Incandescent Rocks in Sutcliffe, Nevada

About 25 miles north of Reno, the Incandescent Rocks consist of colorful layers of volcanic rock weathered into photogenic cliffs, buttes, caves, and arches. In this area and the nearby Painted Hills, the hues range from light pinkish and orange to deep red, and contrast strikingly with most of the surrounding area. Indeed, the rocks seem transplanted from the red-rock country of the Colorado Plateau.

The area was prospected for uranium in the 1950s and there are even a couple of abandoned mines from that era. The old prospecting roads are largely impassible now except to extreme four-wheel-drive vehicles, but they provide a convenient network of access trails. They also remain open to dirt bikes and ATVs, however, so hikers need to exercise some caution. In any event, the terrain is open enough in most areas that cross-country hiking is easy.