Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)
Ward Mountain Recreation Area and Campground sits in the shadow of its namesake, just 10 miles southwest from the city of Ely, in eastern Nevada. It sits at an elevation of 7,400 feet. Many trails are available for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
Sites 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 26 are first-come, first-served. The other sites take reservations.
More like this: first-come in Nevada · reservable in Nevada · big rigs in Nevada · pets allowed in Nevada · group sites in Nevada
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 22 |
| RV, no hookups | 8 |
| group standard area nonelectric | 3 |
| Host/management | 2 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 24 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
33 sites in 4 loops. Tap a filter to narrow the list; the map follows.
| Site | Loop | Type | Entry | Fits, ft | Surface | Shade | Water / sewer | People / vehicles | Fires | Accessible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | WMGR | Group | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 100 / 18 | Yes | Yes | ||
| B | WMGR | Group | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 100 / 14 | Yes | Yes | ||
| C | WMGR | Group | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 100 / 14 | Yes | Yes | ||
| 001 | WMPT | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 002 | WMPT | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 003 | WMPT | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 004 | WMPT | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 005 | WMPT | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 006 | WMPT | Standard | Pull-through | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 007 | WMPT | Standard | Back-in | Gravel | Partial | No / – | 10 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
Per-site records as published by the managing agency on Recreation.gov. Blank cells mean the agency listed nothing for that site. Check-in 06:00 AM, checkout 11:00 PM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Max vehicle length | 40 ft |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Fees | Per Day: $8 Single/ $35-$50 Group |
| Accessibility | Sites RV Nonelectric S&P, Standard Nonelectric S&P, A, B and 31 more are listed accessible |
This campground offers single-family campsites and three large group sites that can accommodate up to 100 or more people. Multiple access points for trails are found throughout the campground with the main trailhead located at the eastern most side. All campsites are equipped with picnic tables, campfire rings and grills. Vault toilets, drinking water and trash collection are provided, but there is no electricity. A campground host is on-site during the peak summer season.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Season & status
| Forest | Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest |
| Booking | Yes, reservations are required for most campsites at https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234207 or by calling Toll Free 1-877-444-6777 (International 606-515-6777 or TDD 877-833-6777). |
| Fees | Per Day: $8 Single/ $35-$50 Group |
| Rules | Dog must be on a leash at campground. Stock is only allowed in coral area. |
Weather by month
Getting there
From Ely, travel south on Highway 6 for 10 miles. Turn left just before Murray Summit, at the sign for the recreation area. From Las Vegas, travel north on Highway 93 for about 86 miles, to the junction with State Route 318. Follow State Route 318 north for 124 miles, to Murray Summit. Turn right at the sign for the recreation area.
| Nearest town | Ely, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39.2125° N, 114.9676° W · Directions ↗ |
Explore
Video
Ward Mountain Campground, NV
Worth a stop
Comins Lake is about 13 miles from the campground offering boating and fishing for trout and bass. Cave Lake State Park is less than 20 miles away, with opportunities for boating and fishing for rainbow and brown trout. Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park is 26 miles away, with interesting historic stone ovens and an interpretive trail. The Northern Nevada Railway in Ely has a museum and offers train rides.
- 9.9 miEgan Crest Trailhead ↗Trailhead
Trails nearby
- 0.1 miWard Loop I0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.1 miWard Loop K1.3 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.2 miWard ↗4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 0.2 miWard Loop F1.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miWard Loop J0.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 0.3 miWard Loop A1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.
Public land it sits in
Bristlecone Wilderness begins about 13.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 13.2 miBristlecone Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 14,095 acres
- 13.8 miHigh Schells Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 121,449 acres
Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.
Other campgrounds nearby
Historic landmarks nearby
Natural features
Ward Mountain is the highest point in the Egan Range, topping out near 10,800 feet. The campground is well below the summit, but sits high above the desert floor below. A forest of pinyon pine and juniper trees covers the area, offering partial shade and privacy between campsites.
Recreation
Ward Mountain and the surrounding area offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Many of the trails offer scenic views of the surrounding high desert terrain.
Guidebooks for Nevada
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
- Best Backpacking Trips in California and NevadaMike White and Douglas Lorain, 2015Find at Bookshop.org
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
Do I need a reservation at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
For some sites. Sites 1, 2, 7, 9, 12, 15, 19, 20, 21 and 26 are first-come, first-served. The other sites take reservations.
Source: Recreation.gov
How much does it cost to camp at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Per Day: $8 Single/ $35-$50 Group
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit) have?
35 sites, including 22 standard sites without power, 8 RV sites without hookups, and 3 group standard area nonelectric.
Source: Recreation.gov
Will my RV fit at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter. The sidebar tool checks a trailer or motorhome length against every site.
Source: Will my RV fit
Are pets allowed at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Yes, pets are allowed at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit). Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions. Dog must be on a leash at campground.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Sites RV Nonelectric S&P, Standard Nonelectric S&P, A, and B are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 35 sites in all. What that covers (a paved pad, an accessible table, a nearby accessible restroom) is on each site's booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
Is there cell service at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 4G LTE, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the campground point. Terrain changes that from one site to the next.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
What is there to do at Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Ward Mountain and the surrounding area offers miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit)?
Ely, Nevada. Comins Lake is about 13 miles from the campground offering boating and fishing for trout and bass.
Source: Getting there
What if Ward Mtn. Campground (Murray Summit) is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are Timber Creek Campground (22.3 mi), Cleve Creek Campground (23 mi, first-come), and Bird Creek Campground (24.1 mi).
Source: Campgrounds nearby