White River Narrows Roadside Views ~ Basin & Range

The White River Narrows is both a unique geological area and it is an important native heritage sacred place. The signage is easy to spot, but relatively few people take the time to stop and look, because this is a high speed fly by area on Nevada Highway 318. This is also a very remote area and the most famous nearby destination is the Extra Terrestrial Highway. There are a couple ways to experience this Basin and Range National Monument destination and one involves following a long dirt road loop that begins and ends on Highway 318. The dirt road goes through the White River Narrows Paleontology Area where some interesting petroglyph panels can be found. The other way to experience the White River Narrows is to simply take in the roadside views along Highway 318, which are pictured in the Flickr photo album.  

The views from the paved road feature the unique geology of the White River Narrows, which is fascinating to see. The layers of sandstone and and rhyolite are heavily eroded, which creates interesting shapes that have an otherworldly appearance. Vertical columns of "crystalized" rhyolite tower over the narrow valley floor, which certainly is an ominous sight to see. The rusty and dusty colors of the massive rock outcrops definitely are the star of the show and they beckon visitors to come closer. Winter is the best time of year for exploring this area by foot and there are a few good spots to do some climbing. Taking the time to soak up the White River Narrows scenery along Highway 318 is well worth it and there is even more to discover on the dirt road loop tour!