Cathedral Gorge State Park

What a great state park! Not too busy but some really stunning scenery with unique stone spires and lots of slot canyons to explore. A few short, easy trails...I did the 3 mile Juniper Loop and it goes by some of the most interesting features of the park.

We specifically drove 4 hours to Lincoln County for this state park. I'd say it was worth it. This was unlike anything I've ever seen and it was so unique. There was something new at every twist and turn. The slot canyons were way fun to explore. There's so much desert wildlife to enjoy as well! We stopped at the visitor center and the man working the desk was very kind and helpful.

Cathedral Gorge State Park is a must-visit for anyone looking to camp in a truly unique landscape. The park is famous for its incredible geological formations—dramatic spires and canyons carved from volcanic ash millions of years ago. Whether you're into photography, hiking, or just love exploring nature, this park has something special to offer. We stayed at Site 17, and it was the perfect spot to relax and take in the surroundings. The highlight of our visit was definitely exploring the slot canyons—they’re absolutely stunning and such a fun adventure!

It's an amazing hidden treasure. There is a 4 mile hike hoop at the end of the drive to enjoy. On the way, there are a few areas to stop and enjoy these formations and narrow paths. It's such a beautiful site to see and enjoy.

One of my favorite Nevada parks. Slot canyons are usually very difficult to get to, and often even harder to explore. These are very accessible, only a few steps from where you can park. The ground is uniquely very solid and level - so kids and seniors can experience nature in a very memorable way! The park is kind of a long drive from anywhere, so you need to plan for an entire day trip if you aren't camping overnight. Park entrance is $5 for a Nevada vehicle, $10 out of state.

Hidden and very quiet gem. You can explore the park by choosing one of the five trails or just relax at the view point. If you are looking for adventure, you can go to the hidden little chambers by crawling through mud tunnels. The visitor center's hours of operation vary during the winter season. It may be closed when you arrive. You can pay the entrance fee at the pay station. Enjoy your day.

While it was a random find for me, you should definitely seek it out. The place is magical and worth the drive. Make sure to walk the length of it and get yourself to the viewpoint.

Great state park! We stopped here for a night on our way from Las Vegas to Great Basin. Really neat caves and slot canyons to explore along with a pretty easy 3 mile or so hike through the canyon.

Wow wow wow. I came to Cathedral Gorge as a teenager many (too many) years ago. I came back again to explore more and recapture a bit of my youth. It is better than I remembered. Or maybe I was too young to appreciate it before. Anyhow, I had a blast exploring the slot canyons and getting myself into places I probably should have squeezed my chunky butt into. #worth it! I realized my limit when I walked up the creek bed towards Miller Point and saw the stairs leading up to the point. Teenage me maybe could have done it. Mid-age me knew my knees would not make it. Lucky for me I saw a access point for Miller Point from the road. So I hiked to the bottom and drove to the top. Best of both worlds! Pro Tip - When on a road trip, never pass up the opportunity to pee. Unless you are stopping at Miller Point. The view is stunning but the bathroom is nasty.

Pro-tip: Lincoln County, Nevada is the 7th largest county in the United States, and it has the largest concentration of state parks in Nevada. Cathedral Gorge is right off the Great Basin Highway (U.S. 93)--Nevada's epic scenic byway along the eastern spine of the state--and a great place to start your adventure!

Before coming here I just saw the pictures on instagram and thought it was beautiful so when i was in Las Vegas. I decided to the a day trip. It's a good 3 hours drive to here. When arrived and learned the history from the visitor center and to find out this place is 10 millions years old that just blew my mind and it made appreciated much more for that to still there thru so many years. Nature has its own way of creating its own art. Those who don't like nature definitely this is not your place. It is completely worth the 6 hours round trip drive from Las Vegas to here. Thanks you for keeping the park for us to visit.

This is a really nice state park in Nevada. It is a long drive from Las Vegas, and it was literally nobody on the road to get here. The rock formations are quite a sight! There are some trails to go on.

This place is so quietly beautiful and unique. Located just a three hour drive from Las Vegas, this is a great weekend escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. All hikes are short with the longest one being about four miles round tip, but very beautiful. You can explore this whole park in one day. If you do one hike here I recommend millers point for the more higher up views of the formations, that then take you into them. It's only about a mile roo trip but so cool. The camping here is a good price ($15 a night for no hookups of $25 a night with hookups and the is includes your $5 park entry fee). Camping bathrooms were clean and had a shower. Shower did not charge for use; awesome. Bring plenty of food and water as it's in a desolate location.

Hiking trails and lots of interesting erosion features We visited Cathedral Gorge during the Thanksgiving weekend and we couldn't have picked a more perfect time to roam around the park. With just a handful of cars scattered throughout different sections of the park we were able to traverse in and out of the caves practically just us... no problem on social distancing. The caves (also called slots) taper from wide to narrow and it was fun exploring, trying to fit in the very narrow passageways, and climbing on the rocks... although, we were limited since we didn't have the proper shoes or attire to go on the higher level. These amazing erosion formation of natural slot canyons and spires reminded me of Bryce Canyon in Utah on a very small scale. These are a result of geologic processes from tens of millions of years ago. There are three caves -- Moon, Canyon, and Cathedral (in that order). Enjoy five short hiking trails ranging from 0.2 mi to 3.0 miles. Refer to the park map interpretive sign (photo). Cathedral Gorge State Park is 171 miles northeast from the Las Vegas Strip on highway 93 (approx 2-1/2 hours drive). There is a $5 day use entrance fee per car. We spent two hours in the park. There are 22 sites at the campgrounds and a day use covered picnic area at the Cathedral Slots parking area. The Visitor Center at the park entrance was closed (Covid times). The park isn't very big but it was a fun visit for us... Review #2027

Was on a cycle trip thru eastern NV. The state park's website stated that cyclists get in for $2. However, at the info bldg where you pay (near the park entrance), the male employee told me it would be $12. There isn't even a $12 charge of any sort listed for that park or any other state park!! What was he going to do, pocket the remaining $10 if I'd paid it?? Corruption, plain and simple. I skipped this park as well as another I was going to visit. So be warned, cyclists!

Does Nevada have some of the coolest, unique state parks in the country? Yes we do and this is one of the best ones I have visited. During the shutdown, hubby and I took a day trip to visit this unusual park with its crazy formations and had an amazing day. I had been begging him to go with me for over a year to this park. We arrived at 8:30am and there was no one around. A ranger came up and greeted us and provided some information on the park, we paid our park fee and then we were free to explore. For most of the morning, we had the park to ourselves which was a real treat! In 1935, this became a state park with its geologic formations made from bentonite clay which covers more than 1600 acres. It is located in Lincoln County just outside of Panaca, Nevada. It is really easy to get to right off of Highway 93. We began our exploration roaming through the large and deep slot canyons. Touching the walls with your hand made you realize how delicate these formations are. The clay is hard packed but could also fall apart at any moment. There are also many hidden caves but you must hike up high and low to find them. The slot canyons provide reprieve from the hot sun and you almost feel like you could set up camp inside one. We hiked the entire park from Millers Crossing, to the valley floor. We were just fascinated by all of the formations, and the crooks and crannies of this park. I found myself feeling like we were on another planet as some of the clay formations reminded me of the egg pods from the very first Alien movie. I almost wondered at one point if one was going to open up and grab me!! Ha! Ha! We enjoyed our lunch here at a remote site where it was just us and it was fantastic! This park also offers camping but the campground was closed at the time of our visit. This area warms up to around 95 degrees in the summer and gets very cold in the winter. This park is truly a hidden gem in our great state of Nevada. Do yourself a favor, get outside and check it out!

Absolutely stunning. One of my favorite places I've ever been hands down. The second I got out of the car, I felt like I had traveled to another planet. The rock formations are gorgeous, and there's plenty of cool things to drive/wander around to see! If you make the trek to the area, it's 100000% worth it.

There are no reservations for this park. First come gets a spot, arrive after 12 noon you are taking a chance. Best time frame to arrive is 9-11, you can grab a spot as people are leaving. If you are in an RV you will have electricity only. After arriving & securing our site I ran a water hose over to the community water line. I then added water to my fresh water tank to use as needed. You can not stay hooked to water line. No cable or Free WiFi, but out here you need to enjoy the outdoors. The stars are amazing. Very very quite. Showers were clean & water hot. Our spot was level, easy pull through, & RV fit perfectly. Larger RV spots are VERY limited, did I mention get there early? They do have a over flow camping area, no pad, no electricity, no water, but you can still use showers & dump station. In other words you park on the street. ***now enough about the RV park*** The hiking trails are a must do. Spend at least 2 full days here. Hike all the trails, enjoy the slots, see if you can find the rope ladder, enjoy a camp fire, & just enjoy this hidden bucket list item. Rope ladder will require you to really search then crawl through a hole to the rope area. One of my pics shows the hole. You will not regret coming here (well unless you show up late, think I mentioned come early). Hike up the back trail to watch the sunset. Plan the trip when there is no moon to really see the stars. They even have a couple handicap RV sites.

In looking for adventure within the great state of Nevada, we decided to head up to Cathedral Gorge state park. The hiking here is really amazing and the pictures we posted do not do this location justice. There is camping available. There are 22 camping sites, each with amenities such as shade, grills and tables. The site has electric hook ups, flushable toilets in the restrooms and shower facilities. Please note, we were told camping sites cannot be reserved. There is a ranger station/ regional visitor center with an employee present. Great news, you can bring your fur baby to the park, but they ask the dogs be kept on a leash. This was a great day drip and one we will revisit often.

Cathedral Gorge State Park is a little treasure located near Panaca, Nevada. Amazing scenery and a clean campground with showers and toilets. Nice grass and shaded picnic area. The slot canyons are stunning abs easy to walk through. Entrance is $5 for NV plates and $10 for out of state. Camping fees are $15-$20 per night.

Absolutely breathtaking!! This state park was so unique and beautiful. You can view it in one day.

Just WOW! This place is so unique! Definitely feels like you're on another planet! About 2.5 hours away from Vegas. What you see today began with volcanic activity a very long time ago. The formations reminded me of underground caves I've visited but are located above ground. Some surfaces are hard while others are very soft and break apart to your touch. There's a four-mile loop to hike that you really shouldn't miss. There's also another 1 mile loop that takes you to a very cool lookout point. The slots are the absolute coolest to explore and can get very narrow. It's also amazing to feel the temperature difference the deeper in you explore. If you should find yourself here on a warmer day you'll definitely enjoy the much cooler slot areas. There's a few picnic areas as well and bring your own goods as there's nothing around this place, not even a fast food option. $5 entrance fee & this place is pet friendly. If you enjoy nature this is truly a park that you shouldn't miss and you can be back in town the same day!

Amazing park for camping and hiking. They have multiple camp setup sites that have electrical outlets, dumpsters, fire wood, clean restrooms, clean showers, a theater style viewing area, picnic tables, and canopy's covering the tables. The hiking trails are nearby and fun. This is a very well maintained park overall. The camp sites are very inexpensive, the restrooms and hiking are free, and the firewood is free but ask for donations.

The campsites are nice. Some trees, not right next to each other but fairly open (what you expect from national parks) with some great views, all have electrical, showers at the bathrooms and wifi available for a small fee. Gorgeous area. The formations are majestic- just amazing.

This place looks colossal in photos, but actually turned out to be like hiking in a scale-model of the Grand canyon! Even witnessing it in person, it just screams "COLOSSAL", but it's physically not; It's like hiking in one of those models in the ranger stations. I drove 170 north from Las Vegas while I was there and it was worth it, but if I had driven the 500+ miles it may have been diminished a bit. If you are within a couple hundred miles, or you're on your way to Great Basin, go check it out. It's not really a destination location unto itself, but no matter, it was a beautiful display of nature doing something remarkable.

While driving by this place a number of years ago we drove in to check it out. Although I've only been there once the memory has remained with me. I really hope to visit it again one of these days. The geography of the land here is really unique. I've never seen anything like it before or since. The turn off for the gorge is about 10 miles south of Pioche, Nv. Pretty much the middle of nowhere.

An essential scenic stop when driving between Las Vegas and Great Basin National Park near Baker, NV. Electronic pay kiosks are located at the entrances with a $10 per vehicle fee. My ranked list of activities that took two hours: - Moon Caves and Canyon Caves (4 out of 5 stars): Not caves but numerous short slots packed into a small cliff-side area. Park at end of Cathedral Gorge State Park Road. The trail and slots are not marked so exploring is needed. The best slots had paths that didn't rise much and are consequently walkable. Other slots require minor scrambling over the stucco-looking rocks but tend to be less interesting. I expected warnings about entering the slots when raining but it's not big like Zion National Park where flash floods are a serious hazard. The mud does get slippery so watch your step. Leave the backpack in the car because the slots are too narrow. The Cathedral Caves are only 0.2 miles away from the Canyon Caves but skipped expecting to see more of the same. - Miller Point Trail (4 stars): Small gorge with lots of rock formations that look like gothic dripping wax. Start at the vista point parking lot and follow footbridges and staircases to reach bottom of the gorge. The trail continues further to the slots but didn't seem necessary as the hoodoo-ness waned. - Regional Visitor Center (2 stars): Helpful staff was eager to answer any questions. Loads of free information pamphlets. Small gift shop.

Beautiful park, full of amazing scenery and great hiking trails. Will be going back soon to do some more hiking.

This is the most amazing natural & unique place we have ever been! Talk about breathtaking!!!! I can not even begin to explain how this place is a place you have to visit at least once in your life!!!! It is so peaceful and so quiet and unlike anything I have seen before that is all natural out where you would never expect to see it! It is not too far from St. George Utah actually we just took a ride one day toward Ely and took another road not knowing where we were going the best kind of rides! And we ended up here!!! Then drove into St. George to grab a bite to eat before heading home. When pulling in it looks like a town all by itself out in no where. It looks fake and not real. I mean it just has such a cool feel like something you have never experienced before. I guess that is how to explain how I felt. It was crazy COOL!!! It is majestic say the least. There are cliffs with amazing spires, towers and columns. They are made of Bentonite clay which made the formations. Truly spectacular to see! They held a history play here in Nevada's Centennial year of 1964. It was about the settling of Panaca by the early pioneers. I did read too that during the 1920's and up to the 1950's they had Biblical pageants and "vaudeville" style plays which were held in different locations within Cathedral Park. There is scenic overlooks as well as shaded picnic areas if you wish to spend the day here to explore. Also there is a campground which does include sewage dump, drinking water and restrooms with showers if you wish to make a day of it and spend the night instead of driving back home. Especially if you want to hike through the caves and then relax out in a total peaceful evening with just the wild animals. They are open all year and is something I can not stress enough that you need to see!! Only one mile northwest of Panaca on US 93 and you turn west at the state park sign. Make sure to book mark this Gem of a find in this state park!!!

This was one of my favorite Nevada State Parks and one with a visitor center (offering free water refill and a short video about all the parks in the area). A fee is charged for both day use and camping but if you want a great view and a canyon hike without a fee you could at the overlook just off the highway.

These Nevada State Parks never get old for me. Nature... the outdoors... eco therapy... what's not to love? It's an easy drive from Vegas. Just under 3 hours. Get the annual Nevada State Park Pass if you live anywhere near here...or near any Nevada State Park. It's about $100. The pass gives you unlimited entrance to all Nevada State Parks. Otherwise, entrance fee is $7 every time you enter. If you can at all make it out during the winter, do so & pray for snow. It's breathtaking to see these formations covered in snow! The only downside is that the snow makes the trails & unpaved roadways quite muddy. Boots & cars will need to be washed afterwards. But, it's worth it. Pack a lunch. Bring yourself, family, friends, fur babies & come check it. The hiking trails are easy. Enjoy!

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Okay, you've visited Las Vegas and Reno and the interstate scenery gives the impression that Nevada's scrub brush has little to offer. Well, a three-hour drive north of Las Vegas on Route 93 will take you to Cathedral Gorge, opened in 1935 as one of Nevada's first four state parks. For those familiar with the multi-colored slot canyons of the Arizona/Utah border, Cathedral Gorge offers a more subdued and lingeringly memorable experience in a narrow canyon of soft bentonite clay. Cave-like formations are nestled in and around tall spires of clay. There are many opportunities to wend your way in and out these overreaching walls and it can all be a bit unnerving as you hear the echoes of crows bouncing off the clay walls. You have reached nature's haunted house. Summer visits into the canyon are a cool respite from the intense heat. Winter visits offer the chance or misfortune -- it really depends on how much you like muddy clay -- of walking through a slippery eerie landscape. This is one of unique hiking experiences in the country. Although Cathedral Gorge is right off Route 93 with a small parking lot and convenient campground quite near the gorge itself, relatively few visitors take the time to enjoy this wonderful roadside attraction. You may be lucky to have it all to yourself when you visit.

Wow! One of the most beautiful state parks I have ever been to. We arrived later at night and set up shop to camp under the stars. They have the cleanest restrooms of any state park too! We awoke with the sunrise so we could see the park before the heat of the day. We did the Nature Loop Trail and included the slot canyons and caves. But the real gem is the Miller Point Trail which takes you to out Miller Point. If you don't have time to hike, just drive to Miller Point to the overlook. It is breathtaking!

This was an amazing find. We were on a 5 hour drive from Vegas to Baker, NV. Were pretty much at the point where we needed a break to stretch our legs when I saw the sign "scenic view". Lo and behold we found Cathedral Gorge State Park. Lots of gorgeous rock formations- kinda like mini hoodoos. Quite a few walking trails. We just walked a small way into the canyon. They have restrooms. Or should I say pit toilets. And a few picnic tables. And a gazebo. Not sure if I will ever drive this way again. But if I do, I will happily revisit.

I saw this State Park mentioned on a television show about Nevada and had to come visit. It's a mini grand canyon. Pretty incredible natural formations. You probably don't want to visit if it's raining or has been raining recently. You will sink to your ankles in sticky mud. Beautiful place with hiking trails, a visitor center and a camp ground. The day use fee is $5 per vehicle. Hiking varies from easy to difficult. There are even some caves you can venture into.

We were staying in Caliente and were looking for something to do. We visited this park and had lots fun exploring the moon and cathedral caves. We also did the hike to the scenic overlook.

I would recommend this place as a day trip or overnight stay but not more than that. We came here for a night from Vegas and decided to move along to Echo Canyon afterwards. The formations are really cool, but not a ton of hiking and mostly all flat trails. The slot canyons are cool but most are not very long. Unique for sure but not a lot of variation. We also hiked up to Miller's point from the campground and that was nice view. The campground was well maintained, but small and close together. $15 a night to stay for Nevada residents. We came in late March and it was freezing at night. As I said, cool place to stop but not a whole lot to do.

We descended into the gorge at dusk. It raises up the heart to see the geological distinctions in the canyon walls, a feeling comparative to sighting any natural wonder. Pink and craggy drippings of rock columns like a city from a lost time are everywhere for the half mile circuit. Then we climbed out to watch the desert stars come out one by one, lying on the picnic tables watching and calling them out until the upside down Big Dipper was obvious. It inspired me to watch "Close Encounters" when I returned home. Thanks to the women working the lunch shift at the Knotty Pine for the 411.

Beautiful place to visit! Had fun traversing through groges. Not very busy with tourists. Restroom was very clean. Picnic area and grill is available. There's a 4 mile loop trail and another trail that leads to Miller's point- another great place to visit close to Cathedral Gorge. We visited on Feb 2019 and it was 34F out.

A friend set up a camping trip for his birthday, he picked this park. We've never been here or even heard of it. We stayed for 2 nights, wish we had more time to explore the area. One of the highlights was lying in my sleeping bag at night listening to the coyotes yipping in celebration. The camping area is small and each site is really close to one another. Most of the "campers" staying there were in RV's so they block a lot of the views. We were lucky to get sight #5, which had a great view, it was as far as you can get from the bathrooms but that was okay with us. Each site has a parking spot big enough for 2 vehicles. A covered picnic table. An iron ring fire pit with grill cover and a charcoal grill. Wood is available to purchase at the camping area on an honor system. The camping area was very quiet at all hours of the day, everyone was very respectful. Bathrooms were clean with showers. The park was beautiful, plenty of places to wander and explore, stay on the trails or create your own adventure! We drove about a half hour to a reservoir for some fishing. Town isn't too far in case you forgot to bring something.

We made Cathederal Gorge our base camp while exploring Great Basin Ntational park and other sites. The campground is small but very well laid out and maintained. There is no host but the ranger often comes around to check on things. There are a lot of trails within walking distance to the campground. There is also a'Shell gas station a mile or two away and they have a good assortment of smacks. I would stay here again if in the area.

Towering siltstone spires erupting from the ancient lakebed create a maze of "slot canyons" that make for some fun above-ground spelunking. Cathedral Gorge is a very unique geological phenomenon and well worth a visit! The park itself is quite small but makes for a fun short visit. Besides exploring the short "slot canyons", visitors can also a hike around the park and stay at a nice campground. There are some cool 1930s historic CCC (civilian conservation corps) structures on site as well. There is also a small visitor center and well maintained restrooms. Get out and see your state parks!

Beautiful state park. We didn't spend a ton of time here as we're not in super hiking shape, but the slots were fun to explore and the overlooks were well worth our time and the drive was really enjoyable. Next time we'll bring a picnic. It's a lovely place.

Easy hiking, low fee, unique formations The park offers cool clay formations and a couple of hiking options for the low, low price of $7 per car. It's a steal for an afternoon of entertainment for a family or a few friends. Grab a map from the visitor's center. It's tiny and not too accurate, but it'll do. Drive past the first info sign, and onto the unpaved path. Try unsuccessfully to put $7 into the sun-damaged fee envelopes, then give up and just stuff $7 into the fee post. Walk back along the unpaved path, and explore the Moon Caves clay formations. Look up every now and then - it's cool. Then, do the ~4 mile roundtrip hike past Miller's point to Eagle outlook. Note that there are a few steps.

Another great Nevada state park/campground. This one even has electricity. Super clean, great staff. You can see the pride in the rangers. Worth the drive

I've grown up in Lincoln county and cathedral was always a fun family day out! Hiking up to Miller point from the bottom and having a gorgeous view when you reach top top is breathtaking. Exploring the different caves and hidden nooks all over the park will give you hours of enjoyment.

Very intriguing rock formations. I didn't get to do any hiking, but it looks like the hikes would be awsome.

This was such an unexpected gem in the middle of the desert. If you take the 15N to the 93N, after a 2.5-hour drive, you will find Cathedral Gorge. There is a camp site and areas to grill and play tetherball. The bathrooms are remarkably clean and well-stocked with toilet paper. There are plenty of maps and educational billboards throughout the park labeling the plantlife and history of the structures. There are water pumps throughout the camp site as well. The most unique thing about the park are the clay/mud formations. The texture of the formations make them very easy to climb, but be careful as it crumbles easily in some places. Also, once you climb on top of the large mounds, watch your step because you can easily step and fall into a seemingly bottomless cave/ravine. Once inside the narrows, you can find pleasant, sunlit caves that make for some great and beautiful photographs. If you follow the hiking trails, you can hike up to Millers Lookout and get a great view of the gorge. It was all very breathtaking and spectacular. I would highly recommend this for people of all ages. The hikes are relatively flat if you follow the trails.

Cool place to explore a little slot canyon action. Nowhere near as good as Utah, but still fun. Nice medium length hike through the grounds to a couple good overlooks up some scary stairs in the rock. Good for a couple of hours. Not sure how the camping area was as I didn't not head over in that part of the park. OK with the $7 entry fee here.

Beautiful, stark landscape with little caves you can go into. For people who RV, there are campsites available. See photos on my blog - https://landcruisingadventure.blogspot.com/2018/07/cathedral-gorge-state-park-nevada.html