Cave Lake State Park - Ely, NV - Nevada State Parks

Camping: Cave Lake offers two designated campgrounds: Elk Flat Campground and Lake View Campground. All sites are level and include a fire pit with grill, table and parking. Access roads to campsites are unpaved. The camping limit is seven days in a 30-day period and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Although reservations are not accepted and saving sites is prohibited, a few small group sites are available by reservation and several sites can accommodate more than one vehicle. Please contact the ranger for overflow camping information.

Elk Flat Campground is the first camping area visitors see as they approach from Highways 93, 50 and 6. The campground opens early May and closes mid-October, weather permitting. Showers and flush-type toilets are available while the campground is open.

The Lake View Campground is near the lake and open year-round with flush toilets and showers. In extremely cold conditions the facilities may be closed. Please contact the park if you plan to arrive in the winter.

Group areas: There is one group site for day use and one camping group site in each campground. They may be reserved for a small fee. When not reserved, the area is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact the park for information.

Picnicking/Day Use: Two picnic areas can be found along the lake shore. Restrooms, tables, grills and water are available.

Fishing/Boating:Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day. Licenses are available in Ely, and a trout stamp is required. Fishermen will find German brown trout in Cave Lake and park streams. The lake is also stocked with rainbow trout. Fishing is excellent both for boaters and from the shore. Motorized boats are permitted on the lake, but may not exceed 5 mph (flat wake).

Hiking: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all trails. Four developed hiking trails are maintained. An easy, three-mile round trip can be found on the Steptoe Creek Trail. The trail starts at the lower parking lot and crosses the creek and returns via Success Summit Road.

The Cave Springs Trail is five miles of moderately strenuous hiking. It starts at the lower parking lot and meanders throughout the surrounding hills.

The Cave Lake Overlook Trail is a strenuous 4.5 mile loop that starts on the east end of the lake.

The Twisted Pines Trail is the park’s newest addition and connects to the Overlook Trail. This trail is moderate, starting below Elk Flat Campground. It is just over four miles one way and ends on the Overlook Trail loop.

Winter Activities: (December through February): Winter recreation is popular at Cave Lake during normal winters when several feet of snow may cover the park. Snowmobiling is allowed within the park on approved dirt roads. Snowmobiles may be unloaded on Success Summit Road for access to the surrounding National Forest lands. Snowmobiles are prohibited on the divided highways. Lake ice may be as thick as 24” during the coldest part of winter. Ice fishing is popular, and the catch rate is very good. The boat launch area is used for outdoor ice skating. Sledding and snowshoeing are also popular activities. Most of the roads through the park are paved and kept free of snow. However, plowing may not occur for one or two days after a storm. Please keep this in mind if you don’t have a four-wheel-drive vehicle.