Rye Patch State Recreation Area, State park in Pershing County, Nevada
Rye Patch State Recreation Area is a large reservoir nestled in a desert valley where people swim, fish, and boat. The water is surrounded by dry hills and sparse vegetation that stretch far across the landscape.
This area once lay beneath a massive prehistoric lake that covered much of the region thousands of years ago. The basin still holds remnants of animals that roamed the land in ancient times.
Indigenous peoples hunted rabbits and fish across this land for generations to feed their communities. The landscape shaped how they lived and remains tied to their heritage.
Two campgrounds provide hot showers, restrooms, and dump stations for visitors planning to stay overnight. The water area is open year-round for fishing, swimming, and boating with marked access points.
When water levels drop, fossils from the Ice Age become visible along the shoreline, including bones of mammoths and extinct horses. These remains tell a story about the dramatic climate changes that shaped this land.
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