The state park categories, however, do not refer to remoteness or serenity but to preservation and protection efforts as well as scenic, cultural and historic characteristics [1]:
State Parks are primarily established to preserve and protect exceptional or unique natural features of ecological, geological, scientific, or similar nature, or exceptional scenic qualities. Cultural features of historical, archaeological, or other significance may exist on the site.
State Recreation Areas typically possess unusual natural or man-made features suitable for a variety of outdoor recreation activities. Such features may include topographic, open space, streams, lakes, or reservoirs.
State Historic Parks preserve and protect historical and archaeological resources and are intended to provide a direct link for the park visitor to Nevada's past. Such areas can include public or private historical buildings or a group of historical buildings, battle grounds, town sites, significant sites of native culture, historical trails or routes, arts, or other sites associated with a significant person or event.
Nevada's state park designations are the most prominent sites that visitors of the Silver State are coming to see, but the wide-open space of this “Western Territory” has even more to offer for hikers, bikers, (horse-)riders and travelers of any kind: yet-unnamed trails, hot springs, beaches, sand dunes, ghost towns, caves and hidden petroglyph sites or colorful lichen-covered rocks, which you have to discover on your own or by guidance of the friendly locals.
Reference
[1] J. Steve Weaver: Nevada's State Parks: 2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the formal establishment of our state parks system. Nevada Magazine March/April 2010, pp. 10-12.
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