Hiking and fishing draw campers to Bird Creek Campground, a nine-site Forest Service campground set within Humboldt National Forest outside Ely, Nevada. The ranger trail runs directly from camp in both directions, connecting to other campgrounds across more than 60 miles of terrain. No cell service. Nights run cold even in summer due to the elevation, so layers are worth packing. Drinking water and vault toilets are on-site. One pull-through site accommodates larger rigs; the rest are back-in or tent-only. East Creek Campground sits about two miles north for campers who want a different configuration.
Description
Overview
Bird Creek Recreation Area is located in the Duck Creek Basin, high on the Schell Creek Range. It sits at an elevation of 8,200 feet, approximately 25 miles from the small city of Ely. Hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area.
Recreation
The Ranger Trail can be accessed from this campground. The Ranger Trail is a designated OHV trail that also accommodates hiking and mountain biking use as well. The 30-mile Success Loop Scenic Drive is also in the area, with views of high desert and mountain terrain.
Facilities
The campground has 10 sites. Site A is a day-use group stie, site 5 is a mult-family site, sites 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 are single sites, sites 8 and 9 are double sites requiring a short walk from the parking area, on one to two bridges over Bird Creek. All sites have picnic and serving tables, campfire rings and grills. Vault toilets and drinking water are provided seasonally. This is a "pack it in, pack it out" facility.
Natural Features
Bird Creek flows perennially through the campground. A mixed forest of juniper, pinyon pine and alder trees covers the area, but provides only limited shade.
Contact Info
This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (775) 289-3031.
Nearby Attractions
Cave Lake State Park and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park are a few miles from Ely. Interesting historic stone ovens and an interpretive trail are available there. The Northern Nevada Railway in Ely has a museum and offers train rides.
Charges & Cancellations
All change and cancellation requests should be done through Recreation.gov.
RV Road Trip Guides
Map & DirectionsBird Creek Campground is located in Nevada near Ely
Directions
From Ely, travel north on Highway 93 to the town of McGill. From McGill, go north 3 miles on Highway 93, to the Duck Creek Basin turnoff. Proceed east on Duck Creek Basin Road and turn left at the sign for Bird Creek Recreation Area.
Address
825 AVENUE E
Ely, NV 89301
Coordinates
39.4633333 N
114.6530556 W
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Connectivity
- T-MobileNo Coverage
- VerizonNo Coverage
- AT&TNo Coverage
Access
- Drive-InPark next to your site
- Walk-InPark in a lot, walk to your site.
- Boat-InSites accessible by watercraft.
Site Types
- Tent Sites
- RV Sites
- Standard (Tent/RV)
- Group
- Tent Cabin
Features
For Campers
- Reservable
- Drinking Water
- Toilets
- Pets
- Fires
For Vehicles
- Water Hookups
- Pull-Through Sites
- Big Rig Friendly
Drive Time
- 3 hrs 18 min from Salt Lake City, UT
- 3 hrs 45 min from Ogden, UT
- 3 hrs 51 min from St. George, UT
- 3 hrs 55 min from Provo, UT






