CampgroundsDB

Wild Horse State Recreation Area

Its 34 sites are reservable through Reserve Nevada, camping costs $15/night ($20 non-NV), and it is open year-round. Wild Horse State Recreation Area is a State Park campground near Elko, Nevada.

Reservable: Reserve Nevada

State Park · Elko, Nevada

The entrance sign for Wild Horse State Recreation Area, on Wild Horse ReservoirWild Horse Reservoir, the lake the state recreation area sits on, seen from its shore about a third of a mile awayWild Horse Reservoir and the Independence Mountains under summer clouds, near the recreation areaWild Horse Reservoir seen from above its dam, with the Mountain City Highway along the shore, about 2.5 miles northwest of the recreation areaView southeast across Wild Horse Reservoir, Wild Horse State Recreation Area
The entrance sign for Wild Horse State Recreation Area, on Wild Horse ReservoirWild Horse Reservoir, the lake the state recreation area sits on, seen from its shore about a third of a mile awayWild Horse Reservoir and the Independence Mountains under summer clouds, near the recreation areaWild Horse Reservoir seen from above its dam, with the Mountain City Highway along the shore, about 2.5 miles northwest of the recreation areaView southeast across Wild Horse Reservoir, Wild Horse State Recreation Area1 / 5

The entrance sign for Wild Horse State Recreation Area, on Wild Horse Reservoir. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0

Managed by
State Park
Hookups
None
Cell service
Spotty
Shade
Shaded

Wild Horse State Recreation Area sits inside Wild Horse State Recreation Area. Its hours, entrance fee, and boundary are on publiclandsdb.com.

Wild Horse Reservoir fishing: The 2,830-acre Wild Horse Reservoir is stocked with rainbow trout, German brown trout, smallmouth bass, wiper, yellow perch and catfish, and is a popular ice-fishing destination in winter. (parks.nv.gov)

Getting a site

Managed by
State Park
Reservations
Reserve Nevada Book a site
Fee
$15/night ($20 non-NV)
Booking window
3 days to 11 months ahead
Cancellations
Free to cancel over 1 month out (less $5 fee); $10 under 1 month; within 3 days, $10 plus one night. Unannounced no-shows are cancelled, nonrefundable.

Source: parks.nv.gov, accessed 2026-09-24

Sites and hookups

Total sites
34
Hookups
None
  • ✓ Toilets
  • ✓ Potable water
  • ✓ Showers
  • ✓ Dump station
  • ✓ Fire rings
  • ✓ Pets allowed

On site: Toilets, potable water, showers, dump station, fire rings, and pets allowed.

Source: parks.nv.gov, accessed 2026-09-24

Rules

Stay limit
14 days in a 30-day period
Quiet hours
10 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Generators
Allowed outside quiet hours
Pets
Allowed

Source: leg.state.nv.us, accessed 2026-09-27

Access and cell service

Cell service, reported
Spotty
Shade
Shaded
Elevation
6,208 ft

Cell coverage by carrier (FCC map)

AT&T
4G LTE and 5G (35/3 Mbps)
T-Mobile
No coverage mapped
Verizon
4G LTE
Source: FCC Broadband Data Collection, data as of December 31, 2025

Outdoor coverage each carrier reports to the FCC at this campground's map point, and the nearest mapped coverage within about half a mile. The FCC map only includes 4G LTE at 5/1 Mbps or better and 5G; a weaker signal, a text, or an emergency call may still get through, but don't count on it. These are carrier predictions, not measurements, and can be wrong either way: real service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle is often weaker. 5G speeds are the FCC's 7/1 and 35/3 Mbps tiers. This product uses the FCC Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the FCC.

41.6694, -115.8003 in Elko. Open in OpenStreetMap. Map © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Open in Google Maps Directions

Season and winter services

Wild Horse State Recreation Area is open year-round . In winter: water off and toilets open, per the managing agency.

Source: en.wikipedia.org, accessed 2026-09-26

Common questions

Do you need a reservation at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Sites at Wild Horse State Recreation Area are reserved through Reserve Nevada (https://www.reservenevada.com). Booking window: 3 days to 11 months ahead.
How much does it cost to camp at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Camping at Wild Horse State Recreation Area costs $15/night ($20 non-NV).
What happens if I cancel or don't show up at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Free to cancel over 1 month out (less $5 fee); $10 under 1 month; within 3 days, $10 plus one night. Unannounced no-shows are cancelled, nonrefundable.
How many campsites does Wild Horse State Recreation Area have?
Wild Horse State Recreation Area has 34 campsites.
Does Wild Horse State Recreation Area have RV hookups?
No. Wild Horse State Recreation Area has no hookups. There is a dump station.
Is there drinking water at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Yes, Wild Horse State Recreation Area has potable water. It also has toilets and showers.
Are dogs allowed at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Yes, pets are allowed at Wild Horse State Recreation Area.
When is Wild Horse State Recreation Area open?
Wild Horse State Recreation Area is open year-round.
Is Wild Horse State Recreation Area open in winter?
Yes, Wild Horse State Recreation Area is open year-round; in winter the water is shut off and toilets stay open.
How long can you stay at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
The stay limit at Wild Horse State Recreation Area is 14 days in a 30-day period.
Are generators allowed at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Yes, outside quiet hours (10 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
Is there cell service at Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Yes, outdoors: the FCC's National Broadband Map (data as of December 31, 2025) shows 4G LTE from AT&T and Verizon and 5G from AT&T at Wild Horse State Recreation Area. It shows none from T-Mobile. Visitor reports on record describe it as spotty. The map is carrier-reported and modeled for outdoors, so expect weaker service in canyons, under trees, and inside a tent or vehicle.
Who manages Wild Horse State Recreation Area?
Wild Horse State Recreation Area is managed by the state park system.

Around Wild Horse State Recreation Area

fishypedia.com · 0.4 miles

Wild Horse State Recreation Area sits on Wildhorse Reservoir, 0.4 miles from the lake's mapped center point. Stocking record and species: Wildhorse Reservoir fishing on fishypedia.com.

reservoirfinder.com · 2.6 miles

Wild Horse Reservoir's mapped center point is 2.6 miles from Wild Horse State Recreation Area in a straight line. Current water level: Wild Horse Reservoir water level on reservoirfinder.com.

Swimming nearby

swimholesmap.com · within 30 miles

The nearest swimming hole to Wild Horse State Recreation Area, in a straight line: Wild Horse Reservoir (swimming hole, under 0.1 mile). Each has its own page on swimholesmap.com.

Not on record North Wildhorse Recreation Area Elko · BLM Season Not on record Fee Not on record First-come Wildhorse Crossing Campground Owyhee · National Forest Season May to November Fee Single Site: $5 per night ($2.50 with a senior or access pass) First-come Big Bend Campground Owyhee · National Forest Season May to November Fee Single Site: $8 per night ($4 with a senior or access pass)

More campgrounds: camping near Elko and campgrounds in Elko.

Sources

Photo credits

Reservable: Reserve Nevada $15/night ($20 non-NV)
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