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by Brett Rhyne
photo courtesy of Natalia Bratslavsky
If you’re only in town for a few days and don’t have time to circumnavigate the entire Great Basin, there are a few day trips you can take to get a taste of its wide open spaces. Here are a few can’t miss excursions a short drive from Reno:
Sand Mountain
Sand Mountain is exactly what it sounds like – a mountain made of sand. One of the largest sand dunes in the United States, Sand Mountain is a 4,795 acre sand box for the off-road set. Happen upon it almost any weekend from spring through fall and you’ll find it packed with dune buggies, dirt bikes, ATVs, sandboarders, and almost anything else that will get a person up or down the 300 or so feet of sand. When you tire of the engine buzz, explore the historic 1860 Pony Express Station nearby.
Genoa
It’s a surprise to most that a state with such an unruly reputation was initially settled by Mormons. Tucked beside a lush valley under soaring peaks, Genoa was called “Mormon Station” before being renamed after Christopher Columbus’ birthplace. During the Gold Rush Genoa became an important stop for fortune seekers heading to California. If you can pry your eyes away from the spectacular natural scenery, you’ll see dozens of meticulously restored historic buildings. Make sure to stop in at the Genoa Bar for a drink; opened in 1863 it’s the oldest bar in Nevada.
Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge
If it’s got wings and a beak, chances are it spends part of the year at the Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge right outside Fallon. These unique edge-of-the-desert wetlands attract a quarter million waterfowl and thousands of other migrating birds each year. Break out the binoculars and you’ll spot cormorants, ibis, herons, canvasbacks, snowy plover, tundra swans, white pelicans and raptors such as golden eagles and prairie falcons. It’s also the largest wintering spot for American bald eagles in Nevada.
Pyramid Lake
The last remnant of a prehistoric sea, Pyramid Lake is stark, unsettling, salty, and plenty mysterious. Despite the otherworldly vibe, some of the best fishing in the Great Basin can be found among Pyramid’s startling tufa formations. You’ll see anglers perched on ladders to get a better view of the lake’s legendary Lahontan cutthroat trout (the world record cutthroat trout, 41 pounds, was caught here), and it’s the only place in the world where you can find the cui-ui lakesucker, an ancient fish so important to the local band of Paiutes that they named themselves after it.
Virginia City
Founded in 1859 after gold was found in the nearby Six Mile Canyon, Virginia City is now the largest historical landmark in the United States. Dozens of shops, bars and restaurants reside in the Victorian buildings lining Main Street and you’ll still see men and women in Victorian attire walking the streets. Pencil in a tour of one of the historic cemeteries as well as Piper’s Opera House, where the ghosts of famous performers are said to lurk around the stage. For a special treat, get there via the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad. Not only will you get a taste of 19th century travel, you’ll enjoy 100-mile views across the valley.
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