Best Tent Camping near Deeth, NV

Dispersed tent camping areas dominate the landscape surrounding Deeth, Nevada, where East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping and 12 Mile Hot Springs offer primitive tent sites in the high desert environment. These locations within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest provide tent-only camping opportunities with minimal development, often positioned along creeks or with views of the East Humboldt mountain range. Both areas require tent campers to be self-sufficient while providing access to natural features like hot springs and wilderness trails.

Most tent sites feature packed dirt surfaces with no designated tent pads or site boundaries. High-clearance vehicles are essential for reaching 12 Mile Hot Springs, as reviews consistently mention extremely rough access roads with washouts and creek crossings. East Humboldt Wilderness camping areas are more accessible from paved roads with short dirt road approaches suitable for most vehicles. Neither location provides drinking water, toilets, or trash service, requiring campers to pack out all waste and bring sufficient water supplies. Free-range cattle frequently wander through both camping areas, and seasonal closures may affect accessibility during winter and spring months.

The tent camping experience in these areas offers exceptional solitude and natural features unique to northeastern Nevada. East Humboldt Wilderness provides panoramic valley views and potential wildlife sightings, with only a single established tent site available at some locations. 12 Mile Hot Springs features warm creek access and natural hot springs pools approximately half a mile from most camping spots, though weekend use increases significantly. Tent campers appreciate the night sky visibility and relatively undeveloped nature of these sites. A visitor commented, "It's a peaceful place to camp if you're looking for something simple and off the beaten path." Tent sites at both locations remain uncrowded during weekdays, though 12 Mile Hot Springs receives more day-use visitors seeking the thermal pools.

Best Tent Sites Near Deeth, Nevada (6)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Deeth, NV

4 Photos of 6 Deeth Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Deeth, NV

151 Reviews of 6 Deeth Campgrounds


  • John H.
    Sep. 17, 2019

    Wild Horse State Recreation Area

    Wildhorse State Recreation Area

    Very clean sites, I watched the camp host pull in right after someone left and make sure it was clean and the sand was raked for the next guest. Camp host stopped and talked with us, very friendly, ready to share his fishing tips. Clean bathrooms with sinks and the bathroom on the southern loop had showers! Water hydrants everywhere, with great tasting water. Easy pull through spots. Nice tables with shelter over it, fire ring, nice sandy camp area and trees planted to shade the each site. Popular campground, stayed full and people do like their generators which we did here a lot of. Good cell service with AT&T. No WiFi. Trash dumpster at the ranger station. Boat ramp with ample parking. Sanitary dumps with water if you need to refill your fresh tank or to use the spray in the black tank.

  • VanHowling
    Oct. 3, 2023

    Elko KOA Journey

    Level ground & clean showers

    (Elko KoA)

    Came in late for a quick stop on a trip home and needed showers, level ground, a place with quiet hours, and somewhere safe to call home for the night. And it checked those boxes. 

    I was pleased with how clean the showers were at the end of the day when we came in, and in the morning, they had been bleached. 

    Left before sunrise so I cannot attest to the cleanliness if the entire campground, but our site was level and tidy.

  • Brian P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Humboldt National Forest Thomas Canyon Campground

    Beautiful Views

    Stayed for one night on our way back from California. Very quiet campground that had the basic forest service type amenities. Paves spots, fire rings, picnic tables, grill and vault toilets. The amenities seemed like they could use a refresh and seemed older. The views in the canyon were fantastic and a nice surprise as the recreation.gov page does not do it justice. Would stay again.

  • allison W.
    Jul. 23, 2022

    Camp Draw Trailhead

    No frills nothing

    Camp Draw Trailhead is basically a free and easy place to kick off into the Jarbridge Wilderness Area. The area is under the authority of the U.S. Forest Service so no one really keeps tabs on when it opens and closes; this is the definition of dispersed. Due to the weather conditions in the area of the country, it can snow well into June, so be sure to keep an eye on the forecast.

    Amenities include vault toilets and packed dirt parking areas. No water! Bring your own anticipating what you need depending on your plans and the season. The closest town is all the way back in Jarbridge.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Coyote Cove — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Nice find!

    Thanks to The Dyrt, found this place to land last night. Not your typical campground; the sites are lined up along the lake with the only privacy being the space (decent) between sites. We were there during the week at the end of April and it was pretty quiet but I imagine that is not the case in the summer. Each site has a cement pad, table, fire ring, bbq, and wind screen. The screen didn’t help last night as it was very windy and blowing in another direction! Clean Pit toilets and no hook-ups. Beautiful view of the snow capped mountains but woke to snow the next morning!

  • allison W.
    Jul. 23, 2022

    Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site

    Reservation situation is confusing

    The reservation situation here is a bit confusing. Dyrt makes it out to be a group site, which it is, but it can also be reserved as up to nine individual sites if a group hasn’t already laid their claim. It can cause some confusing situations. Aside from that, the area is gorgeous and there is so much to do here. It isn’t too far off the beaten path compared to other campgrounds in the area, so a good solution for a family reunion or something where different campers have different comfort levels. There is potable water and vault toilets available but no hookups.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2022

    East Campground — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Not too far off the highway but you'd never know it!

    General: 25-site campground with electric hookups on the South Fork Reservoir. A handful of sites are reservable but most are first-come, first-available. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel (except the Handicap site) with electric hookups; most appeared level and some have a view of the reservoir. Covered picnic tables with a windshield (in front of a tent platform). Water spigots are located throughout the campground. 

    Bathhouse: Individual unisex units that were decent but no soap or paper towels. The shower looked like it needed a good cleaning. 

    Activities: We were there on a blustery Sunday in May but in season, you can enjoy water activities. Nearby rentals are available for boats, jet skis, kayaks, and SUPS. Short trails to the beach which was rocky but walkable. The weather was not forecasted to be pleasant during our stay – a high wind advisory with rain and snow and temperatures dipping into single digits overnight, so it was difficult to imagine what it would be like in the summer with all the water activities going on!

  • D
    Aug. 18, 2018

    Humboldt National Forest Angel Creek Campground

    awesome!

    This is 6,200 foot elevation 8 miles outside Wells, Nevada. Peaceful camping in an aspen grove with fire pits, toilet, trash receptacle. If you’re a birder it’s got high desert birds, raptors. I saw my first Lewis’s woodpecker, watched a Harrier hunting, a flock of soaring, bug eating Common Nighthawks, deer everywhere. Stunning views of the terrain. Designated tent pitching squares, kinda rocky but fine with a protective footprint.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2024

    Humboldt National Forest Angel Lake Campground

    Nice high altitude campground off I-80

    Stayed in site 13 which was just enough driveway space and able to level with chocks. Beautiful view to the East. Quiet while we were here. Road in can be quite steep so just a few campers/trailers, no mega RVs. 

    While shrubby aspens mean no shade, there is quite a bit of privacy. Lake is nice and easily accessible from campground. 

    Sites 19 and 22 are FCFS and quite nice, 22 sits right on the creek and 19 doesn't have a concrete parking barrier so better access to site for vehicle. Decent views. Site 12 has water spigot right alongside and decent views. Site XX has VERY limited parking, tent only. 

    Food aside: Dinner was freeze-dried mango sticky rice with pre-cooked and reheated chicken with roasted hatch green chiles. Took 35 min to cook, but yum! Low/medium FQ (fart quotient). Breakfast was omelet with cheese, hash brown, bacon and green chile burritos. Dinner was Sprouts Hatch chile mac and cheese with extra cheese and jerky, including hatch jerky.


Guide to Deeth

Dispersed tent camping near Deeth, Nevada offers primitive high-desert sites within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Located at elevations between 5,000-7,000 feet, this northeastern Nevada region experiences extreme seasonal temperature variations, with summer days often exceeding 90°F and winter temperatures dropping well below freezing. Visitors camping in this area should prepare for significant temperature swings even in summer months, when nighttime temperatures can drop 30-40 degrees from daytime highs.

What to do

Hot spring exploration: The thermal waters at 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping provide a unique experience in this high desert landscape. "Epic spot. Got all the way to the hot spring with a non-modified 4WD w/ decent clearance and a skilled driver, but it is September so the water crossings were low," notes miranda. The spring itself is approximately a quarter-mile walk from most camping areas.

Creek exploration: The warm creek running through the 12 Mile Hot Springs area creates opportunities for wading and exploration. "The creek water is warm from the hot spring and made for some fun exploring and even cooling off on a hot July day," reports Jason & Sara S. This feature makes the area uniquely suited for extended stays during summer months.

Stargazing: The remote location and minimal light pollution create exceptional night sky viewing conditions at East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping. Camper Grayce F. confirms this appeal: "Great spot - fantastic views and a little wetland over the valley. Only one spot, and free grazing cows - fantastic Milky Way star gazing on a clear night."

What campers like

Solitude during weekdays: Tent camping locations around Deeth remain relatively uncrowded outside of weekends. "There were days when we had the spring all to ourselves, weekends got crowded," reports Ariel & John W. about their stay at 12 Mile Hot Springs. This pattern holds consistent across most dispersed camping areas in the region.

Warm water access: Many tent sites position campers near thermal-influenced water sources. "We camped right next to the warm creek, about a quarter mile before the hot spring and walked to the spring several times a day," shares one visitor about their Camp Draw Trailhead experience. This natural feature creates comfortable wading conditions even during cooler seasons.

Easy access sites: Some tent camping areas provide accessibility without specialized vehicles. Daniil O. notes about East Humboldt Wilderness: "Good view felt safe and my fiesta sedan made it with zero issues. There's a big spot for a U Turn as well." This contrasts with the more challenging access at other dispersed sites in the region.

What you should know

Limited established sites: Many camping areas near Deeth offer minimal development with few defined tent spots. Spencer notes about East Humboldt: "It has a nice, view, a river right by, is right off a paved road, only downside is there is only really one spot so not many people can camp here but I was alone my whole time here so it's not that popular."

Rough road conditions: Access to some tent camping areas requires careful driving and appropriate vehicles. Sam M. warns about Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site: "The roads were rough, I got through with my Subaru Outback but it definitely hit the frame a couple of times. There were a couple creek crossings, I only attempted the first one but we just walked 10 minutes to the pools."

Wildlife encounters: Tent campers should prepare for interactions with both domestic and wild animals. "The cows were a little scary and we saw a snake," reports one camper about their stay at 12 Mile Hot Springs. Free-range cattle commonly appear at many sites throughout the region.

Tips for camping with families

Water crossing assessment: Families with children should evaluate creek crossings before attempting vehicle passage. "Expect locals who visit the spring for a day trip. No services, take everything with you," advises Jason & Sara S., highlighting the importance of planning when bringing children to these remote areas.

Timing considerations: Weekday camping provides more private experiences for families. Meghan V. notes about 12 Mile Hot Springs: "Went in the AM and barely had anyone around. That changed as we progressed into the afternoon (note this was on a Saturday)." This pattern affects most tent camping areas around Deeth.

Alternative sites: For families seeking more facilities, consider established campgrounds. Allison W. explains about Terraces Campground: "It isn't too far off the beaten path compared to other campgrounds in the area, so a good solution for a family reunion or something where different campers have different comfort levels. There is potable water and vault toilets available but no hookups."

Tips from RVers

High-clearance vehicles only: Most tent camping areas near Deeth present significant challenges for RVs and trailers. "Road is extremely difficult/had three creek crossings about ankle to knee deep. We made it all the way back and had the place to ourselves!" notes reina L. about accessing 12 Mile Hot Springs. Large vehicles and standard RVs cannot access many dispersed sites.

Seasonal road closure awareness: Road conditions vary dramatically by season, with winter closures affecting access. "Road out to angel lake closed so was humboldt loop," reports Lydia E., highlighting the importance of checking current conditions before attempting tent camping trips with vehicles during shoulder seasons.

Parking limitations: Even accessible sites have constraints for larger vehicles. "Camp Draw Trailhead is basically a free and easy place to kick off into the Jarbridge Wilderness Area... Amenities include vault toilets and packed dirt parking areas. No water!" advises allison W., underlining the primitive nature of available facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Deeth, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Deeth, NV is East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping with a 4.3-star rating from 7 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Deeth, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 6 tent camping locations near Deeth, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.