The 30,000-acre, 12 mile long by 5 mile wide lake has a shoreline that varies from steep and rocky on the west side to sandy beaches on its east side. Walker Lake and the Sportsman's Beach Recreation Site is located in Mineral County, Nevada. This lake is a rare perennial lake of the Great Basin and is important for a variety of resident and migratory wildlife species. Approximately 38,000 acres in size, Walker Lake is the most prominent geographical feature in the region and the primary focal point for recreation in the area. Walker Lake offers a variety of recreational opportunities including swimming, picnicking, boating, bird watching, water-skiing and camping. Sportsman's Beach provides thirty one individual camp sites plus two undeveloped camping areas that accommodate RV and tent campers. Facilities include vault toilets, covered picnic tables, grills, pull through and back-in camp sites, paved access and a public boat ramp area. There is no potable water available at Sportman's Beach. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Carson City District-Stillwater Field Office, manages a Recreation Fee Program at Sportsman's Beach Recreation Site. Authorized by Congress, this program has been effective in collecting fees to help maintain facilities and enhance visitor services. We reinvest all fee money collected to improve and expand facilities at the site where it is collected. We plan to improve the facilities at Sportsman's Beach and to make facilities accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities. User fees at Sportsman's Beach are collected for overnight use of the area under the following schedule: Developed Camp Site: $6/night/vehicle $36/week/vehicle $2/night/vehicle Primitive Camp Area: $4/night/vehicle $22/week/vehicle America the Beautiful Senior and Access Passes are honored. Walker Lake is an oasis for migratory birds including the common loon, snow geese, and white pelicans, several species of grebe, brants, and harlequin ducks. Snowy plovers feed along the shoreline and American avocets and black-necked stilts wade the shallows. Desert Bighorn sheep are often seen on the cliffs along the west side of the lake during the summer months and the occasional pronghorn antelope or wild horse can be spotted browsing along the eastern shore. Due to the declining water levels and the increase in salinity, fishing for Lahontan Cutthroat trout is no longer available. Sportsman's Beach provides 34 developed campsites with cabanas, picnic tables and vault toilets. Tamarack Beach and Twenty Mile Beach provide opportunities for dispersed camping for RV or tents along the shoreline.

Sportsmans Beach Walker Lake Recreation Area

I've stayed at Walker Lake's 20 Mile Beach campground a few times and I'd say the site has a few pros and cons.

It has some remarkable sunrises and sunsets and it's easy to access places to camp (Though be aware there are some sandy sites that might be inaccessible without  a 4x4 vehicle).

The downsides are that the smell of the lake itself isn't exactly pleasant, you're never very far from the highway so there's regular road noise, and depending on the season the mosquitos can be rough.

Either way it's worth stopping in to check out the views!

Gorgeous view, Not so gorgeous smell.

beautiful views! but the view is all there is... after reading that it is a "dead lake"...plus the scent of the water....noo thanks on getting in there. 

Walker Lake

We stayed at the 20 mile beach camp site. As you make your way down the dirt road, the road will fork at the public trash bins. We headed right, and followed a dirt road down towards the lake. You will see a large round clearing, and that is where we set up our large Kodiak cabin style tent. The dirt road down to the site was a little bumpy. Maybe not suitable for low profile vehicles. We drove in in a Chevy pick up.

Bring mosquito repellent because there are tons of bugs. The lake is pretty dirty. There’s a lot of missy looking substance on it. My kids tried fishing, even though the fishing report stated fishing was not good. I have 9 and 11 year olds... They don’t like to reason when it comes to fishing, or “wetting a line” as they say.

The camp ground is mostly gravel and coarse sand. I had to use a heavy hammer to stake our tent. We didn’t see or hear any snakes. The nights were very pleasant. There is wildlife all around, but nothing kept us up at night. I was kind of hoping for some owl hooting, or coyotes, but I didn’t hear any. This site is also far enough from the road, where you really don’t hear the traffic. Make sure to step out, or open a window to enjoy the sunrise.

Breath taking sunrise and very private

2 hour drive S. of Reno The Dirt led us to Sportsman’s as a stop off on our way to Az. Love it!!! 

Awesome stop off

Vault toilets, trash container, covered picnic tables and nice view of Walker Lake. As per other reviews, there are three levels at this campground. We selected a site at the top for the amazing view and nice breezes. A bit less breezy and more buggy in lower campsites closer to water. It was Memorial Day weekend but the place was only about 20% full. Boaters and families playing at the lower level had the place almost to their selves. Glad we stayed at the top away from the generator noise below. You will definitely have road noise but not a deal breaker for us. Price was right especially with our pass. Select 2nd and 3rd levels if winds are high.

Fantastic lake view from campground

This is a nice place to stop for a short respite from the road and  a bite to eat. I have travelled by this area many times and my comments are always the same. There are no trees at all! There are some shade structures built but still. This is the picture of a very beautiful, barren, desert lake.

Just a rest stop

I've stopped at this campground twice and have very few complaints! There are two areas to camp at, one up higher and the other lower, walking distance from the lake. I've stayed at both. 

Both locations have plenty of spaces, complete with a fire pit and covered area containing a picnic table. There is a bathroom at both, although the upper lot bathroom was locked when I was there the first time.

The campground is right off the main road so you do hear road noise (and if at the upper site can definitely see lights from vehicles). The noise at the lower site is much lower.

Down near the lake it was definitely windier and a bit colder than the upper sites.

I saw no signage about camping fees both times I've stopped.