Black Rock Basin
Black Rock Basin is the expansive, dry plain where the Black Rock Desert and White Rock Plain come together, known for slick salt flats, vast open space, and proximity to Burning Man.
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Geography
| Continent | North America |
|---|---|
| Region | Western United States |
| Subregion | Great Basin |
| Country | United States |
| State | Nevada |
| County | Pershing County |
| Timezone | AmericaLos Angeles |
| Latitude | 40.783 |
| Longitude | -119.204 |
| Maps |
6:13 PM LOCAL TIMEBlack Rock Basin spans roughly 1,400 km² of high desert in northwest Nevada, where its namesake salt flats and arid plains form a stark, empt ambient landscape. The basin's surface is characterized by alkaline salt crusts, wide-open visibility, and minimal vegetation, making it ideal for off-highway vehicle recreation and nighttime skywatching. The basin lies at approximately 1,400 meters elevation across a terrain of gentle slopes and broad flats, with World-famous Black Rock Desert to the east and the whiter, more demarcated White Rock Plain nearby; the region is shaped by historic lake beds and the remnant deposits of terminal basins. Visitors come for breathtaking desert vistas, long-distance racing events like the annual Pik-Quick and El-Reno, and as a seasonal gateway for Burning Man, which is held on the basin's salt flats. Apart from event-based use, the basin offers freedom to roam across remote salt flats, stellar night skies free of artificial light, and opportunities for wildlife viewing and backcountry travel—but users should be prepared for extreme conditions, rapid weather changes, and the lack of formal infrastructure.
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