17 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Camping near Denio, Nevada ranges from free dispersed sites to primitive campgrounds with natural hot springs access in this remote high desert landscape. Bog Hot Springs Dispersed Camping offers primitive tent sites featuring access to natural hot springs, while Virgin Valley Campground in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge provides established camping with basic amenities including picnic tables and fire pits. The wider region includes the Alvord Desert across the Oregon border, providing additional primitive camping options. Most sites accommodate tents and RVs, while facilities like The Fields Station and Royal Peacock Opal Mine offer cabin accommodations for those seeking more developed options.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many sites requiring travel on unpaved roads that can become hazardous in wet conditions. The Virgin Valley Campground access road is generally passable for standard vehicles, while reaching areas like Onion Valley Reservoir demands high-clearance 4WD vehicles. Weather extremes are common, with hot days and cold nights typical in this high desert environment. Most dispersed camping areas have no drinking water or restroom facilities, requiring visitors to pack in supplies and pack out waste. Cell service is virtually nonexistent throughout the area. One visitor cautioned, "I drive a lifted 4wd and have years of experience driving in all sorts of conditions. I started out on this road to Onion Valley after a moderate rain storm and wished I hadn't. The mud was so slick and heavy that the back end of my truck was literally sliding."
The natural hot springs represent major attractions in the area, with Bog Hot Springs and Virgin Valley Campground both offering opportunities for soaking. The Virgin Valley warm springs pool maintains temperatures around 90 degrees, complemented by spring-fed showers that receive consistent praise in reviews. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound throughout the region, with the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge providing habitat for numerous desert species. Night skies offer exceptional stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. While some sites like Bog Hot Springs have become increasingly popular in recent years, the area generally provides solitude and quiet experiences. A camper noted about Virgin Valley: "An absolutely gorgeous place to camp, and an even more beautiful drive in. There are scenic ponds throughout the drive and many other campgrounds past this site too."
"This HS is located in Nevada’s Northwest corner of the state. A large open area just in front of the HS for day use and camping."
"Just off the highway it made for a quick overnight stay on our road trip with the bonus of a hot spring river. The area was very desolate."
"Virgina Valley Campground is off the beaten path, but free to camp. It’s perfect for a remote, peaceful experience."
"An absolutely gorgeous place to camp, and an even more beautiful drive in. The road is easy on any car in the summer months, and is well maintained."
"You can approach this BLM campground from either the Fields-Denio Road or from highway 95."
"This is a great out of the way CG with a fantastic hot springs close by. Definitely off the beaten path. Have a decent map. The CG has a vault toilet but no water."
"It provides access to the Steens Mountains and the Alvord desert and hot springs. If you love being in the middle of nowhere, this is your place. There are 5 RV sites with full hookups."
from $25 - $130 / night
Check Availability"In my case, it rained in another part of the desert and because it is so flat, the water actually blew much closer to my camping location than I thought possible."
"The whole Alvord desert is a dry lake bed.... well most often it is dry, but if it isn’t do not even try to drive out there. The clay silt will stop an cat in its tracks."
from $5 / night
Check Availability"For RV drivers or trailer pullers beware the road is basically a washboard for the entire drive (appx 10 mi) so go slow. Gets windy in the eve as typical for high desert. "
"Stay behind the laundry building for more privacy. We looked at the Virgin Valley campsite on the way and it was full of weekend partiers, happy we moved on, I’d stay here again."
from $40 - $45 / night
Check Availability"We drove our van right up near the water in a quiet nook. Spent one night enjoying the many shore birds, a beautiful sunset and a refreshing cool night."
"And this got us access to the hot springs... no brained. It was also super nice to have a heater.. while this is a dessert, the winters are so cold."
"He gave us some info on the nearby Pikes Creek trail and we were off. We came back after a 6 mile hike and soaked in the springs."
from $50 - $110 / night
Check Availability"Steens Mountain Loop Rd closed at the campground entrance."
"No campfires are allowed in the fall but what we do to stay warm outside is we have a small wood stove that works great to cook on as well."
ScoutThis place is pretty small, enough room for maybe five or six RVs and several tents. The tent area is a nicely kept grassy area away from the RVs. It was so nice to have a hot shower and bathroom facilities, and only $25 a night. They also have laundry facilities. Definitely worth the stay while passing through.
GuideDrive out and camp miles from anybody on this 80 sq/mi dry lakebed. The surface is hard, very little dust and you can camp miles from anybody if you choose. When. Drive out on the lake, resist pulling up short and keep driving. You’ll be fine.
GuideI can't begin to describe the beauty of this place. A dry lakebed desert with the Steens Mountain rising thousands of feet straight up from it, where the peaks were still capped with snow. I drove from the Frog Springs public entrance 2.5 miles in which put me only halfway across. The illusions are wild. I did a run and also a bunch of fun ebiking and when you get away from your vehicle far enough you can both lose sight of it, and also still see it from miles away. The heat mirage is super cool as well.
I went alone and have never been in such silence. No people around. There was one or two other campers in the whole thing and they were miles away. No bird sounds or tree sounds or signs of life through sound. Wild.
I went in April which is risky because you don't go out there if it rains. Everything was dry and no rain in the forecast. On one of my bike rides I went up to the hot springs area and it was still wet up there and yes, the mud stopped my bike in its tracks.
RangerLast mile was unpaved but nothing crazy. Plenty of space at the sites I looked at. Pit toilets but nothing else for amenities. Views are great and overall feeling of space even with three other campers. Make sure you’re good to go with gas before heading in towards campsite. Not many gas stations or other resources within 80 miles. If you’re all set for the isolation then I highly recommend visiting. Looking forward to checking one of the many opal mines nearby.
ScoutBring your own firewood (no places to gather or trees)- come prepared for the very cool warm spring pool that was so clear and nice bathhouse.
RangerSo Fields is between…..well….hmmmm. It provides access to the Steens Mountains and the Alvord desert and hot springs. If you love being in the middle of nowhere, this is your place. There are 5 RV sites with full hookups. There’s some shade, but they’re gravel and not well leveled. BUT there’s a little store, a restaurant with great food, gas, propane and there’s a motel with a couple of rooms. The person working the front counter was super kind and helpful. This place way exceeded my expectations.
GuideThis place is stunning, but the road in is a 30 mile Dusty gravel road so make sure you vehicle is well sealed. We loved the sunset, star gazing and sunrises.
GuideMitchell’s Stateline RV Park is nice. It’s off 95 enough to get rid of road noise (the posted speed limit on Hwy 95 through this area is 35 mph, which helps), full hookups, showers, restrooms. (There is one women's and one men's restroom/shower, meaning that you'd need to take turns.) The only other comment posted on The Dyrt was written in 2021. Since then, they’ve replaced sewer, power and water: it’s reliable and without fault. If you’re into collecting rocks, fossils and exploring old mines, there’s plenty of that around here. The park itself is small, about 25+/- spaces, narrow spaces, gravel, but level. Easy on/off 95. When I arrived (Tuesday mid-afternoon) there was one fifth-wheel here. By the evening, about 4 more campers arrived, still it’s mostly empty. They also have tent camping and dog walk areas. Not that it matters to me, but it’s across the street from a small grade school which only seem to make noise mid-morning during the Pledge of Allegiance and the following daily announcements, minor distraction for 1/2-hour. Also of note is that there's no staff here during the day. Calls placed to the site are returned after 5:00 pm, when she arrives home from work. Self-check-in available through the screen door, in the vestibule.
ScoutDO NOT waste your time, money, or effort on this hot springs"experience". 50 years ago, the facility was no more or less than a tin sided enclosure and an open cement pool. Funky but simple, and cleaner than expected. Currently, there is group of"bunkers" that resemble a shipping container motel, and an"office" run by a cantankerous, pot-bellied 50-something punk. This is next to a parking lot that apparently(no signage) accommodates people wishing to use the hot spring facility, which Is about 75 yards across the dessert(again, no signage). I learned after we parked and my kids walked to the hot springs that there is a$30 charge per person(again, no signage). Just as my kids got to the hot springs, the pot-bellied punk manager emerged from his office and waddled out to the hot springs to confront my"scofflaw" kids. Then he came back and took a picture of my license plate. When I asked him what was going on, he said he was going to report me to the Oregon State Patrol for trespassing. After a lively debate, I grudgingly paid 90 bucks for my three kids who were already back at the car, deciding that the hot springs was just to slimy to sit in. To reiterate, DO NOT patronize this shoddy, overpriced, disappointing hot springs.
The high desert region surrounding Denio, Nevada sits at elevations between 4,000-5,000 feet, creating dramatic temperature fluctuations between day and night. Dispersed camping opportunities in this remote area often require significant travel on unpaved roads, with most sites lacking basic amenities like running water. The landscape transitions from sagebrush plains to mountain foothills with volcanic rock formations providing distinctive geological features.
Hot springs exploration: At Willow Creek Hot Springs, campers can enjoy natural soaking pools with varying temperatures. "There are two hot springs pools which were the perfect temperature... They're separated by a man-made divider. The warm pool was the perfect temp," notes visitor Tyler M. The springs feature sandy bottoms and relatively clear water with minimal sulfur smell.
Night sky observation: The remote location offers exceptional stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. At Alvord Desert, the flat playa provides unobstructed views. "The night, its stars, its quiet, its relentless darkness. I've never seen stars so clear," shares Christopher S. Prepare for cooler temperatures after sunset, as even summer evenings can become chilly.
Mining for opals: The Virgin Valley area contains several mining operations where visitors can hunt for precious opals. Many campers incorporate this activity into their stay. One visitor at Virgin Valley Campground mentioned: "If you are into gem stones and came out to look for opal, this would be a great place to make home for the weekend. We went to the Rainbow Ridge opal mine and it was an amazing experience."
Isolation and quiet: The remote nature of South Steens Campground provides solitude rarely found in more accessible camping areas. "Remote and quiet, if that's what you're looking for. This will never get much traffic," writes Christopher B. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding wilderness areas.
Wildlife viewing: Morning and evening hours offer opportunities to observe desert wildlife. Near Burshy Point Dispersed Camping, one camper reported: "We drove our van right up near the water in a quiet nook. Spent one night enjoying the many shore birds, a beautiful sunset and a refreshing cool night." Wildlife sightings often include pronghorn antelope, coyotes, and numerous bird species.
Free amenities: Several campgrounds offer unexpected free services. At Virgin Valley Campground, Sara B. appreciated that "This is a favorite spot of our's because of being free, and that it has showers. The warm pool is nice also." Many visitors comment on the clean pit toilets and well-maintained facilities despite the remote location.
Road conditions: Access to many sites requires travel on rough roads that worsen after rain. About Onion Valley Reservoir, one visitor warned: "Very primitive. Far from the main road. You definitely need a 4-wheel, high clearance vehicle for this. And we saw a rattlesnake in the middle of the road." Research current road conditions before departing.
Weather extremes: Temperature swings of 40+ degrees between day and night are common. Wind can be particularly challenging at exposed sites. At Alvord Hot Springs, Nicholas N. advised: "Be aware of the wind! Our first night in our teardrop was pretty rocky. Almost lost our awning because the gusts were at or above 60mph. We talked to the staff and they said to orient the trailer front towards the mountains."
Limited services: The nearest supplies are often 40+ miles away with limited operating hours. Stock up before arrival. "Fill up on gas bc the nearest gas station is in Fields about 40 miles from the camp spots. We would have stayed longer but we were running out of supplies," shared hannah fe about Willow Creek Hot Springs.
Pool alternatives: Children often enjoy the warm springs pools as safer alternatives to swimming in desert reservoirs. At Virgin Valley Campground, Carlyne F. noted: "The campground has a stocked pond and allows fishing for kids, disabled persons and people over 65 years old. There is a little free library on site and each site comes with a picnic table and small fire pit."
Wildlife education: Morning wildlife viewing opportunities create natural learning experiences. Bring field guides to identify desert species. "We loved using the nearby trails to walk our dog, bike along or watch the wildlife. A really neat experience overall and at no cost!" adds Carlyne about Virgin Valley Campground.
Weather protection: Pack extra layers and sun protection for children. The desert environment presents both sunburn and hypothermia risks. "It was hot during the day and there is no shade. Once the sun started to go down though, it was the perfect time to go into the pools," explained Tyler M. about Willow Creek Hot Springs.
Site selection: Most sites lack shade, making strategic positioning important for comfort. At The Fields Station, Jill R. observed: "There are 5 RV sites with full hookups. There's some shade, but they're gravel and not well leveled. BUT there's a little store, a restaurant with great food, gas, propane and there's a motel with a couple of rooms."
Weather preparation: Secure all awnings, canopies and lighter equipment due to sudden wind gusts. "We had to put everything in the tent to keep it down. It was also INCREDIBLY difficult to get the fire started because of the wind," explained Beka S. about her experience camping near the area.
Access planning: Research alternative routes in case primary roads become impassable. For Willow Creek Hot Springs, Judy T. advised: "You can approach this BLM campground from either the Fields-Denio Road or from highway 95. Either way, you will be traveling on a graded gravel road for some distance through the immense Whitehorse Ranch."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Denio, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Denio, NV offers a wide range of camping options, with 17 campgrounds and RV parks near Denio, NV and 7 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Denio, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Denio, NV is Bog Hot Springs Dispersed Camping with a 4-star rating from 10 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Denio, NV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 7 free dispersed camping spots near Denio, NV.
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