Campfire Safety & Autumn Camping Tips

As the heat of summer fades and crisp fall air settles over Nevada, there’s no better time to head outdoors for a camping adventure. Cooler weather, colorful landscapes, and fewer crowds make autumn an ideal season to enjoy the beauty of our state’s wild spaces. Whether you’re setting up camp in the Ruby Mountains, near Angel Lake, or out in the wide-open desert, a little preparation and care can make your trip both safe and sustainable.

Campfire Safety: Keep It Small and Smart

Nothing beats the warmth and glow of a campfire on a chilly autumn night, but it’s important to remember that wildfires can happen any time of year in Nevada’s dry climate. Always check local fire restrictions before you go, and only build fires in designated rings or established fire pits. Keep your fire small, just big enough for cooking or warmth, and never leave it unattended. When it’s time to head to bed or break camp, drown the fire with water, stir the ashes, and feel for heat until everything is cold to the touch. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave!

Packing for Fall Weather

Autumn in Nevada can bring sunny afternoons, cold nights, and even an early dusting of snow, depending on where you camp. Pack layers to stay comfortable in changing temperatures, base layers for warmth, an insulating layer like fleece, and a waterproof outer layer for wind or rain. Don’t forget warm socks, gloves, and a beanie for those brisk mornings. A good sleeping bag rated for low temperatures and an insulated sleeping pad will help you stay cozy through the night.

Leave No Trace in the Fall

Even as the camping crowds thin out, it’s still important to practice Leave No Trace principles to protect Nevada’s landscapes. Camp at least 200 feet from water sources, stick to established sites, and avoid trampling vegetation that’s preparing for winter. Pack out everything you bring in, including food scraps, trash, and micro-litter like twist ties or bottle caps. When collecting firewood, use only dead and downed wood found on the ground; never cut live trees or branches.

Enjoy Nevada’s Autumn Outdoors Responsibly

Fall camping in Nevada offers incredible opportunities to experience the outdoors in peace and quiet. Whether you’re watching wildlife, hiking among golden aspens, or enjoying a mug of cocoa by the fire, remember that responsible recreation keeps these experiences available for everyone. By being mindful of campfire safety, weather preparedness, and Leave No Trace ethics, you’re helping preserve the natural beauty that makes Nevada’s outdoors so special.

What's New at NOS! September 2025

September was a month full of creativity, connection, and community for Nevada Outdoor School! As summer came to a close, our team celebrated the season’s end with local families, artists, and educators across Northern Nevada. From roasting s’mores under the stars in Lander County to painting the beauty of Lamoille Canyon, and preparing to bring our updated Nature in My World curriculum into classrooms, September was a wonderful reminder of how outdoor experiences can inspire learning and bring people together.

September 13 | End of Summer Bash

Nevada Outdoor School wrapped up the season with an End of Summer Bash on September 13 in partnership with Lander County. The celebration brought together 130 community members for an evening filled with s’mores, yard games, and plenty of laughter. Families especially enjoyed the bounce houses, which were a huge hit with the kids. Adding to the fun, the event coincided with a lemonade walk, making it a perfect way to close out summer with sweet treats, outdoor play, and community connection.

September 27 | Celebrate the Canyon through Art

On September 27, Nevada Outdoor School joined the community in celebrating the beauty of Lamoille Canyon through art. Twenty-one artists gathered to paint, draw, and photograph the stunning scenery, capturing the canyon’s natural wonder in their own unique styles. Kim and MaKayla hosted an engaging art station for families and children, offering hands-on creativity with watercolor painting and air-dry clay. While only four children participated, the event fostered meaningful connections with several artists—opening the door to potential future collaborations that celebrate both art and the outdoors.

September 27 | Wild Horse NPLD

September | Elko NIMW

In September, Nevada Outdoor School’s Elko team was busy connecting with teachers and scheduling lessons for the upcoming school year. With the newly revamped NIMW (Nature in My World) curriculum, NOS educators are now able to visit each classroom five times a year instead of two—providing more opportunities to engage students in meaningful, hands-on environmental learning. This expanded schedule will strengthen relationships with teachers and students while inspiring curiosity about the natural world and the ways our choices impact the environment around us. Throughout the year, NOS will visit more than 60 classrooms during October, November, February, March, and April.

Haunted History & Nevada Lore from the Outdoors

Nevada’s sweeping deserts, rugged mountain ranges, and quiet canyons hold more than just scenic beauty, they echo with the whispers of history, legend, and mystery. From long-abandoned mining towns to remote stagecoach stops, the Silver State’s landscapes are steeped in stories of the past. October, with its crisp air and lengthening shadows, is the perfect time to explore Nevada’s haunted history and local lore while enjoying the great outdoors responsibly.

Ghosts of the Mining Boom

In the late 1800s, Nevada’s mining boom drew thousands of hopeful prospectors searching for silver and gold. Many of the towns that sprang up during that era have long since been deserted, leaving behind weathered buildings, forgotten cemeteries, and lingering tales of those who came before.

Virginia City, one of the most famous mining towns in the West, is said to be home to a number of spirits from its heyday. Visitors to the Washoe Club, once a gathering spot for miners and millionaires, report mysterious footsteps and cold drafts that can’t be explained. Nearby, the historic Silver Terrace Cemetery offers a quiet yet powerful glimpse into the lives, and sometimes tragic ends, of those who built the city.

Further east, Goldfield and Tonopah continue to draw ghost hunters and history buffs alike. The Goldfield Hotel, with its grand architecture and dark legends, has earned a reputation as one of Nevada’s most haunted places. In Tonopah, the Mizpah Hotel stands as both a restored gem and a site of spectral stories, including the famous “Lady in Red.”

Desert Legends and Mysterious Landscapes

Beyond its ghost towns, Nevada’s wild spaces have long inspired folklore. Pyramid Lake, just north of Reno, is not only a place of breathtaking natural beauty but also home to one of Nevada’s oldest legends, the story of the Water Babies. According to Paiute oral tradition, the spirits of lost children are said to inhabit the lake, their cries carried across the water on quiet evenings.

In central Nevada, Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park combines prehistoric fossils with ghostly remnants of a mining town. Visitors can walk among the preserved bones of ancient marine reptiles and explore the weathered remains of Berlin’s 19th-century buildings, a unique blend of natural history and Nevada lore.

Outdoor Ethics: Respecting the Past and the Land

Exploring these historic and haunted places can be an unforgettable experience, but it’s important to do so with care. Nevada Outdoor School encourages everyone to follow Leave No Trace principles and to show respect for both the environment and the cultural heritage that defines these sites.

When visiting ghost towns or historic ruins:

• Stay on established paths and roads to protect fragile structures and ecosystems.

• Look, but don’t touch, historic artifacts, woodwork, and stones are easily damaged and should remain where they are for others to enjoy.

• Pack out all trash, even if it isn’t yours, to preserve the sense of timelessness that makes these places special.

• Be mindful of wildlife, as many ghost towns and historic sites have become habitats for bats, birds, and small mammals.

• Share respectfully, if you’re taking photos or sharing your adventure online, include context about the importance of preserving Nevada’s history and environment.

A Connection Between Past and Present

Nevada’s haunted sites remind us that history is alive in the landscape. Every crumbling building, dusty trail, and desert breeze carries a story, of resilience, discovery, and the human connection to the land. By visiting these places responsibly, we not only keep those stories alive but also ensure that future generations can experience the same sense of wonder and curiosity.

This October, whether you’re exploring a ghost town, camping under the stars, or tracing the footsteps of miners and pioneers, take a moment to reflect on the legacy of those who came before. Nevada’s haunted history is more than a collection of ghost stories, it’s a reminder that the outdoors holds both our past and our future, waiting to be explored with care and respect.

AmeriCorps Member Spotlight: Vivian Grange

Nevada Outdoor School is proud to spotlight AmeriCorps member Vivian Grange, who has been serving with our Elko office this summer.

Vivian grew up right here in Elko, Nevada, and returned home for the summer before her next adventure. While browsing a job site, she stumbled upon the AmeriCorps position with Nevada Outdoor School. She admits she was mindlessly applying for a variety of jobs, but the moment she read the description for this role, she knew it was the right fit. The opportunity to spend her summer outdoors, help with camps, and engage with the community sparked immediate excitement.

“Being outdoors and helping out with camps seemed so fun and able to get me out of the house as well as earn money while I’m having fun,” Vivian shared.

For Vivian, AmeriCorps has been more than just a summer job—it’s been an opportunity to serve her community, inspire youth, and connect with the outdoors in meaningful ways. She expressed gratitude for the experience, noting how much she’s enjoyed contributing to Nevada Outdoor School’s mission of inspiring exploration and stewardship of the natural world.

“I’m so grateful that I had this opportunity and I loved doing my service,” she said.

Vivian’s enthusiasm, energy, and love for the outdoors have made her a valued part of our AmeriCorps team. We’re excited to see where her journey takes her next and are thankful for the impact she’s made in our community during her service.

Chasing Ruins: Ghost Towns You Can Visit in Northern Nevada (and how to do it responsibly)

Nevada’s landscape is stitched with the bones of boomtowns; mining camps, railroad stops, and hopeful homesteads that sprang up overnight and faded just as fast. If you love wide skies, old brickwork, and the storytelling that happens when you stand where history happened, Northern Nevada has excellent, and surprisingly accessible, ghost towns to explore. Below are a few that are easy to reach in Northern Nevada, a short history for each, and practical ways to enjoy them using Leave No Trace ethics and the rules that protect our shared heritage.

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Tuscarora | A Stubborn Survivor

Tuscarora sits in Elko County and began after word of a gold strike in 1867. At one point during its 19th-century boom it supported thousands of miners, mills, and businesses; later cycles of activity and quiet left the town with the weathered wooden buildings and mill ruins you can still see today. Although it slowed from a true boomtown, Tuscarora never completely disappeared, there’s still a small living community nearby and lots of visible historic fabric to imagine life here in the 1800s. 

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Metropolis | The Agricultural Experiment that Failed

Metropolis (near Wells) is not a mining boomtown so much as a failed agricultural colony. Founded in 1910 by a reclamation company that hoped dry-land farming would succeed here, the town grew infrastructure (school, hotel, store) but the climate and economics didn’t cooperate. By the 1920s most settlers left; today you’ll find the ruins of the school, hotel foundations, and a small cemetery.

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Ruby Hill | The Mining Camp Near Eureka

Ruby Hill grew up in the 1870s around rich silver and lead strikes near Eureka. The boom peaked in the late 1870s; later revivals occurred but natural events (like a 1910 storm that washed out a railroad) and the usual market swings led to decline. Today Ruby Hill’s remains sit close to Eureka and give a vivid sense of the mining economy that powered much of Nevada’s early development. 

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Belmont — Classic 1860s Silver Era

Belmont (south of Tonopah regionally, often included in central/northern Nevada routes) was a silver boomtown whose discoveries helped shape Nevada’s reputation in the 1860s and 1870s. Brick archways, graveyards, and the old saloon ruins make it one of Nevada’s more photogenic ghost towns, and you can still feel the scale of that 19th-century boom walking the historic center.