Kershaw-Ryan State Park
Caliente, Nevada

Kershaw Canyon was named for the folks who homesteaded the canyon in the 1870's: Samuel and Hannah Kershaw. They cultivated a lush garden of trees, grassy lawns and grape vines between the steep walls of this colorful and scenic canyon. In 1904, they sold the property to James Ryan of Caliente. The Ryan family in turn made "Kershaw Gardens" into a public park in 1926. Kershaw-Ryan State Park was birthed by the state in 1935. The CCC developed a wading pond, picnic sites, campground, water system, trails and restrooms over the next few years. Then 2 successive flash floods in 1984 washed away nearly everything.

Today, Kershaw-Ryan State Park is slowly being rebuilt but only the group use ramada area, the water system and the restrooms are available for use. Some of the picnic sites have also been rebuilt and there are developed trails available that lead to backcountry locales and scenic overlooks above the canyon for more primitive picnicking. But there is no camping available in the park yet.