Best Equestrian Camping near Silver Springs, NV

Lahontan is an acquired taste. If you're looking for a cool "forest" experience, shady pines, and easy-breezy camping then this is NOT the place for you. It's a huge man-made reservoir in the desert. It gets very hot in the dead of summer and shade is limited in many areas. The trees are mainly cottonwood and willow. Most of the camping areas are not formally developed and you just kind of have to "cop a squat" if you can find a decent spot. The area is hugely popular with boating, fishing, and jet-ski enthusiasts so the beaches and the lake can get very crowded. The restrooms in some areas are BASIC - some would even call them "outhouses". Others are much less primitive. There is one developed camp ground on the Silver Springs side (no RV hook-ups).

I grew up camping, boating, and fishing at Lahontan so it has a soft spot in my heart. Just know that it's not for every one.

If you like Bird Watching (or wildlife in general), Boating, Fishing, Hang Gliding, Paragliding, Equestrian Activities, Camping or BBQ's, or even history, then this is a place you might enjoy.

The lake and the surrounding area takes on a different appearance depending on the season you visit, and whether it's been a wet year or a dry one. Sometimes when it has been extremely dry, the larger of the 2 lakes dries up either partially or entirely, leaving the smaller one as a valuable water source for Wild Mustangs who live in the area. (which is a great opportunity for photographers).

When the larger lake bed dries up a little, it extends the hang gliding / paragliding landing zone. (take off point is up on the hill on Eastlake Blvd, which is also a good view point of the lakes).

During the wetter years, the larger lake fills up, allowing water activities such as boating to take place on both lakes, and provides you with the opportunity to bird watch at any of the wildlife viewing areas provided. The smaller lake also provides bird watching opportunities (Osprey and other birds of prey like to fish there) You can also fish at the smaller lake, just don't eat them, the area was once used for the processing mills during the mining boom.

Also if you are into wildlife, there is the occasional coyote hunting the area, owls, hawks, bald eagles, and if you want to see deer, take a little drive up Eastlake Blvd towards little Washoe Lake, and one of the fields on the right often has huge herds of Mule Deer, and the occasional wild horse. Talking of Wild horses, you are requested not to feed or harass the wild Mustangs anywhere in Nevada (Washoe lake park included). Horses can be defensive, especially when they have young foals. Also feeding them anything other than what they naturally eat in the wild, not only causes a high number of deaths in the herds, it also creates dangerous situations on the roadways when horses come to retrieve the food. (it can also cost you thousands of dollars in fines) There are people who regularly monitor the interaction visitors have with the horses. But if you want to interact with a horse, why not bring your own for a ride around too, people often bring their horses down for a trot around the grounds.

There are restrooms available throughout the park, and facilities for camping. It is a good place for dogs, though it is requested that you clean up after them. There are doggie clean up stations available, and containers for waste.

The land the park sits on was once owned by one of Nevada's wealthiest men Theodore Winters, who was a prominent businessman and politician in early Nevada history. He once owned some of the most famous racehorses in the world, and his cheese was world renown. His Ranch is still around, and you can find it located just on the other side of the lake (Old Route 395), not far from the Chocolate Nugget Candy Factory (which is great if you get a hankering for something sweet), and Old Washoe City.

The lake's history goes back even further than that, the area was once inhabited by the local tribes people, and before the early pioneer's came and settled here, they used hunt ducks on the lake, and fished here. There is probably still the odd chance you might come across old Native tools and arrowheads, but the State of Nevada does ask you to leave artifacts where they are found. Check the local and federal laws before attempting to remove anything.

It has some lovely sunsets here, the view can be spectacular at times and changes according to season and weather, and the wildlife seem to enjoy it. Nice place to go and hang out with family and friends, and if you happen to forget to bring anything, you are only a little drive from Carson City :)

Beautiful spot 1/2 mile walk to lake, wild horses roaming camp, quiet & clean.

This state park is a very nice park and campground. There's an abundance of space in each site with Cabana and fire ring. We even saw some wild horses.

Winter camping is available on Loop A with full power hookups on a first come, first serve basis. Bathrooms are open all winter. Hiking is nice right from the campground and wild horses graze not far away.

We stayed here for just under 2 weeks around Thanksgiving. Very beautiful area with hiking near the lake and mountains. The horses nearby were nice. Right between Reno and Carson City. Access to Casinos and Restuarants nearby(10 minute drive or so). The Park has showers and bathrooms as well as water and electricity hook ups. The camp host was nice and provides us with a huge bundle of firewood for only a $5 donation.

• 2 loops. Loop A has electric and water and loop B is dry camping *Loop A was $30, which included $10 nonresident fee. *large sites with a lot of space between sites!
• no showers or toilets in loop A where we were. Loop B, ?
• Some trees
• covered picnic table. Fire pit at each site
• bbq at some sites *beautiful view of the Sierras, although we couldn't see the lake from our site *Feral horses. Several came galloping towards us, which was a bit startling, but we move and they went around us.
• When leaving, just past the dump station, there is a pull out where you can easily hitch the toad.
• Glad we got there fairly early -2:30- because there were only 2 sites left and one was a handicap site. *Maybe 35 sites in each loop, but they are so spaced out, it is really nice

Spent the night here on a road trip. 30$ for non Nevada resident but includes full hookups except water was shut off for the season. Flat, wide spaces with mostly pull throughs, clean bathrooms and shower. Convenient credit card pay system. Also a dump station.

Arrived around 5pm on a Tuesday the last day of April and even though the weather is crappy (low 40’s with intermittent rain/snow and a freeze warning), there were only a few spots left. Surprised to see several tent campers. As other reviews have pointed out, only the B Loop is open; the A loop is going to have electric (and water?) installed but no completion date was indicated. Would have been nice to have electric on these cold nights so we could plug in our portable heater. I think when Loop A is completed, it will be the nicer of the two - farther from the road and with aforementioned amenities. First Nevada State Park we’ve been to with flush toilets (but no soap and they could use a little maintenance work - some faucets missing and one toilet took extreme muscle to flush. I also felt like Goldilocks - one toilet was so low, I was squatting and another was so high, I had to hoist myself up!) Sites all looked level and most were back-in (even the handicapped ones) but ours (33) was a “pull-through”. All sites have a picnic table and fire ring but only some have shelters over the tables (a must on hot summer days). Very quiet in Site 33. I didn’t hear road noise some mentioned but those closer to the road might hear more. I can only imagine it would be a completely different scenario in the summer when people come to enjoy the lake. I would definitely recommend walking to the lake in the morning for nice reflection shots.

We’re regulars at this spot, pitching our tent on the south side, though there's plenty of room for the RV crowd too. The best part? You can camp right by the water! Weekdays offer serene silence, but come the weekend, it’s party and generator central—so bring your earplugs! Pit toilets might not sound glamorous, but these are shockingly tidy and bug-free. Shade might be limited around here, but play a little hide and seek, and you’ll find some cool spots to chill under. For the peeps who prefer having a "camp spot", there’s a semi-developed area with water hook-ups(electricity’s a mystery to us—we’re old-school tenters). Need to stay connected? No worries, T-mobile’s 5G has got your back everywhere in the park—essential for us road warriors. A little heads-up though: always, always check the weather first. We learned the hard way during a three-day wind festival, and, well, RIP old tent—hello, shiny new shelter!

Be careful!!! Almost got stuck in the sand while trying to find a spot level enough to park. Many people had dug out around their trailer to get the slides out. Several people used construction generators to power their rigs. Stayed for a weekend. Had a hard time leaving the trailer due to sand in the wind flying at high rates of speed. No hook ups, they do have a dump station and community water faucets. Vault toilets in many locations, no designated camping spaces. Just find a spot where you fit.

Great place for friends and family to meet. Much nicer with a higher water level.

Stopped here for an overnight on the way to Sparks Marina Rv park. Very quiet, and nice area. The last time here the reservoir was full, and no water is available on the south end.

The view is Beautiful. Restrooms available.

We camped 2021 at beach 7 and it wasn’t to bad we were in a tent but the water was low in lake just Carson river running to dam. This year 2022 we are going back hopefully better water in lake🥹and we are going in our trailer so hopefully be better trip this year 😎😁🚍⛺️

Midweek and mid September- plenty of sites even in the non primitive campsites. Beautiful view- very quiet; clean bathrooms.

will definitely revisit if we go by here again.

5+

Camped overnight on the beach, but could not fully access location due to water conditions. The reservoir is completely full this year and the water has flooded out the established campground area and many beaches are not accessible. Dispered camping is allowed on the beach and limited access to amenities. Only pit toilet and no potable water. Area is patrolled by a ranger and appears to be popular with boaters and water enthusiasts! Beach campfires permitted, with caution.

not close to amenities and no hookups- bring water

Right off the main road with minimal traffic noise. So beautiful, open, and feels safe. Late March is hot in the day and a little cool at night. Family friendly.

Sites are basic, which is fine by me. Sites are spread out and you have privacy from your neighbors. Sites have a picnic bench and a fire pit. There are Porta potties.

Today 9/14/2020 extremely smoky air from surrounding fires. Pesky annoying swarming bugs in the evening.

3 bars for ATT 3G 2 bars for Verizon 3G

There are two loops of areas for RV/Trailer, or tent camping. Multiple handicap accessible slots and pull thru sites. Nice and clean showers and bathrooms along with water spouts for those who are washing dishes. There are camp fire pits at each site with a covered table. Set in scrubland leading up to the lake, you will see plenty of birds, squirrels, and rabbits. I had several deer wander through the scrub behind my campsite and we were visited by one of the local bands of mustangs. In the main day use area, there is a take off/landing site for those who are hang gliding. Across the road and at the top of the hill you can find the launch point for the gliders. In the far side of the camp grounds you have the boat launch and several day use camp sites for picnics. You can watch the fish leap from the water, the birds soaring over the lake, and occasionally have one of the mustang bands hang out in the cool of the lakeside grazing on the lush grass.

The views are stunning in watching the sun set across the lake and over the peaks of Mt. Rose.

Washoe lake isn’t the prettiest, but it’s a nice get away if you live close and want to escape the city for the weekend, very cheap and very nice camp ground.