Bird Creek Campground
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.
More like this: reservable in Nevada · pets allowed in Nevada · group sites in Nevada
Check availability on Recreation.gov ↗
Site mix
| Standard, no hookups | 6 |
| group walk to | 2 |
| group picnic area | 1 |
| Host/management | 1 |
Site guide
Will my RV fit
The longest site here provides 40 feet of vehicle capacity. Most sites are shorter.
9 sites in 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIRD CREEK RECREATION AREA | Standard | 40 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 2 | BIRD CREEK RECREATION AREA | Standard | 24 | Gravel | None | No / – | 16 / 2 | Yes | Yes | |
| 4 | BIRD CREEK RECREATION AREA | Standard | Back-in | 30 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 6 | BIRD CREEK RECREATION AREA | Standard | Back-in | 28 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 7 | BIRD CREEK RECREATION AREA | Standard | Back-in | 15 | Gravel | None | No / – | 6 / 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 8 | Bird Creek Recreation Area | Group Walk To | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Full | No / – | 16 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| 9 | Bird Creek Recreation Area | Group Walk To | Pull-through | 34 | Gravel | Full | No / – | 16 / 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Group Site A | Bird Creek Recreation Area | Group Picnic Area | Pull-through | Gravel | None | No / – | 100 / 14 | Yes | Yes | |
| 5 (MULTI-FAMILY) | Bird Creek Recreation Area | Standard | Pull-through | 30 | Gravel | Full | No / – | 32 / 6 | 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 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Amenities & rules
| Hookups | None |
| Equipment | RVs & trailers, Tents |
| Pets | Allowed |
| Campfires | Allowed, subject to restrictions |
| Accessibility | Sites 1, 2, 4, 6 and 5 more are listed accessible |
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.
Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.
Weather by month
Getting there
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.
| Nearest town | Ely, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39.4633° N, 114.6531° W · Directions ↗ |
Supplies & services
| Dump station | Lehman RV Dump Station ↗ | 39.3 mi |
Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.
Explore
Video
Bird Creek Campground packed for Memorial Weekend despite wind and rain
Trails nearby
- 1.1 miPiermont Creek3.5 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
- 1.9 miRanger Trail ↗40.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, motorcycle and 3 more
- 3.3 miNorth Fork Timber Creek2.1 mi trail · hiking, horse
- 3.9 miNorth Creek Shortcut0.8 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 4.4 miLittle Creek Trail0.7 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
- 4.6 miMiller Canyon1.9 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD
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
High Schells Wilderness begins about 1.2 miles away, and it is the closest of these.
- 1.2 miHigh Schells Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Forest Service · 121,449 acres
- 11.6 miBristlecone Wilderness ↗Wilderness · Bureau of Land Management · 14,095 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
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.
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.
Nearby
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.
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 Bird Creek Campground?
Sites at Bird Creek Campground are reservable on Recreation.gov. Any walk-up sites are listed on the booking page.
Source: Recreation.gov
What time is check-in at Bird Creek Campground?
Check-in 11:00 AM, checkout 11:00 AM.
Source: Recreation.gov
How many sites does Bird Creek Campground have?
10 sites, including 6 standard sites without power, 2 group walk to, and 1 group picnic area.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I bring an RV to Bird Creek Campground?
Bird Creek Campground is listed for tents only.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are pets allowed at Bird Creek Campground?
Yes, pets are allowed at Bird Creek Campground. Leash rules apply.
Source: Recreation.gov
Can I have a campfire at Bird Creek Campground?
Fires are allowed in the provided rings under normal conditions.
Source: Recreation.gov
Are there accessible sites at Bird Creek Campground?
Sites 1, 2, 4, and 6 are listed accessible on Recreation.gov, 9 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
What is there to do at Bird Creek Campground?
The Ranger Trail can be accessed from this campground. The Recreation section on this page has the rest.
Source: Recreation
What is the nearest town to Bird Creek Campground?
Ely, Nevada. Cave Lake State Park and Ward Charcoal Ovens State Park are a few miles from Ely.
Source: Getting there
What if Bird Creek Campground is full?
The nearest public campgrounds are East Creek Campground (2.3 mi), Timber Creek Campground (4.6 mi), and Cleve Creek Campground (18.3 mi, first-come).
Source: Campgrounds nearby