Mountain Project Logo

Mt. Charleston Camping

Original Post
Steve Mullins · · Boulder, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 0

I will be heading out to Mt. Charleston for a few days and was wondering if there is free dispersed camping within a few miles of The Hood climbing area. I called the National Forest people but they weren't sure so maybe they don't own that land. She actually said people have been just popping up tents where ever they want. I haven't been up there in a few years but that doesn't sound right to me. Any recommendations or ideas on who owns the land?
Thanks

Jon OBrien · · Nevada · Joined Apr 2009 · Points: 917

if you drive past the roost passing it on your left there are two dirt roads on the right side before you come to the final turn, you can camp off those roads national forest style and there are two OK boulders there (conglomerate, the rock is much better at roost/ hood)

sorry, idk the names of the roads!

Steve Mullins · · Boulder, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 0

Great! I think that I found the roads you are talking about on Google maps. Before the Hilltop Campground area, correct? Thanks for the info

Thomas Beck · · Las Vegas, Nevada · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,025
No Cost Car Camping...we'll the USFS made that pretty difficult. By keeping it very much on the down low you could camp in these three places for a few days. What the USFS focuses on is trash and fires rings left by picnickers....don't be one of those people...nough said.

You could pitch a tent are at the Echo trail parking lot trail-head off Echo Road by the wells. You could probably sleep in your pickup or van here if the neighbors did not complain. They might complain about noise, lights at night, public urination, feces, trash...you get the idea.

Second place is at the west end of Mary Jane Falls parking lot. Walk out west a bit and find a level site. East end of the parking lot has one level - sort of - space you could dirt bag in.

Third place is walking in to the old free camping area (now blocked to vehicles with boulders) just south and adjacent to the trail head parking lot off Echo Road which accesses The Hood. Please no campfires. It's already very dry up there.

There are side roads uphill of the Boy Scout Camp on the Deer Creek Road you could camp for a short time. That might be a shorter drive if you plan to climb at The Ice House, Glass House or Robber's Roost

I saw a van leveled up and parked overnight in the South Trail parking lot 2 weeks ago. No ranger hassle for those French climbers.

It's already hot on the south and east facing slopes of the Hood till after 2:00PM. Snow up there today to about 8500 ft but it will probably melt off fast.
Steve Mullins · · Boulder, CO · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 0

Thanks for the info. Our camping will be minimal with no fires. I will give USFS a call today and see what they have to say.

Pablo-Roberts · · Prescott, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 1,165

Hey I will be at Mt. Charleston mid June and stumbled upon this. Was hoping to hear from more recent reports on where/how to camp for free at Mt. Charleston-$20 a night is ridiculous.

Where can you camp for free legitimately?

Eric-D · · Las Vegas, nv · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 300

It's probably 45 minutes to an hour away but you can camp at Cold Creek for free at 7000' elevation. It is cool most of the summer.

Chase D · · CA · Joined Apr 2015 · Points: 195

Macks Canyon is a great place to camp, and it's free. Drive all the way in to the end of the road and set up. The turnoff for Macks Canyon is on Lee Canyon Rd.

earl mcalister · · Las Vegas, NV · Joined Aug 2010 · Points: 241

I've seen entire families with 2 room tents camp next to the Mary Jane Falls TH on more than 1 occasion. Never heard of the FS complaining about it and there are no signs there that say no camping (that my fuzzy memory can recall anyway). While not too private it's close to the car and fine for a bivy. Wouldn't leave a tent set up there though.

Pablo-Roberts · · Prescott, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 1,165

Thanks for the helpful info everybody. I appreciate everyone who still holds the value that camping in a pristine beautiful wilderness area should be free.

Anybody know about the backpacking? Could I just backpack in somewhere and camp off the trail. Usually in just about every wildness area that is legit.

Jacob Koffler · · Las Vegas · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 10

Lots of people camp around the junction of trail canyon and the north loop trail area. Park at the trail canyon trailhead. Its a 2 mile hike but worth the views and its fairly flat. But I wont give away any of the secret amazing spots though. Locals only lol

JF1 · · Idaho · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 400

All well and good for free, but most pristine wilderness areas aren't within a 30 minute drive of over 2 million people. Gotta find some management balance in there regarding user impacts.

BigB · · Red Rock, NV · Joined Feb 2015 · Points: 340

Hope all of you renegade campers are atleast camping without a fire.....LAST thing our mtns need is another carpenter1 fire!!!

Jacob Koffler · · Las Vegas · Joined Jan 2014 · Points: 10

Agreed. Im definitely not suggesting anybody do any renegade camping. Backpacking on the north loop trail is acceptable I thought? For car camping Macks canyon is great, but in both cases fires aren't even allowed right now. Another fire would be devastating.

Mike Rushforth · · Las Vegas · Joined Apr 2019 · Points: 0

Is it legal for me to sleep in my car in any of the parking lots up on mt Charleston? 

Rprops · · Nevada · Joined Nov 2015 · Points: 2,422

I believe you need to be at least 100 feet from any trail in the places you are allowed to camp.  Not 100% on that but car camping in a lot is almost certainly disallowed.

JF1 · · Idaho · Joined Jan 2011 · Points: 400
Mike Rushforth wrote: Is it legal for me to sleep in my car in any of the parking lots up on mt Charleston? 

No

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Nevada
Post a Reply to "Mt. Charleston Camping"

Log In to Reply

Join the Community

Create your FREE account today!
Already have an account? Login to close this notice.

Get Started.