Best Tent Camping near Spring Creek, NV

Tent campers visiting Spring Creek, Nevada have several options in the surrounding Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping offers primitive tent sites accessible by both drive-in and walk-in routes, while 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping provides free tent camping with natural hot spring access. The Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site offers reservable tent camping during the May to September season.

Most tent sites require self-sufficiency as amenities are minimal throughout the region. East Humboldt Wilderness requires permits for camping and while fires are permitted at most locations, campers must pack out all waste as no trash service or toilet facilities exist. The access road to 12 Mile Hot Springs is particularly challenging, with high clearance vehicles recommended. A visitor commented that "the road is extremely difficult with three creek crossings about ankle to knee deep." The rough terrain makes these sites best suited for experienced tent campers comfortable with primitive conditions.

Tent campsites in the area offer unique features that attract outdoor enthusiasts. The East Humboldt Wilderness location provides scenic valley views and wetland access, with just a single established site offering privacy and solitude. Free-range cattle occasionally move through the area. At 12 Mile Hot Springs, tent campers can set up along Bishop Creek where the water is naturally warmed by the springs. Sites are typically uncrowded on weekdays, with most visitors coming for day use of the hot springs. One camper noted that "the water is warm and lovely, it's very relaxing, but there are only two sites near the hot springs, the rest you have to hike in to get to the springs."

Best Tent Sites Near Spring Creek, Nevada (4)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near Spring Creek, NV

4 Photos of 4 Spring Creek Campgrounds


Tent Camping Reviews near Spring Creek, NV

147 Reviews of 4 Spring Creek Campgrounds


  • VanHowling
    Oct. 3, 2023

    Elko KOA Journey

    Level ground & clean showers

    (Elko KoA)

    Came in late for a quick stop on a trip home and needed showers, level ground, a place with quiet hours, and somewhere safe to call home for the night. And it checked those boxes. 

    I was pleased with how clean the showers were at the end of the day when we came in, and in the morning, they had been bleached. 

    Left before sunrise so I cannot attest to the cleanliness if the entire campground, but our site was level and tidy.

  • Brian P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 26, 2025

    Humboldt National Forest Thomas Canyon Campground

    Beautiful Views

    Stayed for one night on our way back from California. Very quiet campground that had the basic forest service type amenities. Paves spots, fire rings, picnic tables, grill and vault toilets. The amenities seemed like they could use a refresh and seemed older. The views in the canyon were fantastic and a nice surprise as the recreation.gov page does not do it justice. Would stay again.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 30, 2019

    Coyote Cove — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Nice find!

    Thanks to The Dyrt, found this place to land last night. Not your typical campground; the sites are lined up along the lake with the only privacy being the space (decent) between sites. We were there during the week at the end of April and it was pretty quiet but I imagine that is not the case in the summer. Each site has a cement pad, table, fire ring, bbq, and wind screen. The screen didn’t help last night as it was very windy and blowing in another direction! Clean Pit toilets and no hook-ups. Beautiful view of the snow capped mountains but woke to snow the next morning!

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Coyote Cove — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Ruby views will keep you coming back!

    Along the south west side of South Fork reservoir, these functional spots carry all the charm of a dirt parking lot, but the views of the Ruby Mountains reflected in the lake will keep you coming back. Each site offers a picnic table, sunshade, wind block screen, and fire ring. The pit toilets were clean and tidy, but there was no drinking water available at this campground.  

    The Coyote Cove is a great beach for swimming, and launching canoes and kayaks, or small fishing boats. The boat launch and boat trailer parking lot is on the south side of the campground. The area offers opportunities for water sports of all kinds, hiking & mountain biking along many trails, or just sitting by the shore with a line in the water. Bird life is abundant in this area, with many species stopping along their migration route. We saw Loons, Dowwitchers, White Pelicans, Coots, and even the shy Hermit Thrush.  

    The closest town with services is Spring Creek a short 12 miles away, a dozen more miles northwest is the city of Elko which has all the usual suburban amenities. We had good mobile service and data throughout the campground. Showers, water and a dump station are available at the developed campground across the lake, though it is only open from Spring until Fall, depending upon weather conditions.

  • Shari  G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 28, 2019

    Jet Ski Beach — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Bird watchers paradise, with amazing views to boot!

    Just like the next door campground of Coyote Cove, these shoreline campsites lack a lot of charm. But with your eyes constantly drawn to the Ruby Mountain's striking beauty, who needs anything more than the usual picnic table, sunshade, wind block screen, and fire ring. The pit toilets were clean and tidy, but there was no drinking water available at this campground.  

    The Jet Ski Beach is a great beach for swimming, launching canoes, kayaks, small fishing boats, or personal watercraft. The boat launch and boat trailer parking lot is in the nearby Coyote Cove campground. The area offers opportunities for water sports of all kinds, hiking & mountain biking along many trails, or just sitting by the shore with a line in the water. Bird life is abundant in this area, with many species stopping along their migration route. We saw Loons, Dowitchers, White Pelicans, Coots and even the shy Hermit Thrush.  

    The closest town with services is Spring Creek a short 12 miles away, a dozen more miles northwest is the city of Elko which has all the usual suburban amenities and big box stores and interstate 80 running through the middle of town. We had good mobile service and data throughout the campground. Showers, water and a dump station are available at the developed campground across the lake, though it is only open from Spring until Fall, depending upon weather conditions.

  • allison W.
    Jul. 23, 2022

    Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site

    Reservation situation is confusing

    The reservation situation here is a bit confusing. Dyrt makes it out to be a group site, which it is, but it can also be reserved as up to nine individual sites if a group hasn’t already laid their claim. It can cause some confusing situations. Aside from that, the area is gorgeous and there is so much to do here. It isn’t too far off the beaten path compared to other campgrounds in the area, so a good solution for a family reunion or something where different campers have different comfort levels. There is potable water and vault toilets available but no hookups.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 17, 2022

    East Campground — South Fork State Recreation Area

    Not too far off the highway but you'd never know it!

    General: 25-site campground with electric hookups on the South Fork Reservoir. A handful of sites are reservable but most are first-come, first-available. 

    Site Quality: All sites are gravel (except the Handicap site) with electric hookups; most appeared level and some have a view of the reservoir. Covered picnic tables with a windshield (in front of a tent platform). Water spigots are located throughout the campground. 

    Bathhouse: Individual unisex units that were decent but no soap or paper towels. The shower looked like it needed a good cleaning. 

    Activities: We were there on a blustery Sunday in May but in season, you can enjoy water activities. Nearby rentals are available for boats, jet skis, kayaks, and SUPS. Short trails to the beach which was rocky but walkable. The weather was not forecasted to be pleasant during our stay – a high wind advisory with rain and snow and temperatures dipping into single digits overnight, so it was difficult to imagine what it would be like in the summer with all the water activities going on!

  • D
    Aug. 18, 2018

    Humboldt National Forest Angel Creek Campground

    awesome!

    This is 6,200 foot elevation 8 miles outside Wells, Nevada. Peaceful camping in an aspen grove with fire pits, toilet, trash receptacle. If you’re a birder it’s got high desert birds, raptors. I saw my first Lewis’s woodpecker, watched a Harrier hunting, a flock of soaring, bug eating Common Nighthawks, deer everywhere. Stunning views of the terrain. Designated tent pitching squares, kinda rocky but fine with a protective footprint.

  • A
    Nov. 8, 2021

    Valley View RV Park

    Awesome price for amenities

    Found this gem from a billboard that seemed too good to be true: $14/night for a spot with showers and laundry. We called to check it out and made a reservation. While it may not look like much, fourteen dollars was well worth the price. The spots have 30/50amp hookups, potable water, and sewer. The showers were hot with amazing pressure. The laundry facility was large and the washers/dryers worked well. It’s close to the highway and train tracks, but we didn’t really notice the noise. There is no WiFi, but our phone service was great. Would absolutely stay again.


Guide to Spring Creek

Tent camping in Spring Creek, Nevada provides access to multiple wilderness areas in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest at elevations ranging from 5,000 to 8,000 feet. The region experiences hot, dry summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F and cold winters with significant snowfall. Most dispersed sites in the area remain accessible from late spring through early fall, with seasonal road closures affecting winter access to higher elevation locations.

What to do

Hiking to alpine lakes: Angel Lake Picnic Site sits near multiple trailhead access points to the East Humboldt Wilderness where hikers can reach pristine alpine lakes. The site closes seasonally, with one reviewer noting "Road out to angel lake closed so was humboldt loop."

Hot spring soaking: The natural hot springs at 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping provide year-round soaking opportunities. A camper shared, "The hot spring water temp is perfect. There's plenty of room though when I went there were few people there."

Creek exploration: Bishop Creek runs through several camping areas and offers warm water swimming spots. According to one tent camper, "The creek water is warm from the hot spring and made for some fun exploring and even cooling off on a hot July day!"

What campers like

Stargazing opportunities: East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping offers minimal light pollution for night sky viewing. A camper noted, "fantastic Milky Way star gazing on a clear night."

Privacy and solitude: Weekday visits typically offer more seclusion at most tent sites in the area. One camper reported, "There were days when we had the spring all to ourselves, weekends got crowded."

Wildlife viewing: Free-range cattle are common throughout the region. A reviewer at East Humboldt mentioned, "There are free-roaming cows in the area, which added a unique touch—they kept to themselves, and we did the same."

What you should know

Vehicle requirements: Access roads to many Spring Creek area camping spots require high-clearance vehicles. A camper at 12 Mile Hot Springs Dispersed Camping stated, "Epic spot. Got all the way to the hot spring with a non-modified 4WD w/ decent clearance and a skilled driver, but it is September so the water crossings were low."

Limited established sites: Many dispersed camping areas have very few developed sites. According to one reviewer, "It has a nice view, a river right by, is right off a paved road, only downside is there is only really one spot so not many people can camp here."

Water crossings: Some access roads require fording creeks that vary seasonally in depth. One tent camper explained, "The roads were rough, I got through with my Subaru Outback but it definitely hit the frame a couple of times. There were a couple creek crossings."

Tips for camping with families

Reservation planning: Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site offers family-friendly options with more amenities than dispersed sites. A camper advised, "It isn't too far off the beaten path compared to other campgrounds in the area, so a good solution for a family reunion or something where different campers have different comfort levels."

Day use alternatives: For families with young children, consider day trips rather than overnight stays at remote hot springs. One visitor suggested, "Great day trip to the hot springs. Brought the dogs & let them run to have a blast. Went in the AM and barely had anyone around."

Wildlife awareness: Teach children about keeping distance from wildlife and livestock. A camper warned, "The cows were a little scary and we saw a snake."

Tips from RVers

Site limitations: Most tent camping areas near Spring Creek cannot accommodate large RVs. A visitor to East Humboldt Wilderness Dispersed Camping shared, "There's a big spot for a U Turn as well," which helps smaller vehicles navigate the limited space.

Alternative camping options: Consider camping at more accessible locations and making day trips to remote areas. One experienced camper suggested, "You can do the 'hike' that would essentially be a brisk walk" to reach hot springs if your vehicle cannot handle rough roads.

Seasonal timing: Fall visits often feature lower water at creek crossings. As one camper noted, "It is September so the water crossings were low," making access easier for vehicles with modest clearance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Spring Creek, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Spring Creek, NV is Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest Terraces Picnic and Group Camping Site with a 3-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Spring Creek, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 tent camping locations near Spring Creek, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.