Best RV Parks & Resorts near Caliente, NV

Ranger Review: GCI Outdoor Comfort Cushion  at Echo Canyon State Park, NV

CAMPGROUND REVIEW

Echo Canyon State Park, 12 miles east of Pioche, NV. There are two campgrounds: Sites 1-20, on a hill southwest of the reservoir, are for RVs with full hook-ups, restrooms, showers & dump. There are 33 more sites on a hill just north of the reservoir, with restrooms & dump. All sites are first come first serve. Campsites are very well designed and thoughtful with large roofed shade structures over sturdy  picnic tables, fire rings, BBQ grills, and water at every site!  Beautiful landscape, easy access to the Ash Canyon hiking trail loop, and a 65-acre reservoir for kayaking & fishing. Very peaceful and quiet!

Campground highlights:
https://youtu.be/exSHXwGx1Go

PRODUCT REVIEW

As a ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. While camping at Echo Canyon State Park, we tested the GCI Outdoor Comfort Cushion.

https://www.gcioutdoor.com/stadium-chairs/comfort-cushion/

GCI Comfort Cushions are light-weight, thickly padded, and with a zipped cover. Inside, the padding consists of dense foam and a lighter foam. These cushions are nothing less than wonderful! No more sore sitz bones when sitting at the picnic table (or any place you need extra padding/comfort)! I comfortably sat for 4 hours while we are here, working on a project that required sitting at the table top. It was a delight to be outside for so long and be comfortable! We highly recommend the GCI Comfort Cushions, 5 stars!!

Here we are using the cushions at the campground: 
https://youtu.be/M5EiAvS0UV4

In summary, we loved camping at Echo Canyon State Park (4 days, 3 nights) and adding these great cushions to our camping gear made our stay extra fun & comfy!

Echo Canyon State park is the perfect camp ground for a relaxing getaway. The reservoir is great for fishing, paddle boarding or just relaxing. There are atv trails everywhere. We took our side by side up to Eagle Valley and found a great hole in the wall general store with a bar. Met some great people! The bathrooms are very clean and the showers were perfect. The camp ground overlooking the water has full hook ups available. The rangers were very friendly and helpful. Will come again!

There are TWO CAMPGROUNDS in Echo Canyon State Park. There is the upper campground with FULL hookups for RVs and there is the lower campground meant more for tent camping. They appear about the same elevation, perhaps upper is higher. The lower campground is across Echo Dam Road from the boat launch entrance to the reservoir. The upper campground is at the end of a dirt road that runs along the west side of the reservoir. You can see the upper campground(aka RV campground) from Echo Dam Road- it has few tall trees and likely enough RVs to stand out. The lower campground is more hidden in the mountain with the trees. We stayed in the RV campground and used the electric hookups. There were water and sewer as well but we didn't use thus can't verify quality. Everything looked clean and well kept and the water had TWO spouts, which is very nice. Each spot had covered picnic tables and a fire ring. There was a small pile of firewood you could purchase on the honor system from the information stand at the entrance. The park, like all the Nevada State Parks with camping, is first come first serve. And you pay at the kiosk drop box. A ranger comes by and checks on the campers about once a day. It costs$15 per night without hookups and$25 with hookups. If you get the state park all access pass then camping is free, you just pay$10 for hookups if you use them. We ended up here because we went to Cathedral Gorge state park but it was full. This park had plenty of spaces and was just about 20 miles away. We chose Echo Canyon rather than staying in the Cathedral Gorge overflow area because we needed hookups due to the cold weather. Unlike other reviewers, our experience was bug-free! Also, visibility was far! We saw hundreds of deer across the meadows. The winds at night were very strong and loud but didn't do any damage. The morning sun was strong and warmed things up quickly. Overall, we thought this place was a great value because of the full hookups.

This place was awesome. Stayed 2 nights after driving in from Utah. All sites were spacious and most had shade for the most part. Just depends on what day. Place was nearly empty the entire time. Had pull thru and back in sites for rvs. Site 4 was perfect, as it had lots of shade in the late afternoon. Easy to access the water tower and walking trails to the gorges. Electric hookup only. There are plenty of water sites throughout but none to hook up to rig. Down the road 20 mins at Kershaw Ryan state park, they have electric and water hookups for each campsite.

We spent three days/two nights. We got to campground around 10am. Their was a few people already setup. They have hookups for RVs and campers. A few spots for handicap accessible. They remolded the first bathroom. Two showers and four bathrooms. Shower is fancy, it has a rain shower faucet. Bathrooms are cleaned every morning.

We camped in spot 27. It easily fit two tents. Close to second bathrooms, not close you can Enough to hear people coming and going. All sites come with a fire ring and covered table. I noticed a cleanup crew come in and rake the area and clean up every site.

10pm is quiet time. No generator after or loud music after 10a.

Ranger comes by frequently. I saw a sign that They put out fire wood every morning. I didn’t noticed. We took 4 bundles of firewood. Sign was posted that no campfires were allowed. I saw quite a few campfires burning. Gas propane were allowed.

The reservoir was maybe 4 mins walking. Was very close depending on where you were. We were in the back so it took a little longer. The hookup sites were in the front mostly.

Plenty of places to sit and fish. It was stocked With rainbow trout.

Happy Camping

We stopped here for lunch to check it out as a potential spot for the future. So we didn't actually camp here but we looked around, took pictures, and made a plan for our return. First thing is that since this place is free and beautiful it fills up quickly. We arrived around 11:30 am and there were spots available but they were all taken by the time we left after our lunch. However, there is another free boondocking spot across the highway near the refuge entrance, so if you arrive too late to get a spot you could camp at the boondocking spot for one night and then try to get a campsite at the refuge the next day. It was October when we were there and the weather was cool and the leaves turning. Just gorgeous scenery and the campsites are literally right next to the lake. Lots and lots of water fowl. There are nice trails around the area too but be careful at the lower parts of the refuge because hunting is allowed there. The refuge consists of two lakes and a marsh. Parts of the lakes are muddy, which is probably how the place gets it's name. There are sites big enough for RVs and sites where only tents are allowed. None have hookups but they do have picnic tables. The road noise might bother some people. And the entire park is dirt roads, not paved. Parts of the road are narrow, so caution must be taken when passing other vehicles.

We stopped in to review the campground for a future trip, pulling a 34 ft travel trailer with no problems. It’s located on a gravel road with a small portion washboard surface. Good for kayaking until October 1st. Then, closed to boating for the season. No swimming, no hookups. Fire rings available to use, but must bring your own firewood. There’s a trail at the south end of the lake. There are a few spaces for small vehicles only, but we found open choices today to fit our trailer. The highway runs along the campground, so there is road noise. We’d like to come back in a different season.

Nice little campground located in the Cathedral Gorge State Park in Eastern central Nevada. Sites are first come first serve. Each has Electrical hook ups, but no sewer/dump facilities. Bathrooms have running water and a shower which is very nice. The hiking trails are great and provide lots of exploring on the Cathedral Gorge.

Steve, the “Happy Camper”

There are natural springs and the flora is gorgeous!!! The short overlook trail is absolutely stunning. Our trip was in Fall so the colors were amazing. We camped for only one night but had a good visit and plan to return since this is a very nice place. This is a small first come, first serve campground with electric hookups, restrooms, and more. Each site has a picnic table, BBQ, and fire pit. The picnic table has shade and there are trees around the campground. There are showers but I didn't use them to verify they work well or are warm. There are water spouts, for use but not to hookup. There is a dump station at the park entrance but no sewer hookups. We got the last spot in the campground, it fills up quickly and people came after us who had to leave to find another place. Lesson: arrive early in the day probably between 10am-1pm will get you a spot. The campground is at the park entrance and is 0.8 miles from the main park area where the playground, wading pool, grassy areas, and most trail heads are. That main area is also where you will find maps and the stamp to use on your Nevada state parks passport. When we came the wading pool was empty. But I guess during summer it's a nice refreshing place for children to play. There are two spots to play horse shoes and one for volleyball. The playground equipment is old but usable. Cellular service is better up at the main park area than at the campground but the campground does offer wifi for a fee. Just outside the state park is a grazing area with cows and just past that is the railroad- you may hear the train from your campsite. We liked that but I'm sure some people wouldn't. Animals in the area we saw: turkey, rabbits, kangaroo rats, frogs, and various butterflies. The camping price is$15 per night without hookups,$25 with hookups OR if you get the state park all access pass then camping is free and you just pay$10 for the hookups if you use them. Read up on the Nevada State Park website for more details.

Campground Review: Cathedral Gorge State Park is a beautiful spot of geologic mystery. When you are driving in, you will wonder what the appeal is initially and then BAM! The first small cathedral formation shows up on your right and you are awestruck. You head off to the campground where you are greeted with a large pile of firewood for sale, an intro sign and pay kiosk, and plenty of campsites. Granted it was late December in the middle of the week but I was basically the only person in the entire campground. There was one other RV there but it was very quiet and calm at the site. The sites were mostly level but were rocky dirt so tent camping would have been a bit tricky. Each site has a picnic table, fire pit, and shelter over the table. There were free hot showers on the main campground side and the water was very hot and the bathrooms were heated too. Flushing toilets and sinks were well maintained. 

The amphitheater is right next to the bathroom and in between sites so if there is an event happening there it might be loud for the closest sites. The group sites are across the road from the main campground so they are easily accessed by the other site. In the group site there are single stall bathrooms and more showers but they took money. I didn’t see a sign for how much they cost. 

There is also a handicap campsite next to the bathrooms on level paved ground so it would be best for van or RV camping. 

There is a trail that you can take straight to the main attraction of the park, the caves. They were absolutely stunning. It was so much fun to play in all the slots and explore on your own. They aren’t super long so it would take a lot to get lost. But be careful, it is crumbly and slippery in snow. I ended up hiking from the campground all the way up to Miller’s Point lookout and back in about an hour. It was a great spot to check out for sunset. I was solo out there so I was able to really appreciate the beauty of the park and the creation of the formations. You can see the rock formations in all stages of life. It’s a great spot to hike, bike, and play. 

**Travellers Autobarn Kuga Campervan Review(Cooking): **While out volunteering over a week for the Audubon Bird Counts, I was able to evaluate the AWESOME Kuga campervan. Check it out: https://www.travellers-autobarnrv.com/campervan-rv-rentals/kuga-campervan/

Since I was gone for 7 days, I broke my evaluation up into sections where the most important features of the van were utilized. If you want to see the rest, check out my reviews for Pahranagat Wildlife Refuge, Cathedral Gorge State Park, Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Desert Wildlife Refuge, and Big Dune Recreation Area. 

This company is awesome, they come from Australia and New Zealand and we are super excited to have a truly affordable rental camper van in the United States! You can rent out different sizes and get an array of gear with them. This is perfect for music festivals, road trips, and for camping in extreme weather. 

• Cooking: In order to cook in the van you will need to get out of the van and turn on the propane tank. It’s a good idea to leave the door to the tank open too for extra ventilation. This makes it a bit frustrating when you have to keep going in and out to open and shut the door/turn it on and off but that is campervan life. You will also need to open the top vent(and maybe even the fan) when you are cooking. When you get ready to take off, you will need to shut all the open doors and top vent so it doesn’t get caught on anything or taken in the wind. You will need to pay for the propane tank to be refilled or prepay for the tank before you leave. 
• Water: There is a 14 gallon tank on board and I didn’t even come close to using it all on my 7 day trip. There is a switch you will need to turn on in order to activate the pump. Make sure you turn it off at night so the pump doesn’t freeze! There is not a garbage disposal in the sink so make sure your plates are scraped off before you wash them. Don’t put garbage down the sink. It is only cold water for dishes so you will need to boil some water and fill the sink in order to scrub dishes properly. I used the sink for storage of clean and drying dishes when I was travelling too. You will need to empty the tank when you are done. It is easy flip open of a toggle underneath the edge of the van. 
• Food storage: There is plenty of counter space but no way to keep the food from moving around so with the cabinets filled with gear, I had to do some rearranging to get food stored in there too. The fridge was totally big enough for what I needed for my trip(lunch meat, cheese, dips, condiments, beer, and veggies). I even had some ice cream and whiskey in the freezer. It stayed nice and cold due to being run by the solar panels. The microwave is run off external power so you will need to be connected to an electrical outlet in order to use it. The cables are supplied in the van.

What a surprise?  Nice, small campground. Electrical hookup in all sites.  Note that there are free showers at the restrooms in the campsite.  The other facility nearby charges for showers.  Fire rings and large shade structures over picnic tables. Plenty of room for parking extra vehicles.  The formations in the park are fun to explore.

Campground Review: This lake is incredible! It is on the road to Cathedral Gorge State Park and filled with wildlife! We were there for the bird count and it took all day just to count the birds on the lake. 

There are fifteen lakeside campsites are available along Upper Pahranagat Lake. Sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. They are free, but there is a donation box at the registration kiosk if you want to leave some support for the Fish and Wildlife Service. The refuge reserved sites for our group participating in the bird count service project. So be aware that you might want to have a back up plan if the sites are full since there is no reservation channel.  Several of the sites can accommodate multiple tents, camping trailers, or RVs. No electrical, water or sewage facilities are available. There are vault toilets. 

Visitors may stay for a maximum of fourteen days within a 31 day period. Quiet hours are from 10pm to 7am. Generators are allowed, but if the generator is noisy it should be shut down overnight to respect other campers. Fires are allowed only in provided grills and fire pits. 

Non-motorized boats or boats with electric motors are permitted on Middle Marsh Unit and Lower Lake throughout the year, and on Upper Lake from February 1 through September 30. Upper Lake is closed to boating October 1-January 30. Due to fragile habitats, the use of boats, rubber rafts, or other flotation devices is not permitted on the North Marsh at any time. Watercraft must be in compliance with all applicable state and federal rules. Trailer launching is not permitted. To prevent the spread of invasive species, only car-top watercraft are permitted.