Most people that drive down Nevada’s HWY 50 don’t see much. They see long stretches of road separating them from Salt Lake City and Sacramento. For those that look just a little closer, they’ll find photo opportunities as abundant as the sagebrush that flanks either side of the road. On your next road trip down Nevada’s HWY 50 keep your eyes open for the beauty along the side of this historic roadway.
Long Stretches of Railroad
Hannah on the railroad tracks wearing a cowboy hat
In many places along HWY 50, you can find long stretches of railroad that follow right alongside the highway. Long sections of straight steel tracks with wooden railroad ties make for stunning photo ops. Let the track draw your eyes far into the horizon and back to the time when the railroad was the only way to make the journey to this part of the world.
Abandoned Old West Buildings
Stokes Castle at sunset in Austin, Nevada
Old mining towns are like candy for photographers. Cracked and faded wooden planks of buildings that time has forgotten tell visual stories of times past. Nothing screams Nevada more than the old relics from the time of the gold rush in the mid-1800’s.
2 Lanes of Never Ending Pavement
The very road you are driving on is nothing short of camera porn. Find yourself at the top of a hill with miles of straight road ahead. Some sections of HWY 50 are straight for so long they seem to vanish in the distance. Watch out for traffic and make your way to the centerline with your camera in hand. There is no better way to sum up a road trip on HWY 50 than a nice low angle shot from the yellow dashed center line staring out on to the infinite asphalt path.
Lehman Caves
Inside the Lehman Caves in Great Basin National Park
A natural wonder inside Great Basin National Park, the Lehman Caves are a short 10-mile drive off HWY 50. Home to stunning limestone formations and seemingly endless photographic compositions. Plan your visit around the photography tours offered by the rangers at the caves. The only way to bring in a tripod (which you need to get the good shots) is to sign up for one of their daily photo tours. The non-photo tours are at offered several times a day and vary based on the season (cameras allowed, but no tripods). Click here to see the Lehman cave tour schedule.
Railroad Museum
The Ely Railroad Museum at Night under the stars
Steeped in over one hundred years of history the Railroad museum of Ely, Nevada pulls you in as a photographer. Antique trains and worn tracks just beg to be photographed. As interesting and as much character the museum and yard have during the day, nighttime is even better. The sparse lighting of the yard and a few beams from the moon makes for just enough interesting light to photograph the old train yard.
Random Rusted Cars
Classic truck next to the road at sunset in Nevada
There’s no shortage of old rusted cars parked along the side of the road in Nevada. Just about every day on our road trip across America’s Loneliest Road we found at least one old car left on the roadside. There is just something magical about an old car in the desert that just makes your imagination run wild. The rusty bumpers and broken headlights add to the character or the scene.
Sand Mountain
ATVs climb the steep Sand Mountain – Shot from a drone
What’s not to love about a giant 600-foot pile of sand dropped down in the Nevada desert. Sweeping dunes of tan sand crest making plenty of interesting compositions. To add to even more interest, Sand Mountain is a favorite place to ride for local off road enthusiast. If you’re lucky you can even catch modified VW beetles carving up the massive sand dune.
Don’t Forget To Pin Me For Later
A FEW RESOURCES TO PLAN YOUR TRIP DOWN HWY 50 IN NEVADA:
Thanks to Travel Nevada for inviting us on such an epic road trip! Like always all opinions are our own.
