Camp Observer1 of 3 photos
Timber Creek Campground
Overview
Timber Creek Campground is located in Duck Creek Basin, high on the Schell Creek Range, in eastern Nevada. It sits at an elevation of 8,500 feet, approximately 25 miles from the small city of Ely. Visitors to the area enjoy hiking, horseback riding, fishing and off-road vehicle riding, among other activities.Recreation
Timber Creek is a perennial stream with rainbow and brook trout fishing. The High Schells Wilderness can be accessed from a trailhead located a half-mile up the road from the campground.
The 30-mile Success Loop Scenic Drive is located in the Duck Creek Basin with views of the surrounding high desert and mountain terrain.
Access to the Ranger OHV Trail is located below the campground and offers recreational opportunities for OHVs, horseback, mountain bikes and hiking.
Facilities
The campground has five group campsites, which serve varying sizes of groups between 25-100 people. Some sites require a short walk from the parking area, on a bridge over Timber Creek, to access the site pad.
All sites have picnic and serving tables, a campfire ring and a grill. Vault toilets and drinking water is provided. This is a "pack it in, pack it out" site, with no trash collection service.
Natural Features
The campground is situated in a dense forest of Engelmann spruce, aspen and white fir trees, which offers partial shade and beautiful fall color. Timber Creek flows past the campground. High Schells Wilderness sits immediately ajacent to the campground and has multiple peaks greater than 11,000 ft. in elevation.
Nearby Attractions
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park is a few miles southeast of Ely, providing an opportunity to see interesting historic stone ovens and hike an interpretive trail. The Northern Nevada Railway in Ely has a museum and offers train rides.Cave Lake State Park is a few miles south of Duck Creek Basin along the Success Loop Road.
Camp site features
Across 8 camp sites:
- Pets allowed: all 8 sites
- ADA accessible: 3 of 8 sites
- Group sites: 5 of 8 sites
- Longest rig: 35 ft
- Largest party: 100 people
Directions
From McGill, travel north on Highway 93 for 5 miles. Turn on State Route 486
and continue 8 miles on the paved road. Turn left on Forest Road 425, at the
Timber Creek sign, and drive up the dirt road another 3 miles to the
campground.
Stay Limit
Check in from 11 AM, check out by 11 AM.
Reviews
Ratings (22)
5 stars
14
4 stars
3
3 stars
3
1 stars
2
Michael S
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:D
Reviewed 9 months ago
We love Timber Creek Campground. But the road into the campground has gotten so bad that it is not worth staying there anymore.
Patricia M
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:4
Reviewed 10 months ago
Clean bathrooms and beautiful sites. I drive a Versa Note but I didn't have any problems really driving in.
PS: bathroom near campsite D get 2 bars of 4G so I was able to play Pikmin.
Adele S
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed a year ago
Went mid week very few people. Only 11 spots seems like FF would be doable.
JoDean P
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:A
Reviewed a year ago
It was great the campground were taken good care of the restrooms were clean however the road to the campground is very rocky and it was not wise for me to take my car up.
Tyler B
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:4
Reviewed 2 years ago
Widely spaced campsites with great privacy. Nice flat area for tent and separate area with fire pit and benches. Water source works great. Highly recommend. First part of the road up there is a little bumpy but no problem with 2WD and street tires.
Dale K
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:D
Reviewed 3 years ago
Campgrounds is very nice, easy to get to ,road is well groomed.
Clinton N
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed 3 years ago
Very disappointed, I sent the help center correspondence and they still have not replied back to me.
Tiffani I
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed 3 years ago
The pictures do not show the actual beauty. We stayed at 4 different sites on a national forest land it was our absolute favorite stop. Stayed at site B.
lee b
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:D
Reviewed 3 years ago
Great location with easy access. Beautiful creek running just yards from campsite.
Ashley J
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:A
Reviewed 4 years ago
The campground was absolutely gorgeous with the leaves changing and was pretty quiet. Spots were generally right on the creek. We reserved group spot A, but it was difficult getting our toy hauler level enough, couldn’t see the creek from it and was a jaunt to get to the fire ring and picnic tables. We ended up in a single spot up the road. A hunter did leave a carcass and blood all over group site A, which we took care of and cleaned up, but don’t be a jerk. There is no camp host. Water is off this time of year. Bathrooms were decent.
Tiffany P
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:C
Reviewed 4 years ago
Beautiful location. The entry dirt road to the campsites is slow going, long and very bumpy.
We reserved a group site for 15 people camping in tents.
Campsite C is good for RVs not great for large groups 25-100 people camping in tents.
"C" has the bridge from the parking area with running water/vaulted toilets to the picnic tables. The picnic tables, grill and campfire ring were great! Just as described in the facility information. Lots of firewood around to gather. However, the site itself does not have a clearing for tents. There is an area beside the picnic tables with large rocks you can move and grade the dirt/rocks for 1-2 tents (6 people) at most. There was no area for 25 people to set-up tents and camp. There is a large area of bush and trees in the site but not an area for tents. We had a great time. The creek running under the bridge is peaceful, the stargazing in awesome!
William R
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:E
Reviewed 5 years ago
Site E was beautiful. You do have to walk a short distance to the campsite from the car, over a small creek with a bridge. 100 feet or so. 2 large tent pads. One playground swing on site. I would absolutely take this site again.
Kate E
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed 5 years ago
This campsite is so beautiful and secluded. There is a small creek running through it and you are nestled into the aspens and pines. At the B site, you're pretty spaced out from A and D but C is right on top of you. In our case, C was empty so it felt like we were alone in the woods.
While there are plenty of tables and sitting areas, I think the campsite is mostly designed for RVs as there aren't a lot of good places to place a large number of tents. We were a small group so there wasn't any problem, but if you're planning on having 4 or 5 tents, you're going to be right on top of each other.
5 stars. Loved this campsite. Will 100% return.
Dan W
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:C
Reviewed 6 years ago
This is a remote campsite. The spaces are laid out very well. No single sites are immediately next to each other. The are picnic tables but no potable water.
Christopher J
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed 6 years ago
We were in a group site, close to the restrooms. We had a great weekend, and had the entire campground to ourselves! We loved the stream!
Harley W
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:E
Reviewed 6 years ago
The campsite itself was great! The kids got to play in the cool creek and the shade at campsite E was wonderful!
Maeghan S
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:B
Reviewed 6 years ago
We stayed two night with no other campers in sight. The description is a “group” campsite but we stay quite comfortably in B with just two tents. Stream has fish, morning and night visits from deer and off spring, wooded , clean bathrooms. The only downside is that due to people not keeping a clean camp there are mice. So we keep our packs in bed of our truck on the road and still a mouse chewed through one of them. Bummer.
Cory F
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:C
Reviewed 6 years ago
Nice spot. Limited level areas for large tents. Table area not shaded. Creek through campsite offers nice cool off area in summer
SUSAN M
Loop:Timber Creek Campground
Site:E
Reviewed 6 years ago
My first trip here and it was great. We had group space "E". The group spaces are far apart from each other, so much so that you cannot see the next campsite. One drawback: The pit toilets are adjacent to the next camp spaces, so one has to take a short walk to use them. No big deal. Also, one has to carry gear from the parking space over the small footbridge, to the camp space. Other than the two aforementioned drawbacks the trip was nearly perfect. No loud groups, and on a holiday weekend yet! I will return to camp at Timbercreek.
Popularity
Quiet · 25%
Busiest in July, when about 25% of sites are booked. Based on 8 years of reservations.
