Black Rock NCA: The Place Itself

03/02/2023

Friends of Black Rock
Celebrating its 10th year, the Black Rock Desert Artist in Residence Program aims to inspire and engage two potential artists, with the beauty of the Black Rock Desert National Conservation Area, by providing a two-week residency during Summer 2023 - to inspire art based on the many sights, sounds, and wonders of the Black Rock Desert NCA. The artists will be selected to serve as ambassadors of the Black Rock NCA, be immersed in the beauty of the desert, and will have works produced during this residency on exhibition throughout Reno, Gerlach, and rural communities in Nevada! Submissions are open until April 21, 2023, Check out our free submission portal here - https://blackrockdesert.org/artist-residence-program-2023/
Contact email - [email protected]

07/22/2022

When the sun goes down in the Black Rock Desert, you are entering dark sky territory. What better place than the Playa for star gazing and meteor shower awing. Join Friends of Black Rock for our Perseids Meteor Shower Campout August 12th-14th. https://blackrockdesert.org/perseids-meteor-shower-camp-out/

07/22/2022

Watching the moon creep over the Selenite mountains and light up the night sky is a truly serene experience. As the marvelous night sky gets darker meteors/shooting stars begin to light up our world. Meteors travel 44 miles every second! Join Friends of Black Rock / High Rock in mid-August for our Meteor Shower Camp Out and view the stars with us. https://blackrockdesert.org/perseids-meteor-shower-camp-out/

07/15/2022

Magical Haze over Steam Boat Rock
Rain is a rare yet special experience in the desert. On this beautiful spring evening, waves of rain were blowing through and around us on the playa. As the sun continued to drop below the clouds it began to light up the rain clouds with a fiery orange-red haze. We watched as the magical rain clouds were pushed over the Calico Mountains.

07/15/2022

The Black Rock Desert is an amazing place. Looking at this picture you would not think desert, yet this is in the middle of the NCA. On a near 100 degree day we set out to hike Upper High Rock Canyon. In an extremely hot and mostly treeless environment, we were able to hike in this beautiful oasis and feel the relief of shade from the aspen trees.

06/17/2022

02/03/2022

We love our public lands: Visit our Website & Sign up for our e-newsletter for upcoming events in 2022!
https://blackrockdesert.org/

09/26/2021

01/06/2021

The Horizon and Beyond
Author: Stephen Ziddeck

In this place the horizon calls your name and is always demanding your attention. The place where the land meets the sky has special significance in the Black Rock High Rock Conservation Area. An almost unlimited expanse of terrain paired with an infinite sky gives one an incredible place to explore. Every day the place dances with the Sun in the morning and sleeps with the Sun at night. The day gives me a chance to explore the landscape with all of it's flora and fauna while the night gives me an extraordinary sight to behold which summons the roots of life as darkness prevails, yes it is one of the darkest places on Earth!

01/05/2021

Author: Megan Berner
Unexpected Storms in Black Rock:

While on residency in the Black Rock Desert High Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in June, 2016, I traveled out to Black Rock Point to work on a video project. It was a clear day as I headed out, stopping along the way to gather some images with my camera. I made it out to the little playa right around noon and started setting up for my video. The plan was to work until sunset when the light would be right for my video. The wind started to pick up and a group of clouds starting moving from the west toward where I was working. I kept my eye on them, thinking they would miss the little playa and blow over.

However, within minutes, it started sprinkling. I decided to drive up to higher ground just in case it got worse, which turned out to be a good idea. The rain started to come down harder and, just like in the cartoons, it looked like the storm was just a microcell concentrated right over me. I drove down further to Black Rock Springs where I knew I would have to wait it out.

Notes from my sketchbook: "1:30-ish, pouring rain. Let up briefly for 10 or 15 minutes. Thunder and hail right over Black Rock Point. 2:33, still raining." At that point, the ground was getting saturated and streams of water were making their way down the dirt road, making it impassible. I knew I would have to stay put and wait for the ground to dry enough before I attempted to leave so that I wouldn't get stuck--the playa turns to clay when wet. In the meantime, the storm cleared around 3 pm and the sun mostly returned.

It was too wet to get back to the little playa to record video so I set up my tripod and photographed the changing light on Black Rock Point while enjoying the view. I ended up spending the night in my car and had to wait 24 hours before I was able to drive out--even then, it was a little touch-and-go (but that's another story). The attached photograph was created from the images that I snapped while the weather was shifting and the sun was setting over Black Rock Point. The image is titled "Sunset at Black Rock Point: June 7, 2016, 4:49 pm - 7:56 pm."

01/05/2021

Author: Shelley Fallon
Subject: Activity in the Black Rock

Over the years I have been part of large gatherings on the Black Rock Desert. We have had music, pot lucks, ridden bikes, flown in planes, and explored the Black Rock High Rock country, experiencing the pure freedom of adventure. We've learned about cultural history, flora and fauna, and became dizzy at night looking up at a vast sky full of stars we don't normally get to see. My 15-year-old daughter has grown up adventuring in the Black Rock High Rock country and she knows this phenomenal NCA like the back of her hand. Being a 22-year Burner is also another important tale to tell, but the pure, shared freedom in nature and the discoveries I have made with my friends and family will always be my favorite story of this amazing place.

01/01/2021

Happy New Year! The NCA has officially entered its 21st year in 2021.

Photo: Karleena Hitchcock