On our return drive from Great Basin National Park, I was excited to break up the drive home with a simple overnight camping stay that always offers the most calming desert views possible.
Cathedral Gorge State Park continues to be a favorite desert escape. The reason for my attachment to this park is that it offers a serene desert sanctuary where you can find solace and enjoy the sense of wonder in the simplicity of nature’s artistry.
While the land for the park’s public recreation area and geologic preserve covers almost 1,800 acres, with only a small 22 site campground, only approximately 5-miles of trails, and a gorge that extends a mere 2-miles in length, this is one of the smaller parks we have enjoyed. It is this smaller scale that makes the intimacy of the park so unique. Removed from sight of the surrounding civilization of Panaca, the desert views provide golden and peachy sunsets and quiet skies for simply sitting back and enjoying the peace that nature provides.
A given for every visit to the park, our first stop after setting up camp, which started with a pleasant greeting from a sparrow, included a walk below the spires and buff-colored cliffs that surround the cathedral, canyon and moon caves and a visit to the former civilian conservation corps water tower.
Making my way into the narrow caves is always an adventure as I dodge tumbleweed and become highly aware of each step within range of a thick spiderweb or dark hole in the stone. These short treks provided a moment for my senses to focus on every single step and detail of the surrounding space and in a matter of moments I found myself removed both physically and mentally, from everything but the surrounding walls. That is of course until a pigeon sent my heartbeat racing as they quickly flew over head cooing, which pushed echoes from above and filled every bit of space with amplified exaggerations of their size. I don’t often cower and laugh simultaneously but that is exactly what this instance resulted in me doing.
The evening wrapped up with the usual star gazing, camp stove meal and with some extra daylight to spare, we enjoyed the chance to sit and relax. We found enjoyment in observing other nearby camp setups and I even began page one in my newly acquired travel watercolor setup.
The trip this time was simple. No distance hiking or gorge explorations. However after the abundance of new hikes and endeavors we experienced over the previous 48 hours as we explored Great Basin National Park, Ely and the Ward Charcoal Ovens, this simple time to sit and enjoy camp was the perfect rest and recovery we needed before closing out the final day of our trip.
Just further proof that sometimes, the perfect night is one that offers natural views, a dash of excitement and the stillness of the outdoors.
Camping at Cathedral Gorge State Park offers a serene escape with dramatic landscapes and unique geological formations. To fully enjoy the stillness, consider visiting during off-peak times for a quieter experience and explore the park's hiking trails that wind through slot canyons. Pack a camera to capture the surreal beauty of the formations, especially during sunrise or sunset. Camping Cannobio