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Bird Creek Campground
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Bird Creek Campground

Overview

Bird Creek Recreation Area is located in the Duck Creek Basin, high on the Schell Creek Range. It sits at an elevation of 8,200 feet, approximately 25 miles from the small city of Ely. Hiking, mountain biking and off-road vehicle riding are popular activities enjoyed by visitors to the area.

Recreation

The Ranger Trail can be accessed from this campground. The Ranger Trail is a designated OHV trail that also accommodates hiking and mountain biking use as well. The 30-mile Success Loop Scenic Drive is also in the area, with views of high desert and mountain terrain.

Facilities

The campground has 10 sites. Site A is a day-use group stie, site 5 is a mult-family site, sites 1, 3, 4, 6, and 7 are single sites, sites 8 and 9 are double sites requiring a short walk from the parking area, on one to two bridges over Bird Creek. All sites have picnic and serving tables, campfire rings and grills.

Vault toilets and drinking water are provided seasonally. This is a "pack it in, pack it out" facility.

Natural Features

Bird Creek flows perennially through the campground. A mixed forest of juniper, pinyon pine and alder trees covers the area, but provides only limited shade.

Contact Info

This location is unstaffed. To speak with our main office for general information, please call: (775) 289-3031.

Nearby Attractions

Cave Lake State Park and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park are a few miles from Ely. Interesting historic stone ovens and an interpretive trail are available there. The Northern Nevada Railway in Ely has a museum and offers train rides.

Charges & Cancellations

All change and cancellation requests should be done through Recreation.gov.

Camp site features

Across 8 camp sites:

  • Pets allowed: all 8 sites
  • ADA accessible: all 8 sites
  • Group sites: 2 of 8 sites
  • Largest party: 32 people

Directions

From Ely, travel north on Highway 93 to the town of McGill. From McGill, go north 3 miles on Highway 93, to the Duck Creek Basin turnoff. Proceed east on Duck Creek Basin Road and turn left at the sign for Bird Creek Recreation Area.

Stay Limit

Check in from 11 AM, check out by 11 AM.

Reviews

Ratings (9)
5 stars
6
4 stars
2
2 stars
1
Quinn G
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:2
Reviewed 3 years ago
Great campground, it’s especially nice that you can’t see or hear your neighbors.
Brandt K
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:1
Reviewed 4 years ago
Overall our site was very good. There was running water near some of the sites which is nice. The only negative was that there were a lot of tumbleweeds growing in the spots. We cut a bunch of them down with a shovel but the spots needed a little weed maintenance.
Bethney G
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:2
Reviewed 4 years ago
If you want a private experience, off the grid, where you can't see or hear your neighbors, this is the place! We can not WAIT to return.
Chad O
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:5 (MULTI-FAMILY)
Reviewed 5 years ago
Great spot for family
Chad O
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:5 (MULTI-FAMILY)
Reviewed 5 years ago
Great space for a large family
Peter P
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:4
Reviewed 5 years ago
Newly redeveloped rustic 9 unit campground. Beautiful setting in the foothills, with each site lined by trees and along a clear and pleasant sounding creek. We happened to be there on a recent July Saturday night, and there were NO other campers. The only disappointment was the water spigot nearest our reserved site was out of order, so we simply selected another unreserved site.
Peter L R
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:6
Reviewed 5 years ago
would like a refund
Ameena F
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:6
Reviewed 5 years ago
I loved camping here. Very inexpensive spots. It was so serene and easy to find downed camp wood. There were no trails but I enjoyed the stay.
Jaklyn C
Loop:Bird Creek Recreation Area
Site:6
Reviewed 5 years ago
Site 5 is a great spot. However the site itself is across the little bridge from the parking area so be prepared to walk some stuff into the site. It’s not far! The site is big enough for a couple of tents.
Popularity

Very quiet · 7%

Busiest in July, when about 7% of sites are booked. Based on 8 years of reservations.

Availability

See the Camp Sites section below to find detailed booking availability.

ReserveWatch
Location
825 AVENUE E
ELY, NV 89301
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