CARSON CITY, Nev. — Nevada is a road trip waiting to happen. The seventh largest state in the Union, Nevada is best experienced on a road trip adventure. Expect to see stunning desert scenery punctuated by quirky small communities and unexpected natural wonders. Below, find an itinerary that takes visitors through the sites related to the annual Burning Man festival.

BURNER BYWAY — Reno to the Black Rock Desert

• 205 miles / 330 km
• Map: https://goo.gl/maps/74TBFGWPbL22
• Day 1: Reno, The Generator in Sparks, Morris Burner Hotel in Reno, post-playa art; overnight in Reno
• Day 2: Pyramid Lake; overnight in Sutcliffe
• Day 3: Gerlach, Planet X Pottery, Guru Road; overnight in Gerlach

The spirit of Burning Man can be found year-round in northern Nevada. This route will take you on the same path as the annual pilgrimage burners make every August for Burning Man out to the Black Rock Desert and beyond.

Day 1: Reno
In Reno, Burners are keeping the Burning Man magic alive all over the city. Take a day to explore burner boutiques, art from the playa, and the creative corners of the Biggest Little City where Reno-based burners thrive.

Burner Boutiques
Reno is home to many local businesses that have a little extra burner flair. Pop into these shops while exploring MidTown, Reno's hippest neighborhood, found just south of the downtown area along Virginia Street.

• Junkee Clothing Exchange
• Happy Happy Joy Joy
• Never Ender
• The Melting Pot
• Polyesther's Costume Boutique
• Black Hole Body Piercing
• Natural Selection
• Sundance Bookstore
• Culture

The Generator, a Community Arts and Build Space
The Generator is a 34,000-square-foot space in Sparks (the community just east of Reno), where large-scale art projects are created for display at Burning Man. Visitors can browse through the working gallery and view structures being built — the Generator is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. More than just a workshop, the Generator operates under the same creative community ethic outlined in Burning Man's Ten Principles.

The Morris Burner Hostel and Reno Brewery District
The Morris Burner Hostel in Reno is part hostel, part art gallery. It is open to everyone, but you must become a member to rest your head here. Never fear, a monthly membership is only $20. If you've made other hotel arrangements, this place is still worth checking out. Free guided tours are offered, and no reservation is required. Just stop by and staff will show you around and answer any questions you may have.

While in the area, check out the new craft breweries along Fourth Street along with the Reno Bike Project, a community bike shop that fixes up old bikes for Burning Man.

Post-Playa Art Tour
Some of the art from Burning Man finds a permanent home in Reno. You'll find sculptures from the playa, but also murals and other creative pieces while strolling along the Reno RiverWalk and at the plaza outside of the Nevada Museum of Art.

Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor
Described as a Burner's bar, Jub Jub's Thirst Parlor is a perfect place to wet your whistle while getting in the Burning Man spirit. The owners are Burners themselves and they have a Jub Jub's theme camp at Burning Man. You'll meet some characters in this dive bar that will leave you with some pretty great stories to tell.

Slumber:

• Morris Burner Hotel, 400 E. Fourth St., Reno, 775-327-1171, mymbh.com (you'll have to register as a member of the Morris Burner Club first)
• Whitney Peak Hotel, 255 N. Virginia St., Reno, 775-398-5400, whitneypeakhotel.com

Day 2: Pyramid Lake
The drive to Pyramid Lake, about 48 miles/77 km northeast of Reno on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation is one of the most underrated scenic routes in the state. The lake itself, a vast sapphire jewel nestled in the desert mountains is a must-see while experiencing the Burner Byway. Among the sites to visit here: the highway viewpoint, the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center and the Pyramid Lake fisheries.

The Highway Viewpoint is at the intersection of Nevada state Route 445 (Pyramid Lake Road) and Nevada state Route 446 (Sutcliffe Highway). From this spot, the Earth's most spectacular tufa deposits are visible. This is also a great spot to observe the lake's namesake. Explorer John C. Fremont (1845) named the lake after the pyramidal-shaped island that lies along the eastern shore. The Paiute name for the island is Wono, meaning cone-shaped basket.

The Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center, in the community of Nixon, features exhibits on the tribe's history and culture. Here, visitors can learn why the Paiute people regard the entire area as sacred. Visitors also can purchase camping, boating and fishing permits at the center. Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and during the summer, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

The Pyramid Lake Fisheries is a great place to learn about fish husbandry and how the fisheries help to ensure high environmental standards for the lake's natural resources. The best time to tour the hatcheries is during spawning season, March through May; the fisheries are closed for tours from December to March. To schedule a tour, call the administration office, 775-476-0500.

Slumber:
There are plenty of places to camp along the west shore of Pyramid Lake (be sure to get a permit first at the museum), or if you don't feel like roughing it, you can stay in cabins or travel trailers at Crosby Lodge. Crosby Lodge, 30605 Sutcliffe, Reno, 775-4760400, crosbylodge.net

Day 3: Gerlach
The town's slogan is “Where the pavement ends, and the west begins,” and that couldn't be more fitting. Gerlach is the last place to get gas before heading into the Black Rock Desert, but there are a few other reasons to hang around Main Street:

Bruno's Country Club
Stop in at Bruno's Country Club for the famous ravioli. The restaurant also has homemade pies and an ice cream machine —a perfect treat on hot days. Bruno's is also a bar and mini-casino, and this is where you'll find the locals. The staff is very friendly and is a great resource on things to see and do in the area.

Friends of Black Rock/High Rock
Friends of Black Rock/High Rock, a nonprofit group that helps preserve and conserve the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, is the perfect place to learn about the area and pick up some last-minute supplies. Staff can provide helpful tips and tricks to exploring the Black Rock-High Rock NCA. Find them at 320 Main St. in Gerlach.

Guru Road
No Trip to Gerlach is complete without a visit to Guru Road. Built by DeWayne “Doobie” Williams in the late '70s through the early '90s, this mile-long dirt road corridor can be found just 2 miles north of Gerlach. Using local stone and other found objects, Doobie crafted tributes to family, friends and local residents. Words of wisdom line the road and there are several large pieces including a weather station, a tribute to Elvis, Aphrodite and the Desert Broadcast System. Guru Road is accessible year-round and is just north of town on County Road 34.

Planet X Pottery
Planet X started with just the remnants of an old homestead on the Emigrant Trail. Today, it is a working pottery studio and has four show galleries, along with an outdoor bar and picnic area. It's 28 miles from Gerlach, but trust us — it's worth the drive.

Black Rock Desert/High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area
Burning Man has made the playa in the Black Rock Desert an international icon, but much more happens in this area. Wagon ruts, historic inscriptions and a wilderness landscape largely unchanged since the days of the pioneers are found in the Black Rock-High Rock NCA in northwestern Nevada.

Slumber:

• Black Rock Bungalow, 325 Diablo Drive, Gerlach, 775-240-2620, blackrockbungalow.com
• Iveson Ranch, 2001 Highway 34, Gerlach, 775-557-2804, ivesonranch.com
• Soldier Meadows Ranch and Lodge, Soldier Meadows Road, Gerlach, 775-849-1666