Cathedral Gorge State Park

During our road trip through Nevada last month (August 2023), Cathedral Gorge State Park was one of our favorite stops—the park in Lincoln County, southern Nevada, is truly a hidden gem. The landscape is stunning, and it feels like walking around another planet.

We learned from the visitor information that most of the area used to be covered by a freshwater lake. The beautiful colors of the canyons are remnants of that lakebed. As the water began draining, erosion exposed sediment and gravel portions. Rainwater and snow continued to split tiny cracks into larger gullies and canyons.

In the nineteenth century, Cathedral Gorge, known as Cathedral Gulch, was a popular spot for local picnickers. It eventually became one of the four original Nevada state parks created in 1935, and members of the Civilian Conservation Corps built picnicking facilities still in use today.

Initially built in the 1930s, this water tower is no longer in use but still stands today in the day-use area.

Photos above and below are in slider mode.

Cathedral Caves

These formations are called caves because some sections don’t receive direct sunlight; however, many look like slot canyons. We spent most of our time in the Cathedral Caves.

While exploring the caves, as we looked up, we quickly realized how deep we were.

Miller Point Overlook

The Miller Point Trail is a 2-mile out-and-back hike beginning at the day-use area parking lot and takes you through a canyon. Towards the end, a tall steel staircase takes you to an incredible overlook.

We enjoyed our day spent at Cathedral Gorge State Park and highly recommend a visit there if you are in the area. For more information and the history of this fantastic park, visit Cathedral Gorge State Park | State Parks (nv.gov)