State guide
When to catch Nevadathrough the year
We follow 3 places in Nevada for wildflowers, fall foliage and spring migration: fall at Great Basin and spring at Ash Meadows Refuge and Pahranagat Refuge. Each timing below is the place's own source, in its words; none is a forecast.
When are you going?
Fall in Nevada
- SEASON · FALL FOLIAGEGreat BasinStarting around the second or third week of SeptemberNevada
“starting around the second or third week of September” · National Park Service ↗
Also good in fall
- Ash Meadows RefugeFall bird migration, September through November
- Great BasinAstronomy Festival
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Winter in Nevada
Our sources name nothing here for winter; the other seasons above have what they do.
Spring in Nevada
Also good in spring
- Ash Meadows RefugeSplashes of wildflower color begin in late March
- Pahranagat RefugeGeese and ducks begin to arrive, March
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Summer in Nevada
Good in summer
- Great BasinRanger astronomy programs
- Pahranagat RefugeBoating on Upper Lake (non-motorized or electric motors), February 1 to September 30
From each place's own sources; no peak claimed.
Places in Nevada
- Spring
- Fall
Places on this map, as a list
Planning a Nevada trip
Towns to stay in
- Las Vegas, NVAsh Meadows Refuge · 61 mi
- Reno, NVLassen Volcanic · 109 mi
- Carson, NVYosemite · 99 mi
- Fernley, NVYosemite · 130 mi
Nearest place we follow, straight-line miles.
Current park alerts (NPS)
- Great Basin: No Potable Water in Park Campgrounds ↗
Browse by season and event
- Wildflowers · 1 place hereWildflowers, everywhere →
- Fall foliage · 1 place hereFall foliage, everywhere →
- Spring migration · 1 place hereSpring migration, everywhere →
Questions people ask
When are the refuge and visitor center open at Ash Meadows Refuge?
Trails and boardwalks are open every day from sunrise to sunset. The visitor center is open daily, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ash Meadows NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Are the roads paved at Ash Meadows Refuge?
No, every refuge road is dirt, kept up for regular cars and motorcycles. Rain can make them slick, very muddy or closed in places, so call ahead in wet weather. The suggested route to the visitor center is the West Entrance off Highway 373.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ash Meadows NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When does the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive close at Great Basin?
Generally by November 1, after the season's first heavy snowfall. Snake Creek, Strawberry Creek and Baker Creek roads also close with snow; the Lehman Caves Visitor Center stays open all year.Source: National Park Service, Visiting Great Basin in fall ↗ (opens in a new tab)
When are the trails and visitor center open at Pahranagat Refuge?
Trails are open year-round from sunrise to sunset, and the restrooms and trails at the visitor center stay open sunrise to sunset. The visitor center itself is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday to Monday from September to May, and only Friday to Sunday from June to August.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pahranagat NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Can I bring my dog at Pahranagat Refuge?
Yes, on a leash: the refuge lists pets on a leash for its walking trails, its bike-friendly trails and its walkable access routes.Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pahranagat NWR: Visit Us ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nearby state guides: Utah · California · Arizona · Idaho
Nevada in pictures
How we know
- Sep 28Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife at the refuge, including when spring color begins, and its endemic species.Source (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ash Meadows NWR: Species in a new tab)
- Sep 27Park ServiceFall colors typically start developing around the second or third week of SeptemberSource (opens National Park Service, Great Basin operating hours and seasons in a new tab)
- Sep 29Park ServiceSeasons of wildlife: cranes February-March, geese and ducks from March, shorebirds April-May, first duck broods in MaySource (opens U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pahranagat NWR: Species (Seasons of Wildlife) in a new tab)
- National Park Service sources: no claim to original U.S. Government works.