Sky gazing in Nevada

The biggest celestial event of the year, the annular solar eclipse, is set to dazzle the skies above Nevada later this year.

Taking place on 14 October 2023, it is the first of its kind in 11 years.

The viewing path runs directly through some of Nevada’s rural towns .

It will create a phenomenon where only the outer edge of the sun will be visible giving the moon a “Ring of Fire” effect.

Nevada is home to the darkest skies in mainland US and as one of the only Dark Sky Sanctuaries recognised by the International Dark Sky Association.

Nevada’s Great Basin National Park is one of the best spots to witness the event with a reported eclipse time of 3 minutes and 29 seconds.

In celebration, White Pine County is hosting a community-wide Ring of Fire Eclipse Festival from the 11-16 October.

The festival will feature group rides with the Great Basin Trails Alliance, an aliens and UFO event at White Pine Public Museum, and a pub crawl hosted by the White Pine County Chamber of Commerce.

Vsitors can hop aboard an early 20th century locomotive at the Nevada Northern Railway in Ely to view the eclipse.

The Solar Eclipse Limited will depart Ely station at 7:30 a.m. and head to a viewing area outside of Ely in Keystone. Passengers will be joined by NASA-affiliated interpreters and special eclipse-viewing glasses are provided.

“This major celestial event presents the perfect opportunity to highlight activities in some of Nevada’s rural communities,” said Tracie Barnthouse, PR manager at Travel Nevada.

“We encourage visitors to extend their stay and explore the incredibly diverse experiences that Nevada has to offer.”

In addition to eclipse festivities and year-round experiences at Great Basin National Park, visitors can explore some only-in-Nevada offerings.

Attractions and activities in Ely and White Pine County include:

History and culture

East Ely Railroad Museum and Nevada Northern Railway: The shared grounds between the museum and the railway take travelers on an immersive trip through time.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park: Six 30-feet-tall, beehive-shaped stone kilns – the most intact in the state – showcase Ely’s deep-rooted mining history.

Ely Mural Walk This walking tour creates an immersive experience via art that showcases Ely’s rich history.

Hiking and outdoor adventure

Ward Mountain Recreation Area: An off-grid favorite, with 30 miles of hiking, biking, horseback riding, backcountry skiing trails and camping.

Cave Lake State Park: Enjoy high desert recreation opportunities from stargazing, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, backcountry scenic drives and more.

Garnet Hill: Located just outside of Ely, this public recreation area is home to rich, dark red garnets.

Lehman Caves: One of the largest cave systems in the Silver State with more than 300 shield formations.

Wheeler Peak Summit Trail: Summit Nevada’s second-tallest peak with trail access to Wheeler Peak.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest: A 3-4-mile trip leads through a grove of the world’s oldest living trees, dating back over 4,900 years.