Cave Lake State Park

Incredible high desert recreation ops—ranging from stargazing, hiking, ice fishing, mountain biking, backcountry scenic drives, and more—abounds at Cave Lake State Park. Situated just off the Great Basin Highway, about 15 minutes south of Ely, this high-elevation hideout feels like a mini Great Basin National Park with spectacular mountain views, jagged rock formations, and alpine lakes. Here, count on crowdless alone-in-nature serenity, with quick access to town if you need it.

Early Days at Cave Lake, Nevada

The reservoir you see today at Cave Lake was originally built to serve the Civilian Conservation Corps, who were working in the area during the 1930s. The property switched hands a few times among local ranchers, but in 1968, all 1,240 acres of modern day park was sold to Nevada Department of Fish and Game for a whole $10.00. In 1973, the land was transferred to Nevada State Parks, and has been welcoming recreationalists since.

Visiting Cave Lake Today

Cave Lake is perched in the foothills of the Schell Creek Range, part of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. At a towering 7,300 feet, this 32-acre Nevada State Park offers outstanding views with almost brand new amenities and facilities. The main attraction here is of course Cave Lake itself, which provides great swimming, stand up paddleboarding, fishing and tubing in the summer months. During the wintertime, get the annually hosted Fire and Ice Winter Festival on your radar, or plan to cross-country ski, ice skate, or snowmobile.

Hunting and fishing are popular must-dos at Cave Lake, too. German browns are native to Cave Lake and park streams, but hatchery rainbows are stocked in the lake as well. Big game animals love the high elevation remoteness Cave Lake delivers, so be sure to keep an eye peeled for big game like elk and mule deer, and predators such as bobcat, mountain lion and coyote also live in the area. Bring your binoculars to spot large birds of prey who pass through the region on their migration paths, including hawks, eagles, Mountain Bluebird, pinyon jay, magpie and a handful of waterfowl and songbirds.

Mountain biking in the broader Ely area delivers on many levels, but especially at Cave Lake. Hard-packed gravel and over 20 miles of well-built singletrack weaving through deer and elk habitat among limestone cliffs, forests of aspen and juniper always makes for a great day out there, right? Even if you’re not on a bike, be sure to swing through the Success Loop Scenic Drive, which skirts the outside perimeter of Cave Lake, through the top of the Schell Creek Range, ending near McGill. Facilities at Cave Lake are almost brand new and include campgrounds, picnic areas, hiking trails and a boat launch.

Cave Lake State Park Camping

Besides some pretty outstanding recreational opportunities, you can also enjoy some of the best Ely, Nevada camping at Cave Lake. Settle into two designated campgrounds—the Elk Flat Campground and the Lake View Campground. Both campgrounds provide level grounds for tent and truck camping, along with fire pits with barbecue grills on each campsite. There’s one group day-use site and one group camping site in each campground. Access roads to the sites are unpaved. Reservations for campsites can be made in advance but aren’t required.

If you’re coming to Cave Lake from Highways 93, 50, or 6, Elk Flat will be the first campground you see. This campground opens in early May and closes mid-October, weather permitting. Shows and flush toilets are available when the campground is open. The Lake View Campground is near the lake and open year-round with flush toilets and showers. If conditions are extremely cold, the facilities may be closed, so it’s best to contact Cave Lake State Park if you plan to visit in the winter.