Best Dispersed Camping near Wellington, NV

Dispersed camping near Wellington, Nevada spans several free primitive sites within public lands along the Sierra Nevada's eastern edge. The Scotts Lake Road Dispersed Camping area in Hope Valley provides no-cost options for self-contained campers, while Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs offers free campsites with access to natural hot springs. Additional primitive sites include Twenty Mile Beach on Walker Lake and several Forest Service managed zones throughout Hope Valley. Most sites lack amenities such as water, restrooms, or garbage service, requiring campers to be fully self-sufficient.

Access routes to dispersed sites vary significantly in condition and difficulty. Many areas feature dirt roads with rocky sections, potholes, and occasional washboard surfaces. Several sites become difficult or impossible to reach during winter months due to snow closures, particularly at higher elevations like Scotts Lake Road. A review noted, "Depending on rain, deep puddles can appear and spots of the road can get washed out." Higher clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching more remote locations, though some areas accommodate standard passenger vehicles. Primitive camping follows leave-no-trace principles with campers responsible for packing out all waste.

These dispersed camping areas provide opportunities for solitude amid mountain landscapes and alpine meadows. Most sites feature natural clearings with established fire rings, though seasonal fire restrictions often apply. A visitor remarked, "We had a wildflower-filled meadow to ourselves in early August with plenty of nearby trails for dirt bikes, Jeeping, horses, mountain biking or hiking." Another camper noted that "Obsidian Campground is a great way to beat the August heat" due to higher elevations. Sites typically fill quickly on summer weekends and holidays but remain relatively uncrowded midweek. Proximity to hiking trails, fishing streams, and scenic drives makes these areas popular despite their minimal facilities. Cell service is limited or non-existent at most locations, offering a true disconnect from urban environments.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Wellington, Nevada (32)

    1. Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping

    20 Reviews
    Echo Lake, CA
    30 miles

    "Easy access and reasonably good road quality make it very RV friendly - I would say that it was at least 75% RVs/Trailers. Beautiful views of the valley and hills to the east."

    "Easy to see right off the road with plenty of campsites down either side of a nice dirt road. Rocky and steep road access to Scott’s lake, but easy camping on the edge of the valley."

    2. Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    24 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    36 miles

    "The address on google maps however DOES NOT lead to the camping destination but we ended up running into a couple of ATV’ers that led us in the right direction."

    "Just pull onto one of the dirt roads on the left and find a spot! Any car or smaller RV could easily drive the road."

    3. Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping

    10 Reviews
    Hawthorne, NV
    33 miles
    Website

    "This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. This is the northernmost BLM campground along Highway 95. Follow the signage along the highway."

    "There is no shade anywhere around, so if you're tent camping in summer be prepared to get up early. The sun and heat had us out of bed by 6am, taking down the tent."

    5. Dispersed USFS

    3 Reviews
    Markleeville, CA
    30 miles

    "This is full wilderness camping off the main road between hope valley and the blue lakes."

    "Several areas along Blue Lakes Rd offer dispersed camping."

    7. Obsidian Creek on Little Walker Road

    3 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    32 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 932-7070

    $18 / night

    "Close to fishing streams, high mountain lakes, hiking trails, off roading and don't forget that trip into Bridgeport and Bodie."

    "Easy access two miles off US 395 by gravel road.   It is know as an infrequently utilized destination. The trailhead for Molybdenite Creek is just past site 14. "

    8. Hope Valley Dispersed

    1 Review
    Echo Lake, CA
    30 miles

    "Free camping"

    9. Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    5 Reviews
    Silver Springs, NV
    37 miles

    "Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River."

    "So beautiful, open, and feels safe. Late March is hot in the day and a little cool at night. Family friendly."

    10. Leavitt Lake

    3 Reviews
    Bridgeport, CA
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (760) 932-7070

    "I have a truck. i got about a half mile in before the snow washed out the road. you can still hike in. high clearance and 4wd a must"

    "We visited Lake Levitte, back in June 2021. I would recommend a high clearance vehicle, ad there are some technical sections. If you watch your line, you can make it."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Wellington, NV

112 Reviews of 32 Wellington Campgrounds


  • VThe Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 3, 2023

    Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    Gorgeous Riparian Forest

    Scout camp is on the Carson river and within the tall cottonwoods. Camp in the shade or out in the open if it’s very windy as the trees can shed branches. Garbage collection and pit toilets. Nice trail along the River.

    As of October 2023 the access road to scout camp was washed out. But there is dispersed camping on the terrace to the south.

  • Val C.
    Jul. 4, 2023

    Leavitt Lake

    Not Accessible by Car

    I have a truck. i got about a half mile in before the snow washed out the road. you can still hike in. high clearance and 4wd a must

  • Nora S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 4, 2020

    Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    Never seen anything like this before!

    So I was hesitant to write a review because I didn’t want this place to have any more visitors than it already does..! It was an amazing experience overall and we can’t wait to come back. The address on google maps however DOES NOT lead to the camping destination but we ended up running into a couple of ATV’ers that led us in the right direction. It’s actually off the highway before where the maps lead you and there is a sign that says Travertine Hot Springs. Having arrived at night, we were very glad to have met the locals that were helpful in showing us the way! So once you turn off the highway, you follow a dirt road that leads you straight to the springs. We ended up turning off and heading up a pretty rough road to find a spot on top of a canyon looking hill to camp. We were looking for seclusion and we definitely got it! The view was amazing from up top, and in the morning with a quick 5 minute drive we changed into our bathing suits and went for an early morning “nature hot tub swim”. The springs are hot but not boiling, and we spent an hour soaking there with absolutely no worries in the world. Definitely an amazing stay, and absolutely no hesitation to go back!

  • S E.
    Jul. 13, 2021

    Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    Quiet & Secluded

    I loved camping here. There’s a few spots off the road that leads into the hot springs, before you hit the sign that says no camping. Just pull onto one of the dirt roads on the left and find a spot! Any car or smaller RV could easily drive the road.

    There was no one else there when I was camped there, and as a solo female traveler I felt extremely safe. It was quiet and secluded, beautiful, yet only 10 minutes off of 395, less than a mile from the hot spring, and I had full LTE cell reception (verizon).

    There are rock fire rings that previous campers have made if you’re going to be here when camp fires are allowed. There’s no other amenities such as picnic tables or a bathroom, water, or garbage collection - this is free dispersed camping, so be prepared to be self-sufficient: pack out what you bring in and leave no trace!

  • SThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 27, 2023

    Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    Incredible location, amazing views, hot springs!!

    Road was accessible for us in a Toyota Tacoma, but a Camry also made it up. It was a little crowded in the area we stayed (with 4 other caravans and trailers), as the other dirt road giving access to different campsites was more for high clearance vehicles (very steep and uneven). Hot springs in walking distance. Incredible views of the mountains. We would definitely stay here again. No waste services or restrooms, but a vault toilet was available at the hot springs less than a mile away. Would visit again!

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 8, 2023

    USFS Silver Fork Dispersed

    Endless Possibilities

    The coordinates listed on the app are simply for the entrance to the dispersed camping. There are infinite amounts of primitive roads to drive down and find camp. I stayed at N38.768811• W 120.238630° — on top of a peak that offered 360° views with sunrise and sunset right from my tent. At this specific sight, there are no overhead trees. Despite being primitive, the roads are well kept, even if you have a small SUV. It could get slightly tricky with a car. I stayed here for 7 days (10/31-11/6) and only saw one other person on the primivite roads. The above coordinates are about a 6 mile drive in from US50. You will see a campground on your right about 5 miles down when driving in, about a mile further down the road you will come up on the dirt road leading you up the mountain.

    A couple of notes:

    1. You are required to have a permit for any day/overnight use in Eldorado, including this area. They can be easily acquired at recreation.gov
    2. Cell phone reception is very spotty, in and out of a couple of bars throughout the drive in. — AT&T coverage. At the above coordinates, there were 2 bars of low grade coverage allowing basic texts to send. Not enough service for web browsing or sending photos via text.
    3. This area has been widely burnt by fires last year. There are still large areas unburnt. You will find yourself going in and out of them while driving.
    4. KEEP IT CLEAN — this area is immaculate and besides dug out fire pits, human trace is non-existent. Leave it cleaner than you found it, pick up your trash (and other’s if you see any), respect the area and it will respect you.
    5. NO CAMP SERVICES — There is no trash service or even dumpsters at the signed entrance; pack it in pack it out. There are no restrooms in the area either.
  • Connie H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 10, 2025

    Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed

    Quiet Spot Near Hot Springs

    There are No Camping signs posted at the road and farther up toward the hot springs. We did end up staying here one night with our pop-up camper, because it was late when we finally arrived. There was a little pull out loop that had a camper van and another truck camper already parked and camping when we got there. There was plenty of room to be able to pull in and park in that area as well. It’s very dusty/sandy in this area. The hot springs were a 5 min drive from this spot. There are really no facilities here! There is one vault toilet down by the hot springs, but it was pretty rough. There are no trash cans around, it is a pack it in, pack it out area, please be prepared to clean up after yourselves and remove your trash. I did clean up some remnants of others trash, but for the most part it was pretty well kept. Although it says no camping, this was a decent overnight spot with beautiful views and it was pretty awesome to be able to wake up and soak in the hot springs on a chilly morning!

  • Jacqueline G.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Dispersed USFS

    Worth the climbs to get here!!

    This is full wilderness camping off the main road between hope valley and the blue lakes. I had no problem getting in with my 30ft bus towing a jeep but the road is steep and winding for about 7 miles to the pull off. There were a lot of other campers for Labor Day weekend but the rest of the time there was no one around. Jugs of water can be filled at the campgrounds about 5 miles in each direction. PLEASE NOTE: There are prolonged climbs to get here (up to about 8% grade) but my bus did fine. Slow and steady and you’ll be fine. Also WATCH THE WEATHER! Rain can cause spots of the road in to get washed out a bit and deep puddles can appear. There are loads of rocks and fallen trees around to fill in holes if needed. If you’re moderate to high clearance rig you’ll be fine just be mindful. The Blue Lakes are just down the road for swimming, boating, kayaking etc and lots of amazing 4x4 trails. Rivers for fishing and endless hiking and biking. Elevation is 8300ft so definitely a bit high. The trees help with the air however. Not nearly as tough as the high desert of Utah (Zion or Brice) but just take it easy if you’re not used to high altitude.

  • John C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 24, 2025

    Scout Camp at Fort Churchill

    Large area, space for RV's and smaller vehicles.

    There is a few large, flat, hard-pack areas to park in and multiple dirt roads that lead off to smaller, more secluded sites. Many of the roads will require 4-wheel drive and high clearance but they are not too bad. Some of the area is free while other parts appear to require payment. Many travel trailers out here with huge set-ups and multiple vehicles.


Guide to Wellington

Dispersed camping near Wellington, Nevada offers access to high-elevation sites along the eastern Sierra Nevada range. Most free campsites sit between 6,500-8,300 feet elevation, providing cooler summer temperatures compared to nearby valley areas. Winter access becomes limited above 7,000 feet with many roads closed by snow from November through May.

What to do

Mountain hiking trails: Near Obsidian Creek on Little Walker Road, campers can access multiple wilderness trails. "The trailhead for Molybdenite Creek is just past site 14. One day we took this trail about 2-1/2 miles up a canyon that leads into the Hoover Wilderness on the North East boundary of Yosemite National Park," reported one camper who also hiked "the 1 mile hike to Emma Lake, also in the Hoover Wilderness."

Natural hot springs soaking: Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs Dispersed camping areas provide direct access to thermal pools. "The hot springs were super cool and there were multiple pools scattered around the area. We swam in the small spring pools as the sun was setting and got to watch the stars come out," notes one reviewer who adds "some of the pools are super hot and others not much, also they are very muddy."

Four-wheel drive exploration: Unmaintained forest roads offer challenging terrain for off-roading enthusiasts. A camper at Dispersed USFS mentioned "loads of amazing 4x4 trails" and that the area provides "plenty of near-by trails for dirt bikes, Jeeping, horses, mountain biking or hiking."

What campers like

Stargazing conditions: The minimal light pollution makes for exceptional night sky viewing. A camper at Bridgeport Travertine Hot Springs noted "Stargazing from the hot springs was awesome!" while another mentioned enjoying the stars coming out while soaking in the thermal pools.

High elevation cooling: Summer campers appreciate the temperature difference at higher elevations. A visitor to Obsidian Creek on Little Walker Road explained "The elevation in this part of the Sierra's is a great way to beat the August heat" while camping with friends at this less-frequented destination.

Lakeside camping: Twenty Mile Beach Dispersed Camping provides direct water access. "This BLM site is 1 of 3 along the west side of Walker Lake. The views are spectacular as you are surrounded by mountains on all sides with Walker Lake in the middle of it all!" A visitor noted the area offers "amazing" sunrise and sunset views across the water.

What you should know

Road conditions vary significantly: Unmaintained forest roads can deteriorate rapidly. A camper at Dispersed USFS warned "WATCH THE WEATHER! Rain can cause spots of the road in to get washed out a bit and deep puddles can appear. There are loads of rocks and fallen trees around to fill in holes if needed."

Restroom facilities are minimal or absent: Most dispersed sites have no facilities. At Twenty Mile Beach, a camper reported "Toilets were locked so come prepared to pack in and pack out," while another noted the vault toilet at Travertine Hot Springs was "not great" and recommended being prepared for all waste needs.

Cell service reliability: Connectivity varies widely by location and carrier. At Iron Mountain Dispersed, a reviewer reported "We had 3 bars of AT&T connection there" while another camper noted "I had no service with Verizon or t-mobile." A Scotts Lake Road camper mentioned "No AT&T service whatsoever."

Tips for camping with families

Bring sufficient water supplies: No potable water exists at most dispersed sites. A Twenty Mile Beach camper recommended families "come prepared to pack in and pack out" all supplies including water, as facilities are minimal.

Consider campground alternatives during peak times: Holiday weekends see heavy use at free sites. "We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded. We had our choice of several places to set up," noted a visitor to Scotts Lake Road who specifically timed their arrival to avoid crowds.

Insect preparation: Evening bugs can be problematic in some locations. A Twenty Mile Beach camper warned that "bugs were bad but totally worth it with that sunrise and sunset," while another reported "Big gnarly spiders infest the area and make webs on everything, including your tent. Tons of bugs will cover your tent screens."

Tips from RVers

Site selection for larger rigs: Not all dispersed areas accommodate big RVs. At Iron MT. Dispersed, a reviewer noted "The ground is very flat and many areas are paved with gravel," making it suitable for larger vehicles. This former ski resort area provides more open, level spaces than most forest sites.

Access limitations for trailers: Many roads become challenging for towed RVs. A camper at Travertine Hot Springs advised "We were able to camp with our 19 foot trailer but I don't think I would recommend anything larger," citing the rough access road conditions.

Weekday arrivals recommended: Easier site selection occurs outside weekends. A Scotts Lake Road camper with a large setup reported "We are new to dispersed camping and have a 40 ft 5th wheel as well as a GMC Denali 350 dually. We need a large space to fit into. We arrived on a Monday at noon and found that the large area about 1/4 mile in was not at all crowded."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Wellington, NV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Wellington, NV is Scotts Lake Rd Dispersed Camping with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Wellington, NV?

TheDyrt.com has all 32 dispersed camping locations near Wellington, NV, with real photos and reviews from campers.