Willow Creek Campground
Nevada Division of State Parks - Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park
Longitude -114.85545, Latitude 39.04084

Willow Creek Campground is located in the heart of Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park, approximately 14 miles south of Ely, Nevada. Access is via the Cave Valley Road from US 93/50. The roads to the campground are improved dirt roads and completely sedan passable in good weather. There are two roads leading into the park from Cave Valley Road. The northern road leads to the Willow Creek Campground and access to Willow Creek. The southern road leads to the Ward Charcoal Ovens.

I believe this campground is pretty new. All the literature I have says that this park does not have a campground. It also did not appear on any USGS maps as a campground. Then approximately 4 years ago it showed up on the State Parks website as a campground. When I arrived at the campground it also appears to be very new.

This campground is laid out in one loop with a nice gravel road. Sites are spaced apart very well for good privacy. Most sites have fantasic views up the Egan Range (which backs up behind the campground) or the Cave Valley below and the Schell Creek Range on the other side. When we were here in the early Fall, the skies were so crisp and blue. It was beautiful.

Each site has a shade ramada, picnic table, a BBQ grill and a fire pit with an additional flip over BBQ grill. Lots of grillin' can be done! They have retaining walls to hold back the grades in a few sites with steep terrain. There is only one set of vault toilets conveniently located in the center of the camp loop. Sites #12 and #14 are handicap accessible and have concrete pads and sidewalks to the bathrooms. Site #13 is a group site. Sites #2 and #4 are pull through sites. Water spouts are located throughouot the campground but only operate in Summer.

Willow Creek is only moderately used in comparison to the nearby campgrounds at Cave Lake. So this makes it a good place to get away from people. On weekdays you may have the campground to yourself. There are gates that lock off a further loop of unimproved sites. I suppose this could be used as an overflow camping area, but since the camp almost never fills, it probably will not be used any time soon.

There is a lot to do in the area. The Egan Range is especially scenic. The charcoal ovens are neat to explore. Fishing in Willow Creek can be productive. Comins Lake is a great fishery, but the NDOW is trying to rid itself of a pike infestation. Also Cave Lake is 18 miles away and Great Basin National Park and Lehman Caves are just over an hour. Hunters frequent the area in the fall.

RV Dump Station is available at Elk Flat Campground, approximately 17 miles away. Visited October 2009.