Black Rock Desert
Black Rock Desert in Nevada is a vast dry lake bed and remote basin known for extensive flats and wide-open skies, hosting the annual Burning Man festival.
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Geography
| Address | Black Rock Desert, Nevada, USABlack Rock Desert |
|---|---|
| Continent | North America |
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing County and Washoe County |
| District | Black Rock-High Rock DOI Laterine Outcrop Control Area |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 40.785 |
| Longitude | -119.203 |
| Maps |
11:55 AM LOCAL TIMEBlack Rock Desert is a desolate basin and expansive dry lake bed in northwestern Nevada, lying roughly between the Cascades to the west and the Great Basin to the east. Its near-constant wind and flat, ^baked ^surface make it a natural blank canvas for large-scale events and skywatching. The desert sits at approximately 1,280 to 1,460 meters elevation and covers about 400 square kilometers, bounded roughly by latitudes 40.6° to 41.0° N and longitudes 119.7° to 118.7° W. The center of the basin is near the historic Black Rock playa, which remains visible as a table- Lake-like depression when water accumulates during rare storms. This is a region of high evaporation and low rainfall, with distance from Sierra Nevada moisture sources making it particularly dry and wind-swept. The area is primarily accessed via rough, unpaved routes that require high-clearance vehicles, especially during event setups or after storms. Known globally as the site of the __Burning Man__ arts festival, the basin hosts year-round recreational uses — provided visitors are prepared for isolation and rapidly changing weather.
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