Tent Camping in Nevada
The state of Nevada is one of the largest and most mountainous in the nation. It is also sparsely populated, meaning there are a significant amount of unspoiled areas to explore. Getting out with your tent and camping in the national park and national forest areas, state parks, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) areas is a great way to experience the solitude and beauty of the state. There are considerations for campers, though, regarding topography, climate and facilities.
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Topography
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The majority of Nevada is within the Great Basin Desert, which stretches from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges on the west to the Rocky Mountain range on the east. Within the Great Basin, there are a multitude of north-south running mountain ranges with valleys in between. Campers, consequently, can pitch their tents at the lower elevations in the valleys or at higher elevations in the mountains. In general, the lower elevations in Nevada are a desert terrain while the higher elevations provide more of a forested setting. Shaded spots for your tent can be hard to come by at the lower elevations.
Climate
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Because much of Nevada is a desert, there is little in the way of precipitation. Summers tend to be hot and dry, particularly in the southern part of the state. As you go up in elevation, the temperatures cool. For example, along the western edge of the Las Vegas valley, you'll find the Spring Mountain range, which tops out at 12,000 feet of elevation. The temperature in the Springs is usually 10 to 20 degrees cooler than it is in Las Vegas.
In the winter, the mountains of Nevada receive a fair amount of snow, especially around the Reno/Carson City area. The weather throughout the state can change rapidly, and during the wet seasons--December and January and July and August--rainstorms can occur suddenly. Campers are advised to watch weather forecasts closely, both to determine the type of tent, gear and clothing they might need for their trip and to be alert to the risk of flash floods.
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Facilities
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Outside of the Las Vegas area and the Reno/Carson City area, Nevada is very sparsely populated. This means facilities, such as gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants and gear shops, can be difficult to come by in much of the state. Campers should travel with plenty of water, particularly in the summer, as well as the food and gear they need for their trip. Bringing along a toolkit for general repairs to the tent and other gear and a fully stocked first aid kit is also wise. Since cell phone service can be unpredictable and sometimes unavailable, campers in remote areas should be prepared to deal with their own emergencies, such as injuries or a car trouble.
Developed Campgrounds
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There are a number of tent-friendly Nevada State Park campsites spread across the state of Nevada, such as in Dayton State Park near Reno or Valley of Fire State Park north of Las Vegas. Additionally, Great Basin National Park and Lake Mead National Recreation Area, both part of the National Park System, have developed camping areas. Campers can usually obtain a reservation for these campgrounds.
Remote Campgrounds
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The National Forest Service and BLM campgrounds in Nevada tend to be remote, meaning limited amenities--running water, showers, flush toilets and picnic tables are not always available. These campgrounds are usually first come first served. Getting to the remote campgrounds often requires a high-clearance, 4x4 vehicle. An advantage to this, though, is tent campers won't need to share the campground with RV campers.
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References
- Photo Credit tent on the forest image by Galyna Andrushko from Fotolia.com
