Overview

Just north of Basin and Range National Monument, the Wayne E. Kirch Nevada State Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hosts a free campground that is intended for fishermen and duck hunters who use the WMA, but it is open to everyone. Dave Deacon Campground, also called Hot Creek Campground, is free. The campground has gravel campsites big enough for large RVs, drinking water, picnic tables, fire rings, a few shade trees, three vault toilets, and a dump station. The camping limit is 8 days. No reservations and no trash cans -- Pack it in - Pack it out.

Except for the tall Siberian Elm, scattered Singleleaf Ash, and few Russian Olive trees, the area is flat and open, providing grand views across the middle-Nevada landscape to mountain ranges in the distance.

Passing the campground and continuing south on Sunnyside Road leads into Garden Valley and the north end of Basin and Range National Monument.

Link to map.

Getting to Camp

Dave Deacon Campground is located near Lund, Nevada, on the northeast edge of Basin and Range National Monument, about 2-3/4 hours (182 miles) northeast of Las Vegas.

From Las Vegas, drive north on Interstate-15 for 21 miles to Highway 93. Drive north on Highway 93 past the towns of Alamo and Ash Springs to Highway 318. Turn left onto Highway 318 and drive north for 67 miles to Dave Deacon Road (also called Sunnyside Road) on the left (watch for Sunnyside and Kirch WMA signs).

Turn left onto Dave Deacon Road and drive west. At 0.2 miles out, stay right at a fork. At 2.4 miles out, stay right at a signed intersection towards Dave Deacon Campground (sign says 5 more miles; left is Wildlife Road).

At 7.0 miles out, stay left towards the campground which is visible ahead in the near distance. At 7.3 miles out, turn left into the campground.