Cathedral Gorge State Park is located in eastern Nevada, close to the Utah border. If you are not looking for it, you may just drive right past it. We drove this way through Nevada, specifically for this state park. While it is one of the smaller state parks to explore, you can almost do it in an entire day! You will be mesmerized by its narrow gorges and stunning rock formations. It is worth the detour!

Exploring Cathedral Gorge State Park

The best time to check out this park is really any time, but if you want to beat the heat and the crowds, check it out during the shoulder months. April and November. We arrived in late November and almost had the entire state park to ourselves! It was a crisp cool day but the sun was out. It felt like the perfect fall Nevada day.

As always, please remember to practice LEAVE NO TRACE.

Cathedral Gorge State Park Campground

Like I mentioned, this state park isn’t big, so you can either do it in a day or a relaxing two days and stay in its campground. With only 22 sites you will need a reservation during peak travel days and times. For a small campground it has quite a few amenities. Electric hookups, water (separate), restrooms with showers that are open year round, picnic tables and grills. They make it comfortable and convenient to stay a night or two if you want.

As of the posting of the story, camping fees are as follows: $15.00 per vehicle, per night NV resident. $20.00 per vehicle, per night non-NV resident. Add $10.00/night for sites with utility hook ups.

Cathedral Gorge State Park Information

Cathedral Gorge State Park is about 2,000 acres of land on the land of the Fremont, Anasazi and Southern Paiutes people. It was preserved in 1924 and then finally became a state park in 1935. It was one of the first four state parks in the state of Nevada. The locals in the area were instrumental in getting the area preserved.

How to get to Cathedral Gorge State Park

Cathedral Gorge State Park is located off of highway 93. About 2.5 hours north of Las Vegas, 1.75 hours south of Ely, NV and 1.5 hours west of Cedar City, UT.

Cathedral Gorge State Park Fee Information

Day use entrance fee: $5.00 NV resident, $10.00 non-NV resident. $2.00 for bikes.

The Best Spots in Cathedral Gorge State Park

Now the fun stuff. I knew from photos that this would be a really unique and beautiful area, but when you see it for the first time it will blow your mind. There are only a few warnings if you are exploring during the summers months or a very hot day. Make sure to carry plenty of water and have snacks with. Also, depending on how compact the dirt and sand are, you will have to watch your footing. Other than that, enjoy!

Miller’s Point in Cathedral Gorge State Park

We highly suggest starting at Miller’s Point. Miller’s Point is an overlook at the north end of the park. It will give you your first glimpse of what to expect from this amazing state park. There is a decent sized parking lot with picnic tables and shade. It also has toilets as well. It is the perfect place to have a picnic.

You can walk down through these spires. Steps will lead you down to a well groomed path. Round trip it is about 1 mile. If you are up to it, then you could explore most of the park from here.

Cathedral Caves

Cathedral Caves would be the first stop on your list if you begin at the visitor center. Park here and you can explore Cathedral Caves, Sand Caves and Moon Caves. While their names have caves in them, they are not really caves. You will find slot canyon like areas to explore and not typical dark caves.

Canyon Caves

Right in the middle of Cathedral and Moon, these were my favorite. This is probably the spot where you have seen the most pictures of the area because you can walk right up to the spires along a compact sand ground. I don’t suggest climbing on them but you can get up close and personal.

Moon Caves

Moon Caves are where most of the longer slot canyons are. None longer than maybe .2 miles but you can walk through the towering spires and get some reprieve from the sun. It will be remarkably cooler in them.

Other places to explore in Cathedral Gorge State Park

Juniper Draw Loop

This is a 3 mile loop that you can pick up from multiple locations throughout the state park. Cathedral Caves, Miller Point and the Campground.

Eagle Point Trail

This is a .8 mile out and back trail that you access from the same road as accessing Miller’s Point.

Buttonville Cemetery Trail

This is a .2 mile trail to the cemetery near the visitor center.

CCC Water Tower

You will see this if you walk from Cathedral Caves to Canyon Caves. Built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps it quickly became unused.

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