Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Lund, NV

Willow Creek Campground at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park offers level sites with spacing and trees between camping areas for dogs to enjoy shade during hot Nevada days. Pets are allowed throughout the campground, with access to hiking trails near the historic wood-burning ovens. The sites feature picnic tables with metal roof coverings, fire rings, and BBQ grills where campers can relax with their canine companions. Ward Mountain Campground also welcomes pets with spacious sites set among juniper and pine trees that provide natural shade and privacy. Many reviewers note the campground is well-maintained with clean facilities, making it comfortable for both people and pets. Dave Deacon Campground at Wayne E Kirch Wildlife Management Area provides free camping with pets allowed, featuring drinking water and toilet facilities for extended stays.

Dogs can explore numerous hiking options on the maintained trails around Ward Charcoal Ovens and Ward Mountain. Both areas offer relatively mild summer temperatures compared to lower-elevation Nevada locations, with Ward Mountain Campground sitting at higher elevation where summer highs typically reach only the mid-80s—a welcome respite for heat-sensitive breeds. The 19631 Humboldt Forest Road dispersed site allows pets with more freedom but requires 4WD access up rough terrain. Pet owners should pack extra water for their animals as water availability can be seasonal at some sites, with Ward Charcoal Ovens occasionally having maintenance issues affecting water supply. Clean vault toilets are standard at most established campgrounds in the area, and most sites maintain adequate distance between neighbors for pets that may be reactive to other campers or wildlife.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Lund, Nevada (32)

    1. Willow Creek — Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

    9 Reviews
    Lund, NV
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-1693

    $15 - $20 / night

    "Both have concrete paths to the pit toilets. Plenty of area to maneuver inside sturdy toilet situated in the corner with grab bars is well stocked."

    "The camping is close by. No amenities, water, electricity but fairly clean composting toilets in camp area. A few trails at the kiln site and some hiking at the campground."

    2. Ely KOA

    20 Reviews
    Ely, NV
    26 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-3413

    "The surprises for us: no pool (not that we wanted one), adorable neighbor goats, and two dog parks areas (one with grass). Our dog loved the dirt dog park."

    "Located outside of Ely, but close enough if you need to run into town.
    Staff was great, informed us about facilities and also map listed restaurants that deliver."

    3. Elk Flat Campground — Cave Lake State Park

    14 Reviews
    Ely, NV
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 728-4460

    "Lovely state park near Ely. Two campgrounds, but lake is emptied for maintenance so we didn't even check the other one out."

    "I spent two nights here and really enjoyed the campground and surrounding activities.  The campground was clean and well maintained.  Campsites are gravel, have fire pits and tables. "

    4. Ward Mountain Campground

    8 Reviews
    Ruth, NV
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-3031

    $8 - $50 / night

    "I chose this campground as a stop over close to Highway 50 on our way to Utah from California.  It was a very nice little campground, very clean, and well-maintained."

    "My dog, Blueberry, and I spent one night. Neighbors were courteous."

    5. Dave Deacon Campground - Wayne E Kirch Wildlife Management Area

    22 Reviews
    Lund, NV
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-1655

    "I went to the campsite and it looked great for people who don’t mind other campers close by. There was water available for cleaning dishes, etc. and also vault toilets."

    "In the Wayne Kirch WMA near Sunnyside, NV. Desert oasis surrounded by mountains. Well stocked pit toilets and many water faucets around the grounds."

    6. Garnet Hill Camp

    8 Reviews
    Ruth, NV
    29 miles

    "Snow on the mountains in the distance. Great cell phone reception but this is definitely pack it in and pack it out."

    "There is nowhere to turn around but there is a vault toilet and garbage receptacle at the top of the hill. A little dusty and breezy but beautiful and free! Great cell reception."

    8. Upper Lehman Creek Campground — Great Basin National Park

    27 Reviews
    Baker, NV
    42 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 234-7500

    $20 / night

    "We aimed to camp at Upper or Lower Lehman Creek Campgrounds, located near the entrance of the park, and after driving through the lower campground with no luck, we snagged the last site at Upper Lehman"

    "I camped here as the first night of a two week western states road trip after a long drive across the Loneliest Road in America (Hwy 50 across NV)."

    9. Ward Mtn. Campground (murray Summit)

    2 Reviews
    Ruth, NV
    24 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-3031

    $12 - $75 / night

    "which is also covered with small rock is adjacent. Pit toilets were clean. At this time, the area lacks culinary water, hence the one-star deduction. RV dumps located in Ely at gas stations."

    10. Silver Sage Travel Center

    3 Reviews
    Ely, NV
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (775) 289-3743

    "Parked on the edge of the lot, near sagebrush. Running of diesel engines and smell of exhaust was the big bummer. Otherwise quiet and away from traffic."

    "THE STAFF IS AMAZING AND YOU HAVE THE POLICE CONSTANTLY AROUND PROTECTING THIS AREA.  IT'S A SMALL RV SPOT AND THEY TAKE CASH ONLY. "

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Lund, NV

279 Reviews of 32 Lund Campgrounds


  • EThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 30, 2020

    Ely KOA

    Standard KOA with a few surprises

    This place is giant! There are tons of RV spots as well as a tent area and some cabins. We stayed here to visit Great Basin National Park because the weather was going to be too cold to camp in the park safely without hookups for us. We also used this KOA as our midway point to dump and refill our water between campsites without water. It had what we expected of a KOA - friendly staff, full hookups, easy level pull through sites, a playground, store, etc. The surprises for us: no pool (not that we wanted one), adorable neighbor goats, and two dog parks areas (one with grass). Our dog loved the dirt dog park. It was great giving him a chance to run around off leash for a bit on our trip since everywhere we went he had to be on-leash. The goats were a fun surprise, too, since we love watching goats.

  • D
    Sep. 28, 2023

    Ely KOA

    Nice location and great staff

    Located outside of Ely, but close enough if you need to run into town.

    Staff was great, informed us about facilities and also map listed restaurants that deliver.

    Hometown Pizza delivers to your site, good pizza.

    They do inform you that by state law they have to have water pressure regulators on the water hookups so no need to add yours. (in Las Vegas at the KOA they had no idea what I was talking about but since we were within the city limits may not be needed).

    Great view of the night sky after dark, dog parks are decent size, but by the time we got their our dog had found a spot on the roads.

    Site pretty level, site and roads are gravel. Appears to be quite a few long term campers.

    We were only there one night, but with everything if offers appears to be a place to stay for a week if so inclined.
    Gets chilly at night, high altitude (close to 7,000 ft in elevation).

  • Kim S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 27, 2024

    Illipah Reservoir Recreation Area

    Great free campground

    Pretty nice campground with the reservoir, adjacent dirt roads, and closeness(yet not too close to the 50)

    Stayed their for a night while going across Nevada. Nice views, pit toilets, tables, some sites have shade structures, metal fire pits, easy dirt road in.

    There are cows and in my experience RVs left their generators running quite late were the cons if you consider those as such, but I really thought it was a good site.

  • SwitchbackKids
    Jun. 19, 2017

    Upper Lehman Creek Campground — Great Basin National Park

    Hard to reach but even harder to leave - a hidden gem in the national parks.

    Great Basin is one of the less-visited national parks, but when we visited during the annual Astronomy Festival in September, we knew we might have a little more trouble finding a campsite inside the park. None of the campgrounds in Great Basin are reservable ahead of time. We aimed to camp at Upper or Lower Lehman Creek Campgrounds, located near the entrance of the park, and after driving through the lower campground with no luck, we snagged the last site at Upper Lehman Creek. The sites here are nicely spread out and nestled in plenty of vegetation, and we had no issues with noise even though we camped on what might be the busiest weekend in Great Basin.

    Like most other national park campgrounds, Upper Lehman Creek provided just the basic amenities: flush toilets, water, and picnic tables. We’d gladly take this rustic setting over other over commercialized campgrounds.

    Although Great Basin takes a lot of work to access -- it truly is in the middle of nowhere -- this park is a hidden gem. We especially enjoyed climbing Wheeler Peak (the second-highest point in Nevada), walking among the Bristlecone trees (the oldest trees in the world), taking the tour of Lehman Caves, and attending various activities at the Astronomy Festival. There’s little sense of being “on the beaten path” anywhere here, but if you want to get even further away from people, the Johnson Lake/Baker Lake 11-mile loop trail was also a great loop hike. 

    The only downside, besides being located in the middle of nowhere, is that sites at Upper Lehman Creek campground are not reservable, so be sure to arrive early enough in the day to grab a site, especially if you are visiting during peak weekends.

    You can read much more about our four days in the park on our blog: Switchback Kids (Great Basin)

  • Maya G.
    Sep. 17, 2024

    Baker Creek Campground — Great Basin National Park

    Great campsite

    Can’t have dogs on trails. As a ranger put it, dogs can go anywhere your car can. Campsite was great, pretty good privacy between them with the trees and everything. Bathrooms clean and there were multiple within walking distance of campsite.

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 17, 2025

    Ely KOA

    Nicest RV Park in Nevada

    We have been roaming around Nevada for a week now and this is the nicest campground we have stayed at. New bathrooms, clean, friendly and helpful staff and trees! There are trails right from the grounds for walking, biking, quading.

  • Laura F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2020

    Lake View Campground — Cave Lake State Park

    Great Stopover

    This campground was a great stopover for the night as we headed south to Zion and Bryce, UT. Both Lakeview and Elks Point campgrounds were very clean and offered scenic overlooks of the Nevada hills below. Keep driving past the first loop through the white gate to the second loop of this campground for the best sites (on the left). Individual flush toilets and free showers were very clean. Cave lake is nothing to special but had pretty clear water for a reservoir. Not ideal for swimming (you have to walk through about 1 foot deep mud to get to the waters edge in which lots of fishing tackle is snagged). Fishing was awesome. Lake is native and stocked with rainbow and brown trout.

  • C
    Nov. 18, 2019

    Lake View Campground — Cave Lake State Park

    Cave Lake

    Despite the name, there is are no caves that one can see at the lake. This lake is a very small hidden desert treasure. There is a lakeside campground with few campsites that fill up very quickly. There is also BLM land 20 minutes from the lake where you camp disperse camp for free.

    There are toilets, and showers available at the campsite. Dogs, fishing, and boats are allowed. Along the backside of the lake are the best spots if your looking to let your dog off of the leash to play in the water, or be secluded in the soft grass and shade of the bushes.

    This is a nice family spot to spend the weekend. It gets very crowded very fast so be sure to leave early if you want to stay at one of the lakeside campgrounds. All roads are paved.

  • C
    Jul. 23, 2018

    Lower Lehman Campground — Great Basin National Park

    Seeking Isolation?

    Great Basin is a park you really want to go to in order to actually go to. Situated in the middle of Nevada, it features a sky island environment, rising from high desert scrub, to Aspen forests, and to above timberline scree.

    Campgrounds are typical NPS style; light on amenities, but heavy on experience. There are vault toilets and potable water available. And the night skies. Wow, just wow.


Guide to Lund

Primitive camping opportunities exist throughout the high desert terrain around Lund, Nevada, typically at elevations between 5,500-7,800 feet. The region features juniper and pine forests at higher elevations with stark desert landscapes in the valleys. Summer temperatures at higher elevation campgrounds typically reach only the mid-80s during daytime hours, while winter brings snow closure to many sites.

What to do

Hot springs exploration: Visit Hot Creek, approximately 7 miles down a well-maintained gravel road from Highway 318. Dave Deacon Campground provides convenient access to these natural features. "Hot springs and reservoirs nearby were lovely. Fishing is hard to do without a boat. Dacey Reservoir has large rocks damming one side that make an okay spot to cast from," explains Emily H.

Mountain biking: Access trails directly from Ward Mountain Campground for both beginner and intermediate riders. "There are trails right from the grounds for walking, biking, quading," notes Susan N., who stayed at a nearby campground. The area features both technical single-track and wider forest roads.

Rock collecting: Garnet Hill offers free public rockhounding opportunities with facilities at the top of the hill. "Beautiful high desert scenery. Lots of available dispersed spots for big groups/lots of people," reports Truly W., who visited Garnet Hill Camp and found the roads "sort of bumpy & sandy."

What campers like

Quiet, spacious sites: The campgrounds around Lund provide separation between campers. "Nice spacing with trees between sites. Partial view. Couple of accessible sites. Garbage, picnic tables, fire ring, bbq, metal roof over tables," notes DL M. about Willow Creek Campground.

High elevation cooling: Summer visitors appreciate the temperature differential compared to lower elevations. "With Las Vegas temps reaching 115, This is a beautiful respite with highs in the mid 80s. Well kept camp sites are also a welcome bonus," shares Kelly P. about Ward Mtn. Campground.

Dark skies for stargazing: The remote location away from urban light pollution provides exceptional night sky viewing. "Night sky is perfect for stargazing. High elevation can be a problem but worth it if you can handle it," writes Patricia N. about her experience at Upper Lehman Creek Campground.

What you should know

Water limitations: Many dispersed sites lack water, and even established campgrounds may have seasonal or maintenance issues. "There's water available, but when I was there they had just turned it on and it has not been tested yet to make sure it was safe to drink," explains Heather G. about Willow Creek Campground.

Road conditions: Access to some sites requires careful driving or specific vehicle capabilities. "About 3 miles on a dirt road to the trailhead. As you are approaching the trailhead, there are spur roads with some good turnouts to park," reports Mike G. about dispersed camping options. Several reviewers mention unpaved roads to many sites.

Insect awareness: Prepare for seasonal mosquitoes, particularly around water sources. "Mosquitoes are insane. Even when you bathe in bug spray, won't do anything," warns Randy L. about one camping area. Bug activity tends to increase at dawn and dusk during summer months.

Tips for camping with families

Campgrounds with shade structures: Look for sites with built-in sun protection for children. "Sites have shade from trees and picnic table covers. Vault toilets are very clean," notes Heather G. The shade structures are particularly valuable during midday summer heat.

Pet friendly options: Most campgrounds around Lund welcome dogs with reasonable space between sites. "Family fun. Horse trails, bike trails, bike trails... Nice spot for a few days and close to a small town (Ely)," reports Sean P. about Ward Mountain Campground, which provides both recreation and pet exercise opportunities.

Available facilities: Check which amenities each site offers before arriving. "This campground included a bathroom, showers and a small shop with camping supplies. The campsite was padded with grass, which is much more comfortable than sleeping on dirt," shares Maggie S. about camping facilities in the area.

Tips from RVers

Leveling challenges: Be prepared for uneven parking areas at some sites. "One issue to note is that most of parking pads are not very level (to help with snow melt) in the upper campground, so it made it quite challenging to level our little camper," explains Shari G.

Full-service options: For those requiring hookups, limited options exist. "T-Mobile's signal was good," reports James J. about Murray Summit, noting the campground has "Very nice NPS campground. My 30' TT and 20' truck found ample back-in FF spaces. Mostly flat."

Dump station availability: Plan waste management carefully as facilities are limited. "If you need to stop just to empty your RV they do have a charge but it's easy to get to and only costs 15$ if you want to dump and fill up fresh water as well," explains Brittney C. about Silver Sage Travel Center, which also offers propane and supplies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Lund, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Lund, NV is Willow Creek — Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park with a 4.2-star rating from 9 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Lund, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 32 dog-friendly camping locations near Lund, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.