Looking for something fun to add to your To-Do List?
Guided by our core tenets of conservation, education, and responsible recreation, we offer a wide array of both free and ticketed events, sure to quench the thirsts of all who visit the Black Rock Desert and surrounding public lands. Some of these events include:
Site-Stewardship and Voluntourism Opportunities
Guided Hikes
Cultural Heritage Tours
Educational Programs
Off-Road Guided Expeditions
E-Bike Tours and Rentals
Overnight Community Camp-Outs
Upcoming Events:
Site-Stewardship Project #2
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:30am on Sunday, May 12th. Shortly thereafter, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Getting to Know the Black Rock Playa ~ Biking with Friends
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a knowledgeable guide, for a community bike ride and exploration of the world-renowned Black Rock Desert Playa. Learn about its history, geology, flora, fauna, and cultural impact. Some of the sites we will visit include: The BLM Black Rock Field Station, Guru Road, the Granite Range Watershed, and the Black Rock Desert Playa itself.
Tour will consist of both biking and walking hiking, and will take roughly 3-4 hours, covering roughly 16 miles.
E-bikes available for rent at the Friends of Black Rock Visitor Center. Call 775-625-7848 to reserve one today.
To purchase tickets for this event, click here.
Black Rock Rendezvous
Join Friends of Black Rock, our partners at the BLM and Friends of Nevada Wilderness on the Black Rock Desert playa for our annual event featuring camping, restoration, exploration, celebration and education!
This is a Leave No Trace Camping Event. Come prepared. Bring all of your own food and water, and pack it out too.
Speakers. Learn from the experts in the region.
Tours. Explore the area with knowledgeable guides.
Volunteer restoration projects.
Rocket launches (not your hobby-store variety!)
Potluck and Dutch Oven Cook-Off
National Trails Day
Join us the weekend of June 1-2 in one of the most scenic (and well-shaded) regions of the Black Rock National Conservation Area for our annual National Trails Day campout and stewardship event.
Located at the iconic Stevens Campground, north of High-Rock Canyon, this is a unique opportunity to travel deep within the NCA, and to spend a weekend helping to improve our public lands, surrounded by natural beauty and our wonderful community of volunteers.
Site-Stewardship Project #3
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:30am on Sunday, June 16th. Shortly thereafter, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Reno Aces Fundraiser
Join Friends of Black Rock for our annual summer fundraiser, in partnership with the Reno Aces, for an afternoon of sunshine, strikeouts, fly balls, and $1 hot-dogs, all while helping to support your favorite non-profit and our 2024 conservation efforts. This event will take place during Father’s Day, so please feel free to bring your dear-old-dad along for the fun!
To purchase tickets, click here.
Guided Hike ~ Black Rock Point
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a certified interpretive guide, for a hike up and around the iconic Black Rock, for which this region is named. Learn about its history, geology, flora, fauna, and cultural significance. Participants will receive a free copy of Sagebrush to Sandstone: A Humanities Guide to Outdoor Nevada, published by Nevada Humanities.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Guided Hike ~ Old Razorback
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a certified interpretive guide, for a hike up and around iconic Old Razorback near Gerlach, NV. Learn about its history, geology, flora, fauna, and cultural significance. Participants will receive a free copy of Sagebrush to Sandstone: A Humanities Guide to Outdoor Nevada, published by Nevada Humanities.
To learn more, and to purchase tickets for this event, click here.
Site-Stewardship Project #4
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:00am on Sunday, July 14th. At 9:30, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll kick things off at 10:00am and remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Site-Stewardship Project #5
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:00am on Sunday, July 28th. At 9:30, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll kick things off at 10:00am and remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Steamboat Rock Ride and Hike
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a certified interpretive guide for a bike ride through the Black Rock National Conservation Area and a hike of the Steamboat Rock trail, while learning about the region's history, geology, flora, fauna, and cultural significance. Points of Interest include: the Black Rock Desert Playa, Cassidy Mine, Hualipai Flat and Lost Creek. Ride is roughly 20 miles round-trip and is considered beginner-intermediate level.
E-bikes available for rent at the Friends fo Black Rock Visitor Center. Call 775-625-7848 to reserve one today.
To purchase tickets for this event, click here.
Site-Stewardship Project #6
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:00am on Sunday, August 11th. At 9:30, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll kick things off at 10:00am and remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Gems and Geology Vehicle-Assisted Tour
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside an experienced overland guide for a 4x4 adventure through Black Rock Country. Points of Interest include Soldier Meadows Road, Hualapai Flats, Steamboat Rock, the Calico Mountains Wilderness, and the Black Rock Desert Playa. Enjoy some incredible views and good company while learning about the regions history, geology, and overlanding opportunites.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Site-Stewardship Project #7
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:00am on Sunday, September 15th. At 9:30, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll kick things off at 10:00am and remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Site-Stewardship Project #8
Join Friends of Black Rock-High Rock for this rewarding opportunity to improve our public lands through a site-stewardship project at yet to be determined location.
We will start to gather at the FBRHR Visitor Center at 320 Main Street in Gerlach at 9:00am on Sunday, September 29th. At 9:30, we will caravan together to the stewardship site, where we'll kick things off at 10:00am and remain until the project wraps up around 12:30pm. Stick around afterwards to join staff and other volunteers for lunch!
Mystery, Murder, and Misery Vehicle Tour
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a knowledgeable guide, for a riveting vehicle tour of the most mysterious and infamous regions in the Black Rock National Conservation Area. Points of interest include: the Black Rock Desert Playa, the Calico Mountain Wilderness, Double-Hot Hot Springs, the Lassen-Clapper Murder Site, Casey Springs, Black Rock Point, and learn all the grisly stories associated with them.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Applegate-Lassen Trail Tour: Vehicle Assisted
Join Friends of Black Rock, alongside a knowledegable guide, for a 3-Day overnight tour of the historic Applegate-Lassen Trail. Learn about the history of the trail and region, as well as its geology, flora, fauna, and cultural significance.
Points of interest include: Historic Main Street in Gerlach; Granite Range; Black Rock Desert Playa; Black Rock City; Black Rock Point and Hot Spring; Double-Hot Hot Spring; Hardin City; Lassen-Clapper Murder Site; Black Rock Range; Pahute Peak Wilderness; Mud Meadow Reservoir; Soldier Meadows Hot Springs; Fly Canyon and Wagon Slide; High Rock Lake; High Rock Canyon; High Rock Canyon Wilderness; Steven’s Camp.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Site-Stewardship Project #1
Meet at our Visitor Center in Gerlach beginning at 9:00am to gear up and learn about the day’s project before heading out on our stewardship adventure at 9:30am. This is an excellent opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful sites in Black Rock country in the company of a knowledgeable guide in small groups. Please bring food, water, sunscreen, sun-protective clothing and a hat. Project will last roughly 3 hours, ending around 12:30pm. Consider joining us for lunch at Bruno's following the project.
Volunteer Appreciation Event
Join us at Arlington Towers for our annal Volunteer Appreciation and Season Kick-Off. Enjoy some food an beverages on us and hear about all the exciting things we’ve got planned for 2024. This will also be your first chance to sign-up for our many conservation and site-stewardship projects, community events, and educational and recreational activities in our beloved Black Rock.
Perseid Meteor Shower Campout
The Black Rock Desert boasts some of the darkest skies in the nation and is the perfect backdrop for shooting stars. Join us on the playa and enjoy dark skies and dispersed camping for the best views of the Perseids anywhere.
Fly Ranch Nature Walks
Experience Fly Ranch while making a connection with the unique desert and geothermic landscape of Northwestern Nevada.