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Best Tent Camping near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters

61 Reviews

Tent camping opportunities near the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters in Nevada include several primitive sites across BLM-managed lands. Big Rocks North offers isolation in a rugged setting, while Chief Mountain West provides free, established tent sites with basic amenities including picnic tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. Gap Mountain and Cherry Creek round out the available options for tent campers seeking experiences in this high desert region.

Most tent sites in this area lack drinking water, requiring campers to pack in all necessary supplies. Big Rocks North features minimal development with rough terrain and no facilities, making it suitable for self-sufficient campers comfortable with true primitive camping. Chief Mountain West offers more amenities with designated tent pads, trash collection, and toilet facilities, while still maintaining a rustic character. Cherry Creek operates seasonally from April to October, though with limited facilities. As one camper noted, "It's operated by BLM so it's off grid and dispersed. Make sure you bring supplies." Cell reception is generally unavailable throughout these areas, and winter camping requires additional preparation as temperatures drop rapidly once in shade.

The tent camping experience in this region provides exceptional access to undeveloped Nevada landscapes. Gap Mountain sits within Basin & Range National Monument, offering extensive exploration opportunities on well-maintained dirt roads. Several reviewers mentioned abundant wildlife sightings, particularly wild horses near Chief Mountain West. Tent campers frequently use these areas as basecamps for mountain biking, hiking, and off-road vehicle exploration. A visitor to the Gap Mountain area described it as having "so many areas to explore, the scenery is flat-out ridiculous." Night skies in these remote locations offer excellent stargazing due to minimal light pollution. Campers should practice Leave No Trace principles in these sensitive desert ecosystems and prepare for variable weather conditions throughout the year.

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Best Tent Sites Near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters

5 Photos of 4 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters

61 Reviews of 4 Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters Campgrounds

  • Colette K.
    Jun. 12, 2019

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, near Alamo, NV

    Ranger Review: GCI Pod Rocker at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, near Alamo, NV.

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW 

    Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, 9 miles south of near Alamo, NV. This campground is absolutely gorgeous and FREE!! However, nothing is ever really"free," so the price you pay is tolerating the noise from the very close US 93 highway. Noise diminishes at night, as there's very little truck traffic. At the time of this writing, Interstate 15 is detoured to this highway en route to Utah(until Spring 2020). All sites are first come first serve.  Each site has a picnic table, grill, fire pit, and a view of Upper Pahranagat Lake. Sites were clean& tidy in spite of no camp hosts. There are very few amenities: No water and a few scattered vault toilets. There is a handicap accessible site at the end of the long campground road with a paved stretch of sidewalk that goes to the south end of the lake. At the south end, there is a telescope for viewing wildlife and a park bench. We fished in the kayak a bit, but there were no bites. The landscaping is beautiful, with song birds always chirping. There's also a loop trail around the lake and another trail to the visitor's center. 

    Campground highlights:  https://youtu.be/Gch2ndb3t4Y

    PRODUCT REVIEW 

    As a ranger for The Dyrt, I get products to test from time to time. While camping at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, we tested the GCI Pod Rocker. 

    https://www.gcioutdoor.com/rockers/pod-rocker/ 

    GCI Pod Rocker looks very sharp and is well constructed. However, it seems to be more suited for a heavier person. For a lighter person, the rocking motion takes some work, unless the chair is positioned on a downward sloping hill. Sets up quick and easy, has a little drink holder pouch, and it has nice storage case with shoulder strap. 

    Pod Rocker in action:  https://youtu.be/MnZ4hCHwrXY

    In summary, we loved camping at Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge, but with no water the stay was brief. However, adding this fun chair to our camping gear made our stay extra comfy!

  • Hayley K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 4, 2020

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    Free Camping Lakeside

    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.

  • Jessica M.
    Sep. 7, 2020

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    Free is good

    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.

  • Michael H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 29, 2024

    Big Rocks North

    Rugged and rough

    Not much of a campground as far as campsites are concerned, a cattle pen and staging area are nearby. There was a picnic table and fire ring back in the trees. It's a great place for isolation, we encountered a couple hunters scouting the area. If you are going in winter the shade from the canyon starts at 3pm and the temperature drops real fast once you are in the shade. There is no water or toilets and zero cell reception.

  • C
    May. 7, 2021

    #375 off Extraterrestrial Highway

    Hidden gem

    It’s about a 2 and a half 3 hour drive outside of Vegas depending on how fast you’re going. If you drive past the sign, you missed it! You pull in off the highway and just pick a spot. I’ve been here 3 maybe 4 times. This is the first time I wasn’t alone, but there was enough distance between the sites that I didn’t mind it. There is a couple of fire rings and old picnic tables. No water hookups, bathrooms, or cell service. Nearest gas station is about 30 miles in either direction. The road in is a bit rocky, but not too bad.

  • Erik R.
    Mar. 22, 2022

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    Windy, desolate, noisy

    03/22/2022 Rode in on motorcycles and checked in at check-in station. Looked for open sites and settled on site 11, which was built upon a mound. Had to park the bikes at the bottom and carry gear to the top of the mound, which provided a partial view from the top. One of the tent pads was hidden between some bushes which was good for some partial wind coverage. After setting up camp we went for a 3-4 mile walk around the lake, didn’t see much wildlife besides a few birds. Didn’t get to use the firepit due to high winds so bed time came pretty early after dinner. The vault bathrooms were clean, not smelly at all. Unfortunately there is constant road noise from the main road being about 75 feet away from the camp sites, and numerous cars hit the rumble strips causing even more noise. Right before bed time there were two large explosions that sounded like a bomb went off right across the lake, but I think it was from the aircraft bombing range nearby. There are no trash cans on site so prepare to pack out all trash. A few mice came out shortly after sundown so keep all food away from things you don’t want chewed through, like backpacks and tents. No other animals were seen during our stay. Camp sites were clean, neighbors were quiet, but the stay was quite boring and windy. Verizon service was good, no 5G but had full bars of 4G. Able to stream videos and check email/social media if needed. There is a gas station 5 miles away that is open from 5am-9pm.
    This campsite is a good spot to stay if you just need a free place to stay for the night and can sleep through road noise.

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 8, 2023

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    Great location with lake

    Stopped here short of intended destination due to lateness of the hour and long drive. Great sites along the lake with tables and fire rings and fireplaces. Able to set up in one of the RV sites next to the water. Bike trails available, boating allowed but no swimming. Visitor center is nearby. Reasonable temps. Proximity of water does mean bugs of all kinds(gnats, nozzles, dragonflies etc.) 8 person occupancy. Only downside is proximity to the highway but not as heavily trafficked as it could be.

  • Greg B.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 15, 2021

    Upper Campground - Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge

    This'll do in a pinch....not bad, not great.

    After a long, hot, WINDY ride down the ET Highway, I was ready for a stop.  I found this place via The Dyrt.  A bit difficult to find the actual entrance, to the north of the camps.  The Visitor Center, to the south, was closed.  The camps are rather exposed, but right on the water's edge.  Most were filled, as it is 'first-come' camping.  I was able to share spot #3 with a big motorhome in #2.  Pretty cute extremes in camping.  The camp host was kind, and had no problem with me setting up a clothes line for drying my sweaty gear.  Pit toilets are only at the two ends of the camping area, so plan ahead.  It was about a 5-minute walk from #2, for #2.  Quite a few bugs got me during the evening hours, but not too bad.  Fun to watch the Mexican free-tail bats come out in the evening.

Guide to Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters

Tent camping near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters in Nevada offers a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in nature while enjoying various outdoor activities. With several campgrounds in the area, you can find the perfect spot to pitch your tent and explore the stunning landscapes.

Tent campers should check out local activities

  • Enjoy the scenic beauty and wild horses at Chief Mountain West, where you can explore the surrounding BLM land and take advantage of off-roading opportunities.

Tent campers like these nearby amenities

  • Experience a rustic camping experience at Cherry Creek, which offers a peaceful setting, though be prepared to bring your own firewood and picnic supplies.

Tent campers can enjoy unique features

  • At Big Rocks North, you’ll find a secluded spot perfect for tent camping, although amenities are limited, making it ideal for those looking to disconnect and enjoy nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters is Big Rocks North with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Headquarters, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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