Water Canyon Recreation Area
BLM
Write a Review Water Canyon Rd. Winnemucca, NV 89445 775-623-1500 Official WebsiteGPS: 40.9303, -117.675
Overview of Water Canyon Recreation Area
Accessibility is not guaranteed, always scout ahead before driving down dirt roads. Learn more: Boondocking 101.
Last Price Paid: $0
Reported by camper-863534 on 5/2/2024
Longest RV Reported: 40 feet (Fifth Wheel)
Reported by Debs on 10/6/2017
Elevation 5,413 ft / 1,649 m
Max Stay 3
Tent Camping Yes
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To ask questions of the owner or manager please contact the campground directly. 775-623-1500
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Reviews of Water Canyon Recreation Area 62 people have reviewed this location.
“Camp closed, but....”
Reviewed 6/19/2020
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
If you just need a spot for a night, it will serve. I needed a place close to town for a few days while I dealt with some health stuff at the local hospital. Maybe not the best for an RV because the CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED. There’s parking outside the gate, where some folks spent the night. You can see that parking spot would get very sof... more
If you just need a spot for a night, it will serve. I needed a place close to town for a few days while I dealt with some health stuff at the local hospital. Maybe not the best for an RV because the CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED. There’s parking outside the gate, where some folks spent the night. You can see that parking spot would get very soft when it rains. The road in is firm dirt & gravel. The campground paved. A dirt road to the left of the gate will take you up to a good flat spot. Technically not legal, I guess, but I had no problems except for my arrival when a local woman yelled at me & threatened to call BLM to report what I “was doing out there”. Sigh. There’s always one killjoy wherever you go. If the BLM ran out there for every illegal camper they would be very busy, indeed.
I stayed 3 days & 2 nights. It’s a popular spot for off-roading. Tends to be windy, so no campfires. No hiking trails to speak of. It’s completely dry camping. Sagebrush & no trees, except in the campground. Oh, and pretty much infested with Mormon crickets, which are harmless but creepy as hell. Lots of cattle moseying about. Spectacular views & the stars were glorious. Saw a pronghorn. Oddly, very few birds, not even raptors. I think I would enjoy staying in the campground, which has a 3-day limit.
MudLuvver would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Water Canyon is Closed”
Reviewed 6/6/2020
Days stayed: | 0 |
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Just confirming Sheri's review below. As of June 6th, Water Canyon listed as closed on the BLM Nevada Covid info website. https://www.blm.gov/alert/blm-nevada-covid-19-information
MickR would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“🚨WARNING🚨”
Reviewed 5/13/2020
Days stayed: | 0 |
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Wanted to let people know this place is not currently open. It’s not listed as closed as most places are when not accessible.
Aside from that the other reviews were correct about good roads and seemed like easy access all the way up to the locked gate.
Happy camping
Sheri would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Pretty and close to town”
Reviewed 10/2/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 2 |
RV Length: | 21' (Travel Trailer) |
This nice BLM campground is just outside Winnemucca, and overlooks the town. We camped in site #2. Pretty views in all directions. 3 day camping limit. We were there on 3 consecutive weeknights. Very light local traffic. Temperatures in the 20’s at night, around 50 during the day when we were there in late Sept/early Oct. Too cold I gu... more
This nice BLM campground is just outside Winnemucca, and overlooks the town. We camped in site #2. Pretty views in all directions. 3 day camping limit. We were there on 3 consecutive weeknights. Very light local traffic. Temperatures in the 20’s at night, around 50 during the day when we were there in late Sept/early Oct. Too cold I guess for the Mormon crickets, though we saw a few while hiking- none at the campsite.
RVRWAY would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Camping in the aspens. Beautiful moon at night.”
Reviewed 8/16/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
Site Number: | 10 |
RV Length: | 16' (Travel Trailer) |
We drove all the way to the top of the canyon. Had a nice large site with picnic table and fire pit. Vault toilet nearby but no water. Small creek right there too. We just used a bucket to get water from the creek to douse the fire. I'm sure it's a busy place on the weekends for most of the locals. Hiking, mountain biking and eve... more
We drove all the way to the top of the canyon. Had a nice large site with picnic table and fire pit. Vault toilet nearby but no water. Small creek right there too. We just used a bucket to get water from the creek to douse the fire. I'm sure it's a busy place on the weekends for most of the locals. Hiking, mountain biking and even ATV's, Gotta watch your step because of all the crickets. (they are kinda creepy looking) Not sure I would want to be in a ground tent here.
Can't beat the price. Breakfast at the The Griddle in town is the best!
Rickster - Bambi would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Easy To Find, Great Service, Just BEWARE the MORMON CRICKETS!”
Reviewed 7/30/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 0 |
RV Length: | 30' (Class C) |
We pulled into Water Canyon and were so excited to camp here. Quite a few really lovely sites that would accommodate just about any size rig, some shaded, some not, however when we arrived there were THOUSANDS of Mormon crickets covering the roads and all the vegetation in the Recreation Area. Infestation numbers. Usually not bothered ... more
We pulled into Water Canyon and were so excited to camp here. Quite a few really lovely sites that would accommodate just about any size rig, some shaded, some not, however when we arrived there were THOUSANDS of Mormon crickets covering the roads and all the vegetation in the Recreation Area. Infestation numbers. Usually not bothered by bugs, but bugs in numbers are not for us so we continued on to another spot.
roadtoidyll would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
Reviewed 6/30/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
It was a great boon-docking site. The road into it was a very well maintained road with packed down gravel.We didn’t go all the way up into the canyon, but we were blessed to have a vault toilet right by us and we’re right on the little river. We were here at the end of June and the only thing we didn’t like was there we hundreds o... more
It was a great boon-docking site. The road into it was a very well maintained road with packed down gravel.We didn’t go all the way up into the canyon, but we were blessed to have a vault toilet right by us and we’re right on the little river.
We were here at the end of June and the only thing we didn’t like was there we hundreds of HUGE Mormon Crickets everywhere that our little dogs kept chasing.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Local Hangout ”
Reviewed 5/30/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 2 |
Site Number: | 2 |
RV Length: | 23' (Class B) |
We've stayed in Water Canyon two different times. The first time was in early May the second was after the Memorial Day weekend. The second time was our last. While the canyon is very pretty with lots of natural beauty, it is a locals hangout. On our second night in the canyon during our second stay we experienced way to many people pa... more
We've stayed in Water Canyon two different times. The first time was in early May the second was after the Memorial Day weekend. The second time was our last. While the canyon is very pretty with lots of natural beauty, it is a locals hangout. On our second night in the canyon during our second stay we experienced way to many people passing by our site in the middle of the night. At around midnight one large SUV parked next to our rig and turned the engine off.
The vehicle parked right in front of our campsite and turned off the engine, right. I don't know about you, but it really freaked us out. We turned our headlamps on after awhile to give them an indication we were awake and aware of them being at our campsite. No matter, these people didn't leave and after about 30 min they moved on. I thought at first they wanted to hit the restroom located very close by, nope... they never got out of the car.. It freaked us out enough to split, because it was the second time in so many hours to have cars and trucks stop at our campsite.
About cell coverage... The more you go up into the canyon, the less likely you will have any coverage. The canyon blocks most cell coverage.
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Gem of an overnight stay on the way through Nevada”
Reviewed 5/26/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 1 |
RV Length: | 25' |
Passed through in May 2019 on the way from California to Wyoming over Memorial Day weekend. I didn't expect to find such a green and verdant space in the middle of the Nevada desert! The road into the rec area was extremely well-graded -- probably the nicest road I've ever driven down to reach a boondocking spot. We parked at the 5t... more
Passed through in May 2019 on the way from California to Wyoming over Memorial Day weekend. I didn't expect to find such a green and verdant space in the middle of the Nevada desert!
The road into the rec area was extremely well-graded -- probably the nicest road I've ever driven down to reach a boondocking spot. We parked at the 5th spot with our 25' motorhome and were right by the river with plenty of shade. Ground was a bit muddy due to recent rains.
There were vehicles passing by occasionally throughout the afternoon, but the river was so loud I could barely hear them.
Benzamin would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
“Creek side camping ”
Reviewed 5/16/2019
Nightly rate: | FREE! |
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Days stayed: | 3 |
Site Number: | 2 |
RV Length: | 26' (Class C) |
We followed our GPS up water Canyon Road through the residential section but then it opened up and lead right to the recreation area. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings. We stayed at a pool through right alongside a fast moving creek. Unfortunately it rained for a couple days straight before we got here So it is a l... more
We followed our GPS up water Canyon Road through the residential section but then it opened up and lead right to the recreation area. Most sites have concrete picnic tables and fire rings. We stayed at a pool through right alongside a fast moving creek. Unfortunately it rained for a couple days straight before we got here So it is a little muddy. The weather is supposed to get better so we are excited to explore all the hiking trails that surround this recreation area.
GlacierCampingNation.com would stay here again
This review is the opinion of a Campendium member and not of Campendium.com
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Amenities
Hookups
- dry camping
Recreation
- OHV
- picnic area
- recreation trail
Site Amenities
- fire ring
- picnic table
Facilities
- restrooms: vault
Pets
- pets
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