The small town of Baker, Nevada serves as a gateway to numerous dispersed camping opportunities on surrounding public lands. BLM-managed areas like Gravel Pit, Great Basin Flats, and Sacramento Pass provide free or low-cost camping within minutes of town. Most sites accommodate both tent and RV camping with varying levels of accessibility. Sacramento Pass BLM Campground, located about 8 miles west of Baker on Highway 6, features designated sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. For those seeking more solitude, primitive dispersed sites can be found along Baker Creek Road and Snake Creek Road, with the single NF-589 site offering a secluded forest experience just outside Great Basin National Park boundaries.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many sites requiring high-clearance vehicles. As one camper noted, "This OHV road is narrow and rough with decent sized rocks. There are very little opportunities to turn around and I would strongly recommend against entering with a two-wheel drive vehicle or a trailer." Most dispersed sites lack amenities, requiring visitors to pack in water and pack out waste. Cell service is spotty but available at some locations like Garnet Hill Camp, where one reviewer mentioned "ATT cell coverage was decent." Weather fluctuates dramatically with elevation, with snow possible even in late spring and fall, particularly at higher elevations near Wheeler Peak.
Campers consistently praise the area for its quiet atmosphere and proximity to Great Basin National Park attractions. Sacramento Pass serves as a popular alternative when park campgrounds fill up, with one visitor noting, "Great Basin was full, so went west on 6 about 8 miles and pulled into dispersed campground where there were some covered picnic tables at sites around a large central pond." The Gravel Pit site receives positive reviews for its convenience to Lehman Caves, though visitors should be aware it remains a working BLM site with occasional morning activity. Strawberry Creek Dispersed Camp earns high marks for accessibility, with one camper describing it as "quiet easy access—just what you want in a dispersed campsite."
"There are more dispersed sites available via dirt roads if you want to be back from the campground. It was very nice for a BLM site. There is a fun hiking trailhead right off the horse area."
"Not sure if this is what I understand to be dispersed camping, as it’s a first come first served campground with tables, fire rings and pit toilets, just no water."
"Just a few minutes from Baker, no fuss, easy open camping. No facilities of any sorts, so bring your own water, electricity and restroom solutions."
"There are no amenities other that a couple bushes to pee on. AT&T service is good. Love these peaceful BLM spots!"
"5 minutes from Baker and Great Basin visitor center. Plenty of flat area, was one other car there. Seems to be a construction site in that area (just a big hole with a bulldozer)."
"Large flat area just a few hundred yards off the road and five minutes from great basin Ranger station. The dirt road is a two track with a little rutting."
"Quiet easy access-just what you want in a dispersed campsite."
"Easy to get into the park and easy to get situated. All dirty, with concrete pads for your RV or Trailer. Not a bad spot, felt safe and headed out the next day during our commute."
"First off I'll start by saying the "Get directions" location on this app is incorrect AND the GPS will take you down a private, gated, dirt road to get there."
"Pull off right next to freeway, large parking areas on both sides. More areas beyond fence on the north side. Stayed close to the entrance and didn't explore much."
"You don’t have to drive through the gate, although I recommend you do for a more secluded spot slightly further from the road. It gets a little sandy, so be wary with your 2WD vehicle."
"Long drive on gravel roads. No high clearance required. Beautiful spring and nice campsite for vans and tents. No big rigs. Dark skies and stars aplenty. One established fire ring."
"It it about 3 miles on a dirt road to the trailhead. As you are approaching the trailhead, there are spur roads with some good turnouts to park."
"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."
RangerEasy access from highway all sizes of rigs. Pit toilet clean and stocked. Picnic sheds, tables, fire rings with grills, tent pads, and handicap site, pond, and trails. BEAUTIFUL VIEWS!!! The stars were AMAZING!!
RangerEasy access from highwaySeveral spots to pull out on side of road to gravel pit. Great views. Road noise but tolerable consider distance to GBNP and other destinations
RangerBeautiful!! Pit toilet clean and stocked. Picnic tables and fie rings. Road a bit rough but manageable.
ScoutNo facilities or anything on site, just a large gravel pit and lot on the far side. Shaded by the mountains to the West so it is significantly cooler than in the open sun even before the sunset. No direpits or anything so be totally self sufficient
GuideVery remote and wild, but the sites are very developed. Firm level pads, grills, picnic tables, horse pen, clean toilets, trash can. We passed the first group of sites, went up to the top and so glad we did. Trails everywhere. Views amazing! It snowed in May- be ready!
GuideQuiet area, easy drive up, about 3 miles off road. I have full service at the very top. Not much in the area on our drive to Zion so it was a great stopping point.
RangerI stayed up in the house camp area and had a concrete pad, covered picnic table, and metal fire ring. There was a bathroom up there and another at the lower level. The road was pretty good. There are more dispersed sites available via dirt roads if you want to be back from the campground. It was very nice for a BLM site. There is a fun hiking trailhead right off the horse area. Beautiful view in all directions. A few bugs.
TravelerOnce you get past the gate follow the gravel road. Seems to have been grated recently. We pulled in to one of cattle water trough areas. Didn’t go all the way to the creek but with rains during the day we wanted to be safe than sorry. Verizon has two bars 5 g. Plenty of flat spaces for setting up. Areas without brush seem to be scarce. But satellite looks promising near the creek.
ScoutDon't enter this campground from Highway 93
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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."
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find Baker dispersed camping areas?
Baker offers several dispersed camping opportunities in and around Great Basin National Park. Free single NF-589 Dispersed Campsite is located near Lehman Caves Road, though GPS directions may be inaccurate (there's only one campsite on this road). Great Basin Flats provides a large flat area just a few hundred yards off the road and five minutes from the Great Basin Ranger Station. Other nearby options include North Pinnacle Campsites along Snake Creek Road and various sites along Baker Creek Road. Most sites are accessible via dirt roads that may require high clearance vehicles in wet conditions.
What are the rules and regulations for dispersed camping in Baker?
Baker area dispersed camping follows standard BLM and National Forest regulations. At Sacramento Pass BLM Campground, camping is free and first-come, first-served with no reservations required. Old 93 BLM - Dispersed Camping provides access to public lands about 10 miles north of Ely. Generally, dispersed camping rules include: stay within designated areas, camp at least 200 feet from water sources, pack out all trash, use existing fire rings where available, and limit stays to 14 days in a 28-day period. Some areas may have seasonal fire restrictions. Always check with the local BLM office or Great Basin National Park for current regulations.
What amenities are available at Baker dispersed camping sites?
Baker dispersed camping sites typically offer minimal to no amenities. Marjum Pass Dispersed Camping features pull-offs on both sides of the dirt road but no developed facilities. Gravel Pit BLM Dispersed Campsite provides open space suitable for larger groups but is a working gravel pit with potential morning activity. Some exceptions exist - Sacramento Pass BLM Campground includes covered picnic tables and a central pond. Most dispersed sites have no running water, electricity, or toilets, so you'll need to be self-sufficient with water, waste disposal, and power. Cell service is typically limited, and you should plan to pack out all trash.
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