Camping in the Reno area

[Clay]

Camping season is in full swing and I'm looking for new places to try out. Can anyone recommend some good places in the Reno area? Maybe 2 hour drive maximum radius?

Kids are almost out of school, so it's time to go!

[TWP]

Hi Clay,

The people to ask are Ken and Rob (email link in the member list).

We (NNPG) have had several camp sessions in the local area (under 30-40 miles).  They were dry camps, for the most part.  Alternatively, they were also rainy and windy, depending on when you were there...

There are also some state campgrounds available, some out west of us and some in the mountains south of Reno.

[Rob McKevitt]

Clay,
I would suggest Davis Creek between Reno and Washoe Valley. It's a beautiful location in the trees with some fantastic trails to take the kids. I would suggest this as the most kid friendly location. It even has a small fishing pond. https://www.washoecounty.us/parks/specialty_facilities/davis_creek_campground.php


Additionally I would highly suggest Fort Churchill in Silver Springs. It is an old Army post from the 1800's and has a wonderful small museum on the site. There is also a historical home just down the road from it. We have used that site numerous times for our Prepper training events. For the kids, there would be a great deal to see and explore with great trails to hike and a nearby Carson River.
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/fort-churchill
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/buckland-station


Lastly, although a little bit of a drive away is Berlin State Park. It's an old abandoned mining town (ghost town) with the additional benefit as being the archeological site of the ichthyosaur state fossil and available to tour and explore.
http://parks.nv.gov/parks/berlin-ichthyosaur


Bill Engval, the comedian mentions the Ichthyosaur in one of his comedy routines although he says California and it's actually Nevada where it was really studied and documented by Professor Camp.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yH6sE8RMUuU


We have reserved the group campground there for our Ham Radio Field Day event and many of us in the NNPG group will be there in June 23-25 working with amateur radios and honing some of our field craft skills. You would be most welcome to attend with your family and we can include some training specifically targeted to your kid's ages or interests. They would also be welcomed and eligible to work on the radios as well talking to people from all over the country and hopefully overseas.


As a footnote, I always enjoy Boca Reservoir to camp in and if you go, take a half hour and hike the Boca townsite there, just past the railroad tracks to the right when you come into the area. It's set off a bit and I drove past it for years before I was made aware it is there. The park has a trail that tours it up on a bluff. It's a short walk but worth every step to see it.
https://www.reserveamerica.com/camping/boca-campground/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=74128


I hope that helps and gives you a few nearby leads that would make for a nice camp out with your family.

[Jerry D Young]

I agree whole heartedly with Rob.

I cannot think of any to add.

Just my opinion.

[Clay]

Thank you Sir, for the great recommendations. I will definitely be looking into those this summer and into the fall.

As for the ham radio campout, I was hoping my work schedule would allow for my attendance, but unfortunately it will not. Oddly enough, I have huge swaths of time open and they rarely coincide with group outings or events that I would like to join. It's the nature of the beast, being a sailor. It would be nice to meet up with some more of the fine folks in the group.