Exploring Cathedral Gorge State Park is the 2nd in our series of 12 travel adventure ideas to keep you exploring this big, beautiful world. Find out why this Nevada state park is a golden glory and must-visit for your next RV adventure!
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Blogmas Travel Adventure #2: Exploring Cathedral Gorge State Park
In case you missed the previous post, Blogmas is like 12 days of Christmas and Advent calendar all rolled into one. I’m sharing 12 travel adventure ideas to inspire you to get out and explore more! FYI, travelling vicariously through these Blogmas posts counts, too 😉
Cathedral Gorge State Park is a long, narrow valley in the southeastern part of the State of Nevada. Here erosion has carved dramatic and unique patterns in the soft bentonite clay.
Exploring the cave-like formations and cathedral-like spires that are the result of geologic processes from tens of millions of years ago is a fun adventure.
Explore all of Nevada’s state parks
and journal your visits!
Exploring Nevada’s Cathedral Gorge State Park
Plan to pull into Cathedral Gorge – just north of Panaca, Nevada – late in the day. The sun slowly turns water-sculpted, siltstone cliffs into gilded works of art. Don’t bother to set up. Take a walk and capture the golden glory before settling in for the night under star-studded skies.
The following morning, take a stroll up Juniper Draw, exploring the multitude of hidden caves and crevices in this constantly eroding landscape. Find the side path that leads through the canyon to Miller Point overlook. It is a little more of a strenuous climb, but the solid metal stairway makes for good footing.
Back in the early 1900s, the Edwards brothers from Panaca built their own ladders to explore the “nooks and crannies” of this unique landscape. According to interpretive signage, the Edwards family went on to become strong advocates for preserving and protecting the area, which became a state park in 1935.
Reaching Miller’s Point, be sure to check out the rustic stone and wood ramada. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the 1930s.
If hiking is not your thing, this overlook can also be reached by driving a short distance up the highway. If you enjoy exploring on foot, the trail continues past the parking area another 0.5 mile (0.8 km) to Eagle Viewpoint. Here you can appreciate an aerial view of Juniper Draw and the campground.
Hiking back down the stairs, rejoin the Juniper Draw trail and end up at Cathedral Caves. This area was a perfect backdrop for Biblical pageants and other open-air dramas in the early years of the park. Be sure to wander a little way into the hidden caves – their sculpted beauty is inspiring.
Like Nevada state parks?
Be sure to check out our post on hiking in Valley of Fire, near Las Vegas.
When you go
The campground has 22 sites, each with a table, grill and shade ramada. Electric hookups are also available. Water and restrooms with showers are open year-around. Reservations can be made online.
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