Dispersed camping in Nevada: 5 unique spots to try

Escape to the wilderness for dispersed camping in Nevada, where public lands are as plentiful as the stars in the sky.

This land is your land. This land is my land. In Nevada, nearly 87% of the land is under federal public ownership, so your land is nearly 60 million acres.

Most of the Silver State’s public land is open to dispersed camping, otherwise known as boondocking. Going off the grid, sans frills and outside designated campgrounds, is a free way to get away and get back to nature. There’s solitude, beautiful scenery, starry skies, greenery, and wildlife.

Dispersed camping in Nevada, however, does come with some responsibilities. Both the Bureau of Land Management and the National Forest Service have rules such as leaving no trace, driving only on designated routes, packing out all trash, and respecting stay limits.

Be sure to check with the local ranger station or BLM office for the dispersed camping area of your choice to check on permits, fire bans, and site-specific regulations.

Interested in dispersed camping, but you’re not sure where to pitch your tent? Sixty million acres is a lot to choose from. From gorgeous views to bottomless fishing, here are five highly recommended spots for dispersed camping in Nevada.

Lovell Canyon

Blue Diamond

Located in a remote and undeveloped area of the Spring Mountains, off well-maintained dirt roads near Pahrump, Lovell Canyon has plenty of spots for camping along its ridges and meadows, and they’re all “very open and majestic,” according to Las Vegas Area Trails, many with views of Mt. Charleston’s Griffith Peak.

Those who reviewed Lovell Canyon on Dyrt wrote that they “love the vibe” and the sunrise and sunset views. They wrote that it is a quiet and peaceful area; even when busy, other campers keep their distance. It’s close to Las Vegas, only a 20-minute drive from Mountain’s Edge, but the wilderness makes it feel like it’s miles away from civilization.

Pros: Strong cell service and beautiful terrain away from the Las Vegas heat with tons of trails open to dirtbikes, UTVs, horses, biking, and hiking.

Cons: It can get busy during certain times of the year.

Water Canyon Recreation Area

Winnemucca

A gateway to backroad adventure, Water Canyon is a dispersed campground (though this one has frills like campfire rings, grills, trails, shelters, information kiosks, and nine disc golf courses!). Its rugged and scenic setting amid cottonwood, birch, and aspen trees, hills, and a stream, paired with its accessibility, six minutes off of I-80 in Winnemucca, earns the site five stars on online camping resource The Dyrt.

Located on BLM land about two hours and 25 minutes from Reno, it’s free to camp for up to three nights on a first-come, first-served basis, and it can get busy. Reviewers on Dyrt write that “the views are breathtaking” and the “campsite felt like a little oasis after driving two days in the desert.” Some saw deer, cows, quail, and a mountain lion.

Pros: The disc golf is “legit,” according to a review. You can stay there in the snow. There’s cell service if you have a booster.

Cons: Campsites, some of which are uneven, can fill up quickly. During Mormon cricket season in June, the camping area is swarming with the critters.

Knott Creek Reservoir/Orion Valley Reservoir

Denio

If you want to camp and fish, you’ll find several species of trout growing up to 30 inches in the reservoirs of Pine Forest Recreation Area in northwestern Nevada. The mountain range has four subalpine lakes stocked with rainbow trout, bowcut trout, and tiger trout. Rugged and remote, with fantastic stargazing and cool, clear water, “this is truly a high-desert gem,” according to fly fishing website Fly Fishing Traditions.

Campgrounds are primitive, with lakeside spots, so you’re close to the shoreline for float-tube or fly fishing. You’ll also find hiking among scenic vistas and pine, aspen, and mahogany trees. Wildlife like antelope, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and songbirds are plentiful.

Pros: The lakes are managed and stocked by the Nevada Department of Wildlife, so there are always trout to catch.

Cons: The road is rough, and the area is far from services, so it’s best to have a high-clearance, off-road vehicle and a full tank of gas.

12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping

Wells

The challenging road to 12 Mile Hot Springs reaps great rewards in the form of hot springs and gorgeous scenery. Also known as Bishop Creek Hot Springs, this dispersed camping area is best for tent camping. A clothing-optional pool makes it worth the journey. According to the Ultimate Hot Springs Guide, it’s a gravel-bottomed, man-made concrete pool that’s 40 feet long, 3 feet deep, and about 100 degrees.

Because of the road, a high-clearance vehicle is a must. Pets are welcome, and campfires are allowed, so it’s a cozy place to relax with friends and enjoy the night sky. Reviewers on Dyrt use words like “epic” and “special” to describe the area, noting that it’s “super clean and worth the trek.” One camper “woke up to cows all around us mooing.”

Pros: Visitors often have the springs to themselves, though it can get crowded on weekends. The scenery is breathtaking.

Cons: The road to get here is full of challenging terrain and creek crossings, potholes, and washed-out areas. Camper trailers and RVs aren’t recommended.

Mack’s Canyon

Las Vegas

With sweeping desert views and wide open skies, Mack’s Canyon in the Spring Mountain Recreation Area is a quick escape from the summer heat in Las Vegas. There’s a lot of space for camping with a tent or truck bed, and it’s private. The lower you go into the canyon, the rougher the terrain. You’ll find picnic areas and trailheads. Just remember to come prepared.

“It doesn’t get old,” wrote one Dyrt reviewer of camping along this Mount Charelston canyon. Another camper “found a spot to set up my hammock to watch the stars at night.”

Pros: Close to Las Vegas but far enough away to see the Milky Way.

Cons: There are strict fire restrictions, like no open fires, so bring a propane stove.