There are a few trailheads from which you can start…read morethis hike. But one of the most popular (if you want to use that word in the Toiyabe Range) is the Stewart Creek Trailhead at the Columbine Campground. The Columbine Campground, a high altitude campground in an aspen forest, is a nice destination in and of itself. And you would be hard-pressed to find a better place to camp. The only downfall is that it only has about five spots, so it could potentially be full on weekends despite its 'middle of nowhere' location. Of course, you don't have to drive anywhere to start your hike - you are already at the trailhead when you are ready to hike. The hike is about seven miles each way and starts out in an aspen forest with running streams. You climb up through the aspen forests and through subalpine pine forests until you reach the cool, treeless alpine plateau along the ridgeline of the Toiyabe Range. Just before the peak, you unfortunately have to drop down about 600ft before making the final climb to the summit of Arc Dome. But the scenery makes it all worthwhile. The summit is downright spectacular! Views include the spine of the Toiyabe Range, the Toquima Range (and Mount Jefferson) to the east, and the surrounding valleys all around. Far to the west, you can see the Sierra along with the imposing White Mountains to the southwest. To the south, you can see the bright, concentrated sunlight on the central receiver of the Crescent Dunes Solar Plant in Tonopah. And, of course, you are unlikely to encounter the hordes of people that are so common on many hikes elsewhere.

Sitting here in my apartment overlooking Lake Michigan, I am thinking of places I've been that have…read morereminded me I am alive. The Arc Dome is one such place. It's the highest point in central Nevada's little known (among Midwesterners) Toiyabe mountain range, in the Toiyabe National Forest. You have to walk in or go in on horseback, which is how I've done it the two times I've been there. No vehicles allowed. (Horseback saves a lot of time!) Here is what the Arc Dome looks like: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FFJAvdYJcMUICOOHhz78Qg?select=sb5HDUINfJ94hQIi6D0HXA Arc Dome is the centerpiece of the Arc Dome Wilderness Area. It towers over very lush, alpine canyons which could fool you into thinking you are in the Alps or Canadian Rockies. They are a stark contrast to the desert below. You can climb the Arc Dome in a day from the edge of the Wilderness Area, but it's more fun to pack in and camp the night before among the thick Aspen trees. The hike up to the summit is so worth the view of thousands of square miles of scenery. Both times I've been there it was clear enough that I could see the Sierra shimmering in the distant West. Check out this view: http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FFJAvdYJcMUICOOHhz78Qg?select=rOvTT3csiKmjWSoUZL2QxQ At the summit there is jar in which people have left notes of their experiences and feelings once atop the summit. There is one note in the can left by an 80-something year-old retired judge who says he still climbs the Arc Dome once annually to remind himself that he is alive. Here is a picture of the summit, in the middle of which if you look closely you can see the jar where I found this man's note about being alive, and it stuck with me. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FFJAvdYJcMUICOOHhz78Qg?select=spH72L7PyodvD1X5Tjbpxg

Camped on Spetember 16th at Berlin Ichthyosaur state park and the experience was lack luster at…read morebest. First and foremost, the fly problem was off the walls this year. As soon as we got to the ranger station, we instantly were swarmed by flies everywhere. The park is pretty an all, but we were not expecting to have to wage a war against flies. We looked this park up online and thought the ghost town was open to explore, as well as the ichthysaur exhibit however, everything was locked and closed. We were still able to camp and it was nice that each site had covered picnic tables. The plus is that as soon as the sun set, we could have a fire and the smoke got rid of the flies. The stars were amazing with no nearby light pollution. I would recommend using for day use on the weekends as tours are going and you won't have to endure the onslaught of constant flies. The secluded nature of the park is really nice. The ghost town is beautiful but I wanted to see more. Great 4-wheeling opportunities. The park rangers never spoke to us or gave us any tips, even when we first showed up and were right next to them, not even a greeting. Love the history, but expected more.

On a cross country road trip and we drove almost 2 hours out of our way to visit this park after…read morereading the great reviews on Yelp. We were very disappointed. Yes, the Ichthyosaur is cool from what you can see through a viewing window and I enjoyed reading the display and learning about these great beasts. However, the drive out here is long and the roads are TERRIBLE. You will be playing slalom with potholes for hours while everything in your car is tossed back and forth. Parts of the road were completely washed out and we even had to drive through huge puddles.There is literally nothing else to see but the fossil. The ghost town and old mill are there but honestly there is nothing of interest so if you do make this trek, make sure you do it when the park is giving tours. The $10 fee might have been worth it if someone was working or something was going on but I'm honestly not sure at this point. Again, it was cool to kind of make out a fossil through dirty glass but if I could do it over again I would skip this park for sure.