Best Dispersed Camping near Genoa, NV

Dispersed Camping Reviews near Genoa, NV

106 Reviews of 35 Genoa Campgrounds

• V

  Virginia D.

  Traveler

  Oct. 3, 2023

  Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

  Gorgeous Riparian Forest

  Scout camp is on the Carson river and within the tall cottonwoods. Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River.

  As of October 2023 the access road to scout camp was washed out. But there is dispersed camping on the terrace to the south.

• A

  Alex

  Traveler

  Nov. 8, 2023

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Endless Possibilities

  The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp. I stayed at N38.768811• W 120.238630° — on top of a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent. At this specific sight, there are no overhead trees. Despite being primitive, the roads are well kept, even if you have a small SUV. It could get slightly tricky with a car. I stayed here for 7 days (10/31-11/6) and only saw one other person on the primivite roads. The above coordinates are about a 6 mile drive in from US50. You will see a campground on your right about 5 miles down when driving in, about a mile further down the road you will come up on the dirt road leading you up the mountain.

  A couple of notes:

  1. You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov
  2. Cell phone reception is very spotty, in and out of a couple of bars throughout the drive in. — AT&T coverage. At the above coordinates, there were 2 bars of low grade coverage allowing basic texts to send. Not enough service for web browsing or sending photos via text.
  3. This area has been widely burnt by fires last year. There are still large areas unburnt. You will find yourself going in and out of them while driving.
  4. KEEP IT CLEAN — this area is immaculate and besides dug out fire pits, human trace is non-existent. Leave it cleaner than you found it, pick up your trash (and other’s if you see any), respect the area and it will respect you.
  5. NO CAMP SERVICES — There is no trash service or even dumpsters at the signed entrance; pack it in pack it out. There are no restrooms in the area either.

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• 

  Jacqueline G.

  Guide

  Sep. 2, 2025

  Dispersed USFS

  Worth the climbs to get here!!

  This is full wilderness camping off the main road between hope valley and the blue lakes. I had no problem getting in with my 30ft bus towing a jeep but the road is steep and winding for about 7 miles to the pull off. There were a lot of other campers for Labor Day weekend but the rest of the time there was no one around. Jugs of water can be filled at the campgrounds about 5 miles in each direction. PLEASE NOTE: There are prolonged climbs to get here (up to about 8% grade) but my bus did fine. Slow and steady and you’ll be fine. Also WATCH THE WEATHER! Rain can cause spots of the road in to get washed out a bit and deep puddles can appear. There are loads of rocks and fallen trees around to fill in holes if needed. If you’re moderate to high clearance rig you’ll be fine just be mindful. The Blue Lakes are just down the road for swimming, boating, kayaking etc and lots of amazing 4x4 trails. Rivers for fishing and endless hiking and biking. Elevation is 8300ft so definitely a bit high. The trees help with the air however. Not nearly as tough as the high desert of Utah (Zion or Brice) but just take it easy if you’re not used to high altitude.

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• 

  John C.

  Guide

  Oct. 24, 2025

  Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

  Large area, space for RV's and smaller vehicles.

  There is a few large, flat, hard-pack areas to park in and multiple dirt roads that lead off to smaller, more secluded sites. Many of the roads will require 4-wheel drive and high clearance but they are not too bad. Some of the area is free while other parts appear to require payment. Many travel trailers out here with huge set-ups and multiple vehicles.

• 

  Ciara W.

  Guide

  Oct. 25, 2024

  Echo Summit Dispersed

  Not dispersed camping

  This spot is national forest, and overnight camping is not allowed. We had a knock from someone with the forest service the next morning who was very kind and let us know that overnight is not allowed.

  Look up lakes and forest in this area on google — not many places allow dispersed camping

• J

  Janet M.

  Traveler

  Jun. 24, 2021

  Dispersed Camping near Fort Churchill

  No Go for Class A due to rotted access roads

  We drove thru both Fort Churchill State Park Campground and Scout Camp near by. We were looking for a place to camp for the night. We have a 36ft class A with a tow. Fort Churchill Campground is not accessible if you love the paint job on your rig. For lower profile campers it would be ok. Narrow dirt roads with sage brush to scratch you and overhanging low tree branches to ruin solar and a/c.

  Scout camp access is deeply rotted so our Class A couldn't safely get in there, otherwise there would have been plenty of space for us.

• 

  Tim R.

  Guide

  Oct. 5, 2024

  Packsaddle Pass - El Dorado National Forest Dispersed

  Standard Dispersed Camping

  Standard dispersed camping on national forest land. Paved main road with dirt roads and areas for camping branching off. Plenty of room. Some areas have beautiful views of strawberry valley!

• 

  Shane C.

  Traveler

  Oct. 17, 2022

  Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

  Dispersed camping with campground layout/feel

  Camped here for a night in early October. Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east. Most sites are obvious, with a driveway and stone fire ring. We like a more "dispersed" feel, but felt comfortable. 

  There are no services - bring all the water you will need and practice "leave no trace." This goes for your waste (human and animal) as well. I wish I could say that we didn't see any dog waste or "TP Flowers" but we did. Not a significant amount, but any is too much.

  The place was pretty much full, but still good vibes and quiet neighbors. Very close to Hwy. 88, so road noise and campers coming in looking for a spot after dark. Gets quiet later in the evening.

  Overall, a nice spot.

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• 

  Raymond B.

  Traveler

  Jul. 15, 2024

  USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

  Overnight stay

  We recently spent a night at this campsite and found it to be perfect for a quick overnight getaway. The area is spacious and conveniently located not too far off the main road, making it easy to access without feeling too isolated.

  There are plenty of sites to choose from, catering to different preferences. However, we recommend taking some time to survey the land before setting up camp, as some spots are slightly sloped.

  A huge plus is the gas station just about 5 minutes down the road. It’s well-stocked with all the convenient store items you might have forgotten at home, making it easy to grab any last-minute necessities.

  Overall, it was a delightful stay. Just remember, always practice Leave No Trace principles—pack out what you pack in!

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