"Gerlach, Nevada" Gerlach by mcpangie

Gerlach Travel Guide: 7 reviews and 15 photos

Gerlach Is... Off The Beaten Path

According to the historical marker, Gerlach isn't yet 100 years old. Driving through you will see abandoned buildings around town making it seem as if the town has had better days. This old gas station wasn't built in a historical period that is romanticized, so it's falling into disrepair. There is a newer Shell gas station down the road.

My impression was that other than the USG trucks coming from Empire, and a few other vehicles, that Gerlach isn't on the beaten path!

Except When It's On The Beaten Path

I haven't been up there during that Burning Man Festival though, I bet it's busier than all get out then. If you want to go to Black Rock Desert to experience nature, you should go when no one else is there. 20,000 people, even in the wide expanse in this image of the Playa, or dried lake bed, of Black Rock Desert to the east of Gerlach is too much despite the wide, open spaces. I figure that experiencing the Burning Man Festival will open your minds to other things that don’t have all that much to do with nature. I’d like to see some of the artwork that is produced out there on the Playa, but the whole festival seems to revolve around “participants only” and well, I’d want to be a spectator.

Intro Written Feb 1, 2004
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Community members are trying to raise $50,000 to save the water tower. I noticed that it is caving in at the top.... more travel advice

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Alisonchilla Aug 8, 2005 at 1:24 PM

"Participation" can be as little or as much as you want at Burning Man. You don't need to be an artist, but you should bring something to the community. One group offered snow-cones to other burners, for example. (Quite a feat in the middle of the desert)