Primitive camping near Lamoille, Nevada provides access to the Ruby Mountains wilderness at elevations ranging from 5,800 to 10,000 feet. Summer temperatures typically reach 80-90°F during day and drop to 40-50°F at night, with afternoon thunderstorms common in July and August. Many dispersed sites remain inaccessible until late May due to snowmelt runoff affecting creek crossings and trail conditions.
What to do
Soak in natural hot springs: The warm waters at 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping offer a relaxing experience after hiking. "The hot spring water temp is perfect. There's plenty of room though when I went there were few people there," notes Christopher D., who recommends visiting on weekdays for solitude.
Explore warm creek ecosystems: Bishop Creek near 12 Mile Hot Springs maintains a higher temperature from the springs' outflow. "We stayed about .20 miles before the spring along Bishop Creek. 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.
Wildlife observation: Watch for free-range cattle and native wildlife throughout the region. At East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping, visitors report, "Free-roaming cows in the area, which added a unique touch—they kept to themselves, and we did the same," according to Adrian H.
Stargazing opportunities: The minimal light pollution creates exceptional night sky viewing. East Humboldt Wilderness offers "fantastic Milky Way star gazing on a clear night" according to Grayce F., making it an ideal location for astrophotography.
What campers like
Creek-side camping spots: Camp Lamoille-Dispersed Camping offers opportunities to camp near moving water. Callie F. notes, "We went further down, rock crawling, high clearance required, and found the perfect spot nestled in the trees about 10ft from Lamoille Creek."
Solitude on weekdays: Visiting during non-peak times provides more privacy. At 12 Mile Hot Springs, "There were days when we had the spring all to ourselves, weekends got crowded," explains Ariel & John W.
Convenient accessibility: Some sites require minimal driving from major highways. At Angel Lake FS Road Pull Out, Mark H. describes the location: "Take the Wells NV Highway 80 off ramp (351). Go south - signs will point to Angel Lake, it is the turn right after the east bound off ramp from HW80. Drive 4.5 miles and there will be a pull out on your right."
Mountain vistas: Many campers appreciate the panoramic views. "Flat space, 3 bars Verizon, nice view, quiet, windy and no amenities. The way the road is cut, you don't really see cars," reports Mark H. about Angel Lake FS Road Pull Out.
What you should know
Road conditions vary significantly: Many access roads deteriorate during wet weather or after winter. As Ana P. reports about Camp Lamoille, "We went to have a looks and less than a mile in the road was covered by several feet of snow. We have a 4wd and I couldn't have gotten through without damage."
Water crossings may be required: Some dispersed sites require fording streams. At 12 Mile Hot Spring, reina L. encountered "extremely difficult road/had three creek crossings about ankle to knee deep."
Cell service limitations: Coverage varies by location and carrier. Cheryl M. notes at Camp Lamoille, "1 bar ATT, none with Verizon. WeBoost helps."
Limited turnaround areas: Many forest roads have few spots to turn around larger vehicles. Cheryl M. cautions that Camp Lamoille has "few turn around locations" once you progress down the access roads.
Tips for camping with families
Short hiking options: For families with children, look for accessible spots near water. "We stayed for two nights and saw people come and go to the hot spring but very few people camped. Expect locals who visit the spring for a day trip," reports Jason & Sara S. about 12 Mile Hot Springs.
Pet-friendly options: Many dispersed areas allow pets, but be aware of wildlife and cattle. Michael W. cautions at East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping, "Great dispersed camp site minus the cow pies that were all over. Free range cattle may show up randomly."
Seasonal wildflower viewing: Visit during peak bloom for educational opportunities. Cindy W. recommends Camp Lamoille: "The wildflowers are fabulous and there are just so many of them. I really enjoy looking over the beaver dams along the creeks."
Day-use alternatives: Some areas work better as picnic spots than overnight locations. Stephani W. mentions, "This is a beautiful day use Picnic area on the banks of Spring Creek. They have great views of the Creek very nice clean restrooms and the host Dale is the best."
Tips from RVers
Suitable sites for smaller rigs only: Most dispersed areas can only accommodate compact camper vans or truck campers. Jon B. cautions about 12 Mile Hot Springs: "High clearance vehicles only. We camped 1/2 mile before spring. NO camper trailers! No RVs! Road is just too bad."
Level parking considerations: Scout for flat spots when arriving. Johny R. describes Angel Lake FS Road Pull Out: "You go up a steep 2 track a very short distance, 2wd can do it for now but its in the process of washing out. Then you just get to a little hill top and it widens out its just a gravel spot maybe 50 yards by 20 yards up against a cattle fence and overlooking the road."
Weather exposure awareness: Many sites lack protection from wind and storms. Ellis P. notes that Angel Lake is "Very windy, recommend car camping."
