A Weekend Guide to Nevada's Basin and Range Byways

Nevada's basin-and-range landscape, alternating mountain ranges and flat valley floors, was formed by geological forces stretching the earth's crust over millions of years. It also happens to make for one of the more distinctive road trips in the American West.

A well-planned weekend route can string together several of the region's highlights without excessive backtracking. A short guide follows below.

• Day one: Start in Ely and drive the Success Loop for sweeping views of the surrounding ranges before continuing toward the ghost town of Cherry Creek.
• Day two: Head south toward Spring Valley, stopping at one of the region's undeveloped hot springs for a soak before continuing to a small-town diner for dinner.
• Day three: Finish with a slow drive along a stretch of Highway 50, timing the return trip for golden-hour light across the valley floors.

Cell service is unreliable across much of the route, and gas stations can be more than an hour apart in places, so travelers should plan fuel stops carefully and carry extra water regardless of season.

For those willing to trade convenience for scenery, few weekend trips in the country offer this much open space with this little traffic.