8 Remote Camping Areas Across Nevada

Nevada’s vast wilderness offers some of the most secluded camping experiences in America. Beyond the neon lights of Las Vegas lie untouched deserts, mountain ranges, and valleys where adventurous souls can truly disconnect.

If you’re yearning for starry skies and solitude, Nevada’s remote camping areas provide the perfect escape from everyday chaos.

1. Valley of Fire State Park’s Backcountry

Hidden among fiery red sandstone formations, this backcountry camping area offers a prehistoric landscape that seems otherworldly at sunset. Few travelers venture beyond the main attractions.

Though permits are required for overnight stays, the extra effort rewards you with unparalleled solitude among 2,000-year-old petroglyphs and bizarre rock formations. Bring plenty of water – the desert heat is no joke!

2. Black Rock Desert’s Playa Wilderness

Famous for Burning Man, this otherworldly landscape transforms into a camper’s paradise during the off-season. The flat, ancient lakebed stretches endlessly beneath enormous skies.

Where else can you camp literally anywhere across 1,000 square miles of nothingness? No designated sites exist here – just pick a spot and call it home. Stargazing here rivals any professional observatory, with zero light pollution revealing the Milky Way in stunning clarity.

3. Alta-Toquima Wilderness Peaks

Tucked away in central Nevada’s Monitor Range sits the state’s highest forest camping destination. Ancient bristlecone pines, some older than 3,000 years, stand as silent sentinels around primitive campsites.

If mountain solitude calls your name, the trek to 11,000+ feet elevation delivers breathtaking alpine meadows filled with wildflowers during summer months. Wildlife enthusiasts might spot bighorn sheep navigating rocky outcroppings while hawks soar overhead on thermal currents.

4. Jarbidge Wilderness Riverbanks

Nevada’s best-kept secret hides in its northeastern corner where lush forests meet rugged mountains. Unlike the state’s desert reputation, Jarbidge offers dense pine forests and flowing streams perfect for trout fishing.

Primitive campsites along the Jarbidge River provide cool respite even during summer’s peak heat. Though reaching this remote wilderness requires serious off-road driving skills, the journey rewards adventurers with absolute tranquility and some of Nevada’s most diverse wildlife viewing opportunities.

5. Gold Butte National Monument Outback

Want to camp where few humans have ventured? Gold Butte’s backcountry offers dispersed camping among surreal Joshua tree forests and dramatic red rock formations.

Since gaining monument status in 2016, this remote corner still receives minimal visitors. Adventurous campers discover ancient petroglyphs, twisted sandstone arches, and abandoned mining relics scattered throughout the landscape. Four-wheel drive vehicles are absolutely necessary – cell service disappeared miles ago!

6. Ruby Mountains’ Lamoille Canyon

Nicknamed “Nevada’s Alps,” this glacier-carved canyon defies desert stereotypes with its lush vegetation and year-round streams. Thomas Canyon Campground offers primitive sites beneath aspen groves that explode with golden colors each fall.

Ambitious hikers can backpack to alpine lakes where camping is permitted with proper permits. While technically established, the campground’s remote location and short season (usually July-September) mean you’ll rarely share this mountain paradise with more than a handful of fellow nature lovers.

7. Blue Mass Scenic Area’s Hidden Valleys

Bordering Great Basin National Park yet receiving a fraction of its visitors, Blue Mass offers dispersed camping amid limestone cliffs and juniper forests. Springs bubble up from ancient aquifers, creating unexpected oases in this high desert landscape.

History buffs appreciate abandoned mining cabins scattered throughout the area. Night skies here rank among America’s darkest, with the International Dark Sky Association recognizing nearby Great Basin for its exceptional stargazing. Four-wheel drive vehicles navigate rough roads leading to pristine campsites.

8. Lake Mead’s Anniversary Narrows

Though Lake Mead sees millions of visitors yearly, few discover the slot canyon wilderness beyond Anniversary Narrows. Accessible only via challenging dirt roads, primitive camping here offers otherworldly scenery without crowds.

Flash flood dangers mean checking weather forecasts is essential before setting up camp near the narrows. Morning light transforms narrow limestone walls into a photographer’s dream canvas of shadows and textures. Bring extra water – summer temperatures regularly exceed 100°F, making this a perfect winter camping destination.