Big Creek Campground
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Austin Ranger District
Longitude -117.13687, Latitude 39.34598

The Big Creek camp is located near the entrance to Big Creek Canyon, approximately 15 miles south of Austin. This area is rather popular with locals and regional Nevadans with many day users.

The campground is not very popular. Most of the campers that stay in the area overnight in the primitive sites farther up the canyon. And this is understandable as most of them are more attractive than the campground. However, the upper canyon primitive sites will require a vehicle with good clearance and 4WD at times. You can then continue over a pass which then descends into Kingston Canyon.

The campground is laid along a short road with a loop on the end. All the sites front the creek with good access. There are a few beaver dams along this section allowing for some small pools for fishing. Sites are clean and spaced moderately well. There is a large group site at the end.

The main reason the camp received a scenic rating of only 2 is the area is quite barren, especially compared to locations up canyon. Also there is some unhealthy trees between Sites #3 and #6. Many are dying and look pitiful. I don't know if they are diseased or under watered, but hopefully they will come back. They make the camp look blighted. If they were to come back to life, it may lift the rating to 2.5 or even 3. Visited September 2002, May 2003 and October 2009.