[Cottonwood Ranch] Sixty-five miles north of Wells in the lofty Jarbidge Wilderness, you'll find a working cattle ranch and some leathery souls willing to school you in the art of roping and riding herd. $200/day; 775-752-0871, www.cottonwoodguestranch.com
[Ruby Mountain Helicopter Skiing] Since 1977, RMHS owner Joe Royer has led clients into some of the best and

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least-known terrain in the lower 48. Though the Rubies top out at just over 11,000 feet, they produce a perfect wintertime combo of powder and bright sun. $3,200/three-day package; 775-753-6867, www.helicopterskiing.com
[South Fork of the Owyhee and the Jarbidge River] Draining northern Nevada's Independence Mountains, these rivers provide two of the most remote weeklong wilderness whitewater trips in the country. About $300/day; River Odysseys West, 800-451-6034, www.rowadventures.com
[Great Basin NP] Nevada's only national park, six hours northeast of Las Vegas, Great Basin is home to bristlecone pines several thousand years old, the limestone stalactites of Lehman Cave, and three alpine lakes near the slopes of 13,063-foot Mount Wheeler. www.nps.gov/grba
[Red Rock Canyon] Fall is the ideal time to grab a guide and head for the sandstone crags 22 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. The American Alpine Institute offers instruction in sport, trad, top-rope, and lead climbing: $295/day; 360-671-1505, www.aai.cc
[Tahoe Rim Trail] Ringing Lake Tahoe for 165 miles atop ridgelines, through meadows and forests, and along the shore, Lake Tahoe's Rim Trail provides some of the most scenic hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding in the U.S. www.tahoerimtrail.org
[Black Canyon Wilderness Area] The Colorado River isn't all roiling rapids. Below Hoover Dam, you'll find placid flows, wildlife, and hot springs like those in Gold Strike Canyon. Boulder City Outfitters offers full-day kayak tours. $150; 800-748-3702, www.bouldercityoutfitters.com