Cathedral Gorge feels like walking through a giant sandcastle after a rainstorm — soft cream-colored bentonite clay has been eroded into fluted spires, cave-like recesses and slot canyons so narrow you turn sideways. The park is small (1,600 acres) but photogenically dense, and it sees a fraction of the crowds at Valley of Fire or Red Rock. It's the perfect break in the long drive between Las Vegas and Great Basin, and the neighboring town of Panaca (a quiet Mormon settlement) is one of Nevada's oldest.
Park at the Miller Point overlook first for the panoramic take, then drive down to the Cathedral Cave and Moon Caves trailheads and squeeze into the slots (kids love this part — bring headlamps). The full Juniper Draw Loop is 3 miles and takes 90 minutes. There's a small first-come campground under cottonwoods if you want to catch sunset colors on the west wall and sunrise on the east — utterly still and dark-sky rated. No food, no gas, no cell service — stock up in Panaca or Caliente.
Hours
- Park open daily sunrise to sunset
- Visitor Center 8:00-16:30 (limited winter hours)
- Campground check-in until 22:00
Good to know
How much is entry?+
$15 per vehicle out-of-state, $10 Nevada residents. Camping is $25/night (dry) or $35 with electric hookups, plus day-use fee.
Are there free days?+
No. Nevada state parks do not honor federal fee-free days. A $75 annual Nevada state parks pass pays back in five visits.
How long should I plan?+
2 to 3 hours covers the slot canyons, Miller Point and a short walk. Add sunset photography and campground stay for a full overnight experience.
When is it closed?+
The park is open year-round sunrise to sunset. The visitor center closes on Thanksgiving, December 25 and January 1, and runs limited winter hours (typically 9:00-15:00 Thu-Mon).
Do I need reservations?+
No for day use — pay at the self-serve iron ranger station. Campsites can be reserved at reservenevada.com; about half remain first-come, first-served.
How do I get there?+
US-93 north from Las Vegas for 165 miles / 2h 45min. The park entrance is 2 miles north of Panaca on the west side of US-93. Nearest fuel is Panaca or Caliente (7 mi south). Ely, with the closest airport, is 105 miles north.