Episode 2 Itinerary: “Wild Wild Granites”
In this five-part series, world-renowned climber Alex Honnold ventures beyond his Las Vegas home base to explore Nevada in a way he never has before—uncovering wild, unexpected experiences that manage to surprise even him.
These episode-inspired field guides let you follow Alex’s lead to the destinations featured in the show, plus a few nearby stops worth a detour, so you can get a little out there for yourself.
Episode 2 Recap: In rural Nevada, pro climber Alex Honnold scales a vertical bus, a massive sand dune, and joins Tommy Caldwell for a first ascent on a granite wall. Off the rock, he meets locals who keep Goldfield curious, from a burro barfly to a caboose-based radio host.
The Wild Granites, The Toiyabe Range, and Big Smoky Valley
Distance from Las Vegas: 300 miles
In a remote and little-known cluster of exposed granite in central Nevada’s Toiyabe Range, Alex and fellow pro climber Tommy Caldwell established a first ascent on a 1,000-foot wall.
This barely-touched vertical playground anchors the western edge of Big Smoky Valley, about 15 miles south of Kingston. Route info is sparse and still being written, but the online community at Mountain Project has the latest details.
While that’s a little too out there for many of us, you can still admire the formation from afar—then find plenty of adventure just up the road.
Base yourself out of the Silver Rush-era town of Austin for quick-hit mountain bike loops, or head up Kingston Canyon to fish for trout at Groves Lake, rip around on off-road trails, or simply relax by a flowing creek. Then cap the day with a cold one overlooking Big Smoky Valley at the Lucky Spur Saloon before sliding into Spencer Hot Springs for a natural soak beneath a star-studded sky.
While You’re Here
- Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail & Arc Dome Wilderness—A remote ridgeline route built in the 1930s, with long stretches above the treeline and views of more than 100 miles on clear days. The trail runs 62 miles with elevation ranging from 6,345 to 11,775 feet. The fact that far fewer people are known to have thru-hiked the elusive TCT than the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail only adds to the appeal—and sense of accomplishment.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Nevada’s natural hot springs are precious and pristine. Help keep them that way with tips from our Hot Spring Etiquette Guide.
Amargosa Big Dune Recreation Area
Distance from Las Vegas: 107 Miles
Rising roughly 500 feet above the Amargosa Valley floor, Big Dune is the closest dune field to Las Vegas and one of the rare places on Earth where sand can “sing.” Under the right conditions, shifting grains create a low, humming sound as the dune moves. Out of 30 known singing dunes worldwide, Big Dune is one of Nevada’s three.
As tempting as it may be to scale these sandy crests, Big Dune is a place best experienced on wheels. Trace Alex’s tire tracks by booking an Amargosa Big Dune Adventure with SunBuggy Fun Rentals. After the pros show you the ropes, you can get behind the wheel, or simply hop in the passenger seat and enjoy the ride.
Just be mindful of the locals, meaning the rare Big Dune beetles and desert tortoises that call this fragile ecosystem home.
While You’re Here
- Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge—A spring-fed oasis with boardwalk trails, including one that gets you near the bottomless pool that’s home to the Devils Hole pupfish: the rarest fish on Earth.
- Death Valley National Park—A land of extremes straddling the Nevada/California border and the largest national park in the Lower 48, recognized as the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America.
- Area 51 Alien Center—An alien-themed travel stop, gift shop, and café, offering opportunities to stock up on extraterrestrial everything.
- Big Bovine—A two-story cow statue welcoming guests to Amargosa Valley’s Longstreet Inn & Casino, where lounge singers croon and cats have their own dinner tables.
Travel Nevada Pro Tip
Before venturing off the pavement, brush up on Nevada’s Dirt Road Code for driving tips, responsible practices, and packing essentials.
Goldfield
Distance from Las Vegas: 188 Miles
After springing to life in 1902, a major mining boom rocketed Goldfield to a peak population of about 20,000, making it one of the biggest and richest towns in Nevada for several years. Today, it’s closer to 250 residents, and Goldfield proudly leans into its “living ghost town” status with historic buildings, Sagebrush Saloons, and a steady undercurrent of paranormal lore.
Get tuned in to the local scene and crank up Radio Goldfield, the caboose-based station that interviewed Alex, before setting out on the self-guided Goldfield Historic Walking Tour, which winds through nearly 200 stops that tell the stories of the Last Great Gold Camp.
Top off the day at the 1905-established Santa Fe Saloon, where Alex had an only-in-Nevada encounter with a local burro who wandered inside and refused to be rushed.
While You’re Here
- Goldfield Historic Cemetery—Boomtown history with a side of unusual, amusing, and unexpectedly moving epitaphs.
- Goldfield Historic High School—A 20,000-square-foot, time-capsule campus popular with both ghost hunters and history buffs, with tours available by appointment.
- Wild Burros—The lovable locals and hardworking “ships of the desert” who helped make Nevada into the “Silver State.”
International Car Forest of the Last Church
Distance from Las Vegas: 188 Miles
Pull off the road just outside Goldfield, and you’ll find one of Nevada’s most interactive art stops: a “forest” of artsy cars stacked or sticking out of the ground—including an upended bus Alex couldn’t resist free-soloing.
Established in the early 2000s, the International Car Forest of the Last Church is free to visit and open 24/7, inviting anyone passing through to wander, photograph, or add to the intrigue.
Hit the hardware store before you head out and pick up some cans of spray paint, so you can leave your mark like Alex did (don’t worry, it’s encouraged) before returning to Goldfield to explore some more.
While You’re Here
- Enigmata Esoterica—A shop blending Western history with mystical curiosities, from turquoise jewelry to oddities you won’t find anywhere else.
- Rocket Bob’s Art Cars—Automotive mosaics covered in everything from Barbie dolls to boats, situated right along Goldfield’s main drag.
- Free-Range Art Highway—A classic Nevada road trip from Las Vegas connecting the International Car Forest with other offbeat attractions and out-there art installations, including larger-than-life Goldwell Open Air Museum, located just an hour south, outside Rhyolite Ghost Town.
