Nevada is a land of extremes—a vast, mountainous, dry place almost empty of people. Its 109,826 square-mile land area is roughly equivalent to that of the United Kingdom and Denmark. Journeying through or across Nevada the landscape sometimes seems forbidding—bleak, barren, dusty, inhospitable. But, with a bit of narration and the right light, Nevada's landscapes and geology are revealed to be very diverse, beautiful, and highly interesting. Not only is it a wild, captivating land, Nevada also holds the keys to understanding the geologic evolution of much of western North America. Its geology is extremely diverse and spans about 2.5 billion years. A crazy array of rocks. Immense thrust faults. Countless volcanic centers and lava flows. Normal faults everywhere. Innumerable mineral deposits. Outstanding scenery. With dramatic photography, original color maps, and vignettes, this is the traveler's essential travel companion along journeys through time and space across Nevada. Some adjacent scenic parts of California are also described

East-west routes include Interstate 80 (through Reno and Elko), U.S. 50 (styled "the loneliest road in America"), U.S. 6 (probably even lonelier), and Interstate 15 (the main route to Las Vegas). North-south routes include U.S. 395/Interstate 580, State Route 447 (the route to Burningman), U.S. 95 (through an area with some of Nevada's darkest history), U.S. 93, and State Route 375 (styled "the extraterrestrial highway").

With this book, our first objective is to produce a book that will appeal to people interested in the American West. It has compelling scenery, colors, patterns, and landscapes. Second and more importantly, this book will make a journey through Nevada more informative and enjoyable, and will assist travelers in exploration and adventure. Two beginning chapters outline processes and Nevada's geologic history. We then use landscape photos, original color maps, cross sections, and text to decipher, explain, and clarify the scenery, geology, and geologic history—in time and space—along major routes. You will share in discovery of many wild places and points of interest, and you may find a few nuggets of information here and there. You will also discover Nevada's geological resources and geologic history, human impacts, and the "law of unintended consequences."

Because this book is designed for use on road trips, we assume you are a voyager with a companion, your navigator/copilot. While you are driving or stopping to admire a view, your copilot reads, directs, and narrates the scenery and geologic story of Nevada. You will find that the best times for seeing Nevada are early to mid-morning and late afternoon to early evening, when colors and shadows are most dramatic.

Join us and enjoy the journey.