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Columbine Campground
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Austin Ranger District

Columbine campground is located on the edge of the Arc Dome Wilderness high up in the mighty Toiyabe Range.  Access is from a fair dirt road from the bottom of the Reese River Valley, 50 miles south of Austin, or 50 miles east of Gabbs depending on your approach.  The road has a few creek crossings (can be rough early season) and sedans and other low clearance vehicles are not advised.  A higher clearance minivan can make it with obvious care taken (except for early in the season and in wet weather).  I have seen RV's up here before, but I wouldn't take mine up here (if I had one).

Campsites are set in one simple loop at the end of the road up Stewart Creek Canyon with a pit toilet in the center.  Campsites are grassy and moderate to densely forested in quaking aspen.  Sites #1 and #2 are away from the creek, but are pretty and back up to a forested hillside.  Sites #3 - #7 are on Stewart Creek.  Sites #3 and #4, as well as #6 and #7 are close together and do not offer much privacy, but are great for groups who need 2 sites.  

Stewart Creek is a good perennial stream with good year round flows.  I did not see fish in the creek at the camp but have been told by others that fishing is good downstream a little ways.

Hiking is spectacular.  There is a trail that starts from between sites #1 and #2.  It immediately heads into the Arc Dome Wilderness.  1/4 mile in it forks, but you can go either way because it is a loop.  The entire loop is 7 miles and gets over 11,000'.  There is a spur trail that heads up to the summit of Arc Dome (11,788').  There are also intersections on the loop for the Toiyabe Crest Trail and the Twin River Loop.  This is a wonderful place!  Reviewed 07/2000, 05/2001.  Reviewed 06/2000.