Tent campsites near Baker, Nevada are primarily concentrated in Great Basin National Park, which sits at elevations between 6,000 and 13,000 feet. The desert terrain experiences dramatic temperature fluctuations throughout the year, with summer highs around 90°F and winter lows below freezing. Snake Creek Road offers several primitive camping options, but many sites lack reliable water sources and require visitors to carry in supplies.
What to do
Stargazing at night: Grey Cliffs Campground provides excellent dark sky viewing with minimal light pollution. A camper noted, "The views were nice and the night sky is amazing at Great Basin. Very little to no light pollution."
Hiking Johnson Lake Trail: Access this trail from Eagle Peak Campsites, located at the end of Snake Creek Road. "Eagle Peak is the last camping area you can drive to along Snake Creek road. Hiking trails for this area of the park are just down the road."
Creek exploration: Some sites allow easy access to Snake Creek when water is flowing. "It was right off snake creek which was fun to explore," reports a camper who stayed at Squirrel Springs Campsites.
Photography: The area offers unique geological features and landscapes. "The cliffs here are very pretty and are a nice backdrop," according to a Grey Cliffs Campground review.
What campers like
Separation from RVs: Monkey Rock Group Campsites and other tent-focused areas provide a quieter experience. "Being a single group use site you can almost find solitude at Pinnacle," notes one camper.
Well-spaced sites: Many campers appreciate the distance between sites. "The sites were well spaced out, which is nice," according to a review of Eagle Peak Campsites.
Shaded camping areas: Some locations offer natural shade. A camper at Squirrel Springs Campsites mentioned, "Campground sits between the road and Snake Creek and sits among small and medium sized trees which provide some shade."
Clean facilities: Despite being primitive, the toilets receive regular maintenance. "Vault toilet was very clean," reported a camper about Monkey Rock Group Campsite.
What you should know
Road conditions: Snake Creek Road presents challenges for certain vehicles. A reviewer at Pinnacle Group Campsite warned, "Road is not for RVs or trailers. Just after you enter the park on Snake Creek Road a sign clearly indicated no RVs or trailers past the roads first pull out."
Weather variability: High elevation camping areas experience unpredictable weather patterns. One camper at Squirrel Springs noted, "Beware this is also at a higher elevation than the Lehman Caves area. We woke up to a couple inches of snow."
Water availability: Most tent camping sites near Baker have no running water. "This is a dry campground, the creek is also dry here so come prepared," a Pinnacle Group Campsite review cautioned.
Ground conditions: Some areas have challenging terrain for tent stakes. A Grey Cliffs reviewer noted, "The ground is so rocky it became very difficult to drive a spike into the ground far enough to work and not bend them."
Tips for camping with families
Tent size considerations: Some tent pads have size limitations. "Do not bring a large tent, the pads are small," advised a camper at Grey Cliffs Campground.
Pet restrictions: Notch Peak Trailhead and other areas have specific pet policies. One Grey Cliffs camper mentioned, "Dogs are allowed at the campsite but not on a majority of the trails at Great Basin."
Emergency preparation: Given the remote location, safety planning is essential. "Make sure you have a spare tire and a way to reach someone in an emergency as you most likely won't have service," cautioned a Notch Peak Trailhead reviewer.
Distance from services: Baker has limited services. A camper warned, "No cell, no internet, no nothing, no gas for miles."
Tips from RVers
High clearance requirements: Most tent sites near Baker, Nevada require careful vehicle consideration. A Marjum Pass Dispersed Camping visitor advised, "Some areas may need high clearance vehicles to get over. There are small pull offs and dirt roads that low clearance vehicles can go over."
Limited turnaround space: The narrow roads make navigation difficult for larger vehicles. "Road is a narrow single lane for almost all of its length," noted a camper at Squirrel Springs.
Dust management: Campsites along dirt roads experience dust issues. "Camp site is just off a very dusty road, but road travel is slow with little traffic," reported a Squirrel Springs camper.
Alternative locations: For RVs unable to access Snake Creek Road sites, consider other options. "The BLM land on the way up to the Notch Peak Trailhead campground is a wide open desert area that is best suited for off-road vehicles," suggested one reviewer.
