There are many beautiful areas located throughout the state of Nevada. As a matter of fact, the natural beauty of these areas attracts visitors from all over the United States and even the world. Well, what if we were to tell you that a few of these beautiful areas can be quite dangerous if you don’t use extreme caution? Who would’ve thought one of the nation’s most beautiful states has several dangerous spots? Not us! Listed below are eight of the most dangerous places in Nevada. How many of them have you visited?

1. Mojave Desert
rickpilot_2000/Flickr
Besides California, Utah and Arizona, the Mojave Desert also occupies smaller areas of Nevada. It's also the driest desert in North America. The Mojave Desert is home to three venomous snakes: Mojave Desert Sidewinder, Horned Rattlesnake and the Mojave Rattlesnake - the most dangerous of the three. While exploring the Mojave Desert, if you happen to stumble across one of these snakes, you'll want to walk away slowly to avoid being bitten.
2. Truckee River
Truckee River, United States
rocor/flickr
The Truckee River is a beautiful river that flows for 121 miles in Nevada and California. It's heavily used for whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting is a very dangerous recreational sport, so be careful the next time you and your friends decide to fight the rapids. Learn more about this beautiful - but risky - Nevada wonder in this article.
3. Hot Springs
mitsy mcgoo/Flickr
There are more than 300 hot springs located throughout Nevada. Many of these hot springs produce scalding water and have warning signs that reflect this. However, even if you happen to come across a hot spring without a warning sign, you should still use extreme caution before getting in. Want more? Check out this epic Nevada hot springs road trip!
4. Red Rock Canyon
Red Rock Canyon, Nevada 89161, USA
Gary Craig/Flickr
Red Rock Canyon is a popular hiking spot in Las Vegas. Sadly, many hiking accidents have occurred here, such as hikers falling from cliffs. Always be careful as you hike this area, and remember to never go hiking alone. If you do feel like trekking it, you might want to check out this day trip we put together.

Related Stories

Your Ultimate Guide To Summer Fun In Nevada

Your Ultimate Guide To Summer Fun In Nevada

 It's An Epic Western Adventure To A Gold Mine, A Ghost Town, And More In Nevada

It's An Epic Western Adventure To A Gold Mine, A Ghost Town, And More In Nevada

 You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Dulce Donuts In Nevada

You'll Never Look At Donuts The Same Way After Trying Dulce Donuts In Nevada
5. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Mt. Rose - Ski Tahoe, 22222 NV-431, Reno, NV 89511, USA
Mitch Barrie/Flickr
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe, in Reno, is a popular destination for snow skiing. Snow skiing is much more dangerous than many people realize, and ski accidents happen pretty regularly. Always use extreme caution when snow skiing in this area. To say it gets a little snowy here is an understatement.
6. Mt. Charleston
Mount Charleston, Mt Charleston, NV 89124, USA
Chris Ainsworth/Flickr
Mt. Charleston is the highest mountain in both the Spring Mountains and Clark County. Because Mt. Charleston is prone to flash flooding, you'll want to watch the weather closely before hiking it. You might even spot a mountain lion or two while hiking this mountain. Bottom line: Be careful the next time you plan to hike Mt. Charleston.
7. Incline Village
Incline Village, NV 89451, USA
Ken Lund/Flickr
Incline Village, one of Nevada's most gorgeous areas, has definitely had its fair share of bear sightings. Many bears sighted within this area are dangerous, while others are pretty harmless. If you spot a bear, stay away. And as always, you should never, ever, EVER feed them!
8. Lake Mead
Lake Mead, United States
William Klos/Flickr
Lake Mead, when full, is the largest reservoir in the U.S. Like other lakes, many drownings have occurred here. However, this past spring, toxic algae was discovered in certain areas of Lake Mead. Even though this lake wasn't officially closed off to the public, officials did warn visitors not to swim in the areas where toxic algae was present.

Are there any other spots you would consider to be on the list of the most dangerous places in Nevada where visitors need to use extreme caution? Let us know in the comments!

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

Most Dangerous Places in Nevada

Tori Jane | December 29, 2021

What are some dangerous cities and towns in Nevada?  

Ah, Nevada: home of the original “Sin City”. Sure, there are plenty of safe places to live and hang out all over the state, but unfortunately, like most places, it’s not perfect – there are indeed some dangerous cities and towns around here. According to Burglary.com, the top most dangerous cities in Nevada are:

  • Reno has a crime rate of 3,946 per 100,000 residents.
  • Las Vegas has a crime rate of 3,738 per 100,000 residents.
  • Elko, Nevada, has a population of just over 20,000 people and a crime rate of 3,166 per 100,000 residents; that’s a crime rate almost as high as the aforementioned cities, but with a significantly smaller population.
  • Sparks has a population of under 100,000 and a crime rate of 2,966 per 100,000 residents.

Where are some dangerous places to avoid in Nevada?  

As we said, Nevada isn’t perfect. It’s got some dangerous places to avoid, both man-made and natural. Above, we outlined some of the more dangerous cities and towns, but what about the natural dangers here? Some dangerous places in Nevada include:

  • The entire desert during the warmest months. The hottest temperature ever recorded in Nevada was a miserable 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • The lowest temperature ever recorded here was –50 degrees. 
  • Mount Rose fault is capable of strong earthquakes (and it’s bound to crack someday).
  • Flooding and flood-prone areas are also dangerous during the summer monsoon season.

Need more? Check out this list of the biggest risks that come with living in Nevada.  

Related Articles