The biggest celestial event of the year, the annular solar eclipse, will take place on 14 October 2023. The first of its kind in 11 years, the viewing path runs directly through some of Nevada’s rural towns and 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 and quietest skies in mainland U.S. 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 enjoy 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 11th-16th of 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.
For a truly unique experience, visitors 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 the community of Keystone. Passengers will be joined by NASA-affiliated interpreters and provided special eclipse-viewing glasses.
“This major celestial event presents the perfect opportunity to highlight activities in some of Nevada’s rural communities,” said Tracie Barnthouse, public relations manager at Travel Nevada. “We encourage visitors to extend their stay and explore the incredibly diverse experiences that Nevada has to offer. We are excited to welcome travellers to discover the hidden gems, breath taking landscapes, and fascinating culture in the Silver State.”
In addition to eclipse festivities and the array of activities and adventures found at Great Basin National Park year-round, visitors can explore the surrounding areas and discover some only-in-Nevada offerings whilst in town. 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 travellers on an immersive trip through time.
- Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park: Six 30-foot-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 favourite, 30 miles of trails serve up pristine hiking, biking, horseback riding, backcountry skiing, and camping.
- Cave Lake State Park: Incredible high desert recreation opportunities – ranging from stargazing, hiking, fishing, mountain biking, backcountry scenic drives and more – can be found at this outdoor destination.
- Garnet Hill: Located just outside of Ely, this incredible public recreation area where beautifully rich, dark red garnets can be found is a hidden gem (literally!).
- Lehman Caves: One of the largest and most dazzling 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, starting at 10,160’ with about 2,900’ elevation gain.
- 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.
For more information on Nevada’s offerings, visit www.TravelNevada.com.
