San Juan Creek Campground
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest - Austin Ranger District
Longitude -117.28245, Latitude 39.13381

San Juan Creek is located on the west side of the mighty Toiyabe Range, south of Austin. There are a dozen primitive campsites along the creek, but only one is maintained by the Forest Service. The canyon bottom is pretty lush with aspens and willows. Piñon, Juniper and Mahogany are liberally sprinkled up the canyon walls. Fishing is pretty good for rainbow trout (quite small after the upstream fork).

The "official" campsite is in a grassy area with trees all around, right on the bank of the creek. It has a picnic table, fire ring and it's own pit toilet. It's the only toilet in the canyon. The remaining primitive campsites only have fire rings, but primitive camping isn't too hard. The best site is at the end of the road on the right fork of the creek. This site is grass covered and is in the middle of a lush aspen grove with the creek bending around it, plus a trailhead is located here which goes up to the Toiyabe Crest (trails are getting overgrown from lack of use, and cow patties). The last section of road requires a little higher clearance vehicle, but not 4WD. Normal clearance cars can make it up the first half of the canyon.

Visited August 1999 and July 2000.