Dispersed camping near Baker, Nevada offers multiple free and low-cost options across BLM and Forest Service lands. This high-desert region sits at elevations between 5,300-8,000 feet with temperature swings of 30-40°F between day and night. Winter camping can encounter sub-freezing temperatures, while summer visitors should prepare for dry conditions with limited natural shade.
What to do
Collect garnets: Visit Garnet Hill Camp where visitors can hunt for gemstones. "Beautiful high desert scenery. Lots of available dispersed spots for big groups/lots of people. Roads aren't too bad, sort of bumpy & sandy. Heard coyotes at night which was cool," notes camper Truly W.
Stargazing opportunities: Clear desert skies provide excellent night viewing, particularly at higher elevation sites. At Millard Desert Camp, the remote location offers minimal light pollution. "This was a convenient stop as we drove through. As others have said, you can hear HW 50, but (at least in Nov) there was very little traffic," reports Mark H.
Winter camping: For cold-weather adventurers, some sites remain accessible year-round. One camper at Sacramento Pass notes, "We stayed in the second site for one night in late May. The CG is very clean and well maintained. Although, the CG is small, 8 total sites, 2 or 3 were available when we arrived at 3:30pm."
What campers like
Cellular connectivity: Some sites offer surprising connectivity for remote work. At Garnet Hill Camp, Marty K. advises, "About one thousand feet before the top of Garnet Hill, at a 90 degrees right hand turn, there are a number of good, level spots with excellent cell service on T-Mobile."
Covered picnic tables: At Sacramento Pass BLM Campground, Sarah M. appreciates that "Each site is an established site, with a covered picnic table & firepit. Each site is spaced out also. There's 2 bathrooms & a dumpster."
Camping near geological features: Several dispersed sites provide access to unique formations. At Marjum Pass, Alan B. reports it's "Home to one of the biggest cliffs in North America and you've probably never heard of it. Notch Peak is just to the south of the campground. And has ~2000' of vertical rise and lies 4000' above the surrounding valley."
What you should know
Working BLM sites: Some camping areas serve multiple purposes. At Gravel Pit BLM, Amber warns, "I enjoyed camping here, and I could see it being a great spot for a large group. As the description said, it's a working gravel pit... and the BLM got to work at 8am the morning after I arrived."
Road conditions vary dramatically: Many sites require appropriate vehicles. Rachel S. describes Gravel Pit as "A big flat gravel lot - found based on a dispersed camping map provided by the national park."
Limited turnaround space: Some forest roads restrict larger vehicles. At Garnet Hill Camp, Marty K. cautions, "I would not take a trailer or large motor home to the top of the hill. There are no good places for trailers (tents are ok) and the parking lot at the top is small."
Tips for camping with families
Forest camping with children: The single site on NF-589 offers wooded seclusion. Teri G. describes: "The views are slightly blocked by the trees but the trees are fairly short. If you can get above the trees like I could by sitting on the roof of my trailer when the sun went down, the views are actually stunning at this campsite."
Upper campground areas: At Sacramento Pass BLM Campground, Grant W. advises "Make sure you take the road up the hill out of the lower camp spots to the upper area. To this day this is one of my favorite spots. Worth staying a few days."
Pack extra water: No potable water exists at dispersed sites. At Marjum Pass, BoneMonkey warns campers about the basics: "No Water, No Shade, No Wood."
Tips from RVers
Level sites for larger vehicles: Several areas accommodate various RV sizes. At Strawberry Creek Dispersed Camp, Teresa A. describes it as "Quiet easy access-just what you want in a dispersed campsite."
Morning routines: Early risers may notice increased activity. At Garnet Hill Camp, one camper mentioned, "At 6:15am, a red truck did pass by the main dirt road and honked constantly for ~10 minutes, not sure if that's a regular occurrence or not, but pretty annoying."
Winter RV access: Snow doesn't always prevent camping. Alex H. reports from Garnet Hill Camp: "We loved this spot for an overnight. We drove our 25' RV up and found a perfect spot. It snowed over night and we woke up to a gorgeous sunrise. We navigated the gravel road just fine, even with light snow."
