Barley Creek Boondocking In Round Mountain, Nevada – Guide & Tips

 

Barley Creek Boondocking
In Round Mountain, Nevada
Guide & Tips

 

ADDRESS
National Forest Development Road 005 Round Mountain, Nevada GPS: 38.653176, -116.63838 Elevation: 7684′
MANAGEMENT
Public – Forest Service 775-482-6286 This is a FREE campsite.

 

Previous Reviews:

Barley Creek Boondocking: Barley Creek is open May-Oct. Free Dispersed camping Boondocking In the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest’s Tonopah Ranger District. First come -> first served. No reservations accepted. Barley Creek is open May-Oct. This is a high elevation location.

About This Location

If you’re after a quiet spot to boondock near Round Mountain, Nevada, the Barley Creek boondocking spots is worth a look. This free campground sits inside the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, so you get all that natural beauty without a ton of people around.

The Barley Creek boondocking spots gives you simple, no-cost camping with basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables. It’s a solid pick for anyone who wants a low-key outdoor experience and doesn’t need much more than that.

It also doubles as a trailhead for Table Mountain Wilderness, which means hiking is basically right outside your door. The terrain is a mix of forest and open space, so you’ll find both shade and some wide-open views, depending on where you plop down your tent or park your rig.

Got horses? This spot allows pack animals and even has corrals, which is honestly pretty rare for free camping. You won’t get fancy bathrooms or hookups, but if you’re just looking for somewhere straightforward to crash while soaking in Nevada’s rugged landscape, the Barley Creek boondocking spot is hard to beat.

It’s open seasonally, and you’ll see more locals and hunters during peak times. If you want peace and quiet, maybe avoid the busiest weekends.

Barley Creek Boondocking In Round Mountain, Nevada

Camping near Round Mountain? The Barley Creek boondocking spot is a good bet. You get free boondocking in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, surrounded by trees and open spaces.

It’s a simple place, perfect if you just want the basics. The campground is open from May to October, weather permitting, with eight campsites—some have picnic tables, fire rings, and even horse corrals.

There’s one vault toilet. No running water or electricity, so you’ll need to bring your own.

Getting in is via Forest Road 44005, which is a dirt and rocky road. Most vehicles will make it, but if you’ve got a high-clearance car, you’ll be happier. Towing a big trailer? Honestly, I’d skip it—the road is bumpy and long.

You’re camping at about 7,700 feet, so it’s cooler up here than down in the valley. You can stay up to 14 days in a 30-day stretch, and there’s no fee or permit needed.

It’s also a great base if you want to hit the Table Mountain Wilderness trails for some hiking.

Here’s a quick overview:

Feature	Details
Location	Near Round Mountain, Nevada
Open Season	May to October
Campsites	8 (some with tables, fire rings, corrals)
Facilities	Vault toilet only
Camping Fee	Free
Max Stay	14 days in any 30-day period
Road Condition	Dirt and rocky; high clearance recommended

Directions

To get to the Barley Creek boondocking spots, start in Tonopah, Nevada. Find the intersection of US-6 and NV-376.

Head north on NV-376 for about 13.3 miles, then turn north onto NV-82. Stick with NV-82 for 32.7 miles until you hit Barley Creek Road (Forest Road 44005).

Take Barley Creek Road east for about 10 miles. The road starts out as firm-packed dirt but gets rockier as you climb higher.

A 2WD vehicle can probably do it, but a high-clearance vehicle is safer, especially if you don’t like surprises. If you’re towing, keep your trailer under 20 feet—the road gets bumpy and narrow, with bushes and branches that might scrape your sides.

Here’s the route in a nutshell:

Step	Route	Distance (miles)
Start at Tonopah	US-6 & NV-376	—
Drive north on NV-376	From Tonopah to NV-82	13.3
Drive north on NV-82	To Barley Creek Road	32.7
Drive east on Barley Creek Rd	To campground	10

The Barley Creek boondocking spots are actually inside Table Mountain Wilderness, but the road you’ll use is outside the wilderness boundary. That means you can drive right up to your site.

Vehicle Access And Pricing

The Barley Creek boondocking spots are free. No fees, no permits, no nonsense.

The roads are a mixed bag—some parts are fine for most vehicles, but clearance matters. If your rig’s low to the ground, you might want to think twice.

Fees

Camping at the Barley Creek boondocking spots is free. There are no reservation fees or permits, and you can stay up to 14 days within any 30-day period.

The campground is maintained by the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, but you won’t pay a cent for any of the eight sites. If you’re looking for free, developed camping—not just a patch of dirt—this is one of the better options around here.

Road Conditions And Accessibility

Barley Creek Road (Forest Road 44005) starts out as firm-packed dirt and gets rockier as you get closer to the mountains. You’ll start at the US-6/NV-376 intersection, drive 13.3 miles north on NV-376, then 32.7 miles on NV-82, and finally turn east on Barley Creek Road.

Most 2WD vehicles can make it, but honestly, a high-clearance vehicle is just smart because the road is uneven and rocky in spots. Expect some brush and low-hanging branches—your paint job might not thank you, but the views are worth it.

Maximum Vehicle Length

You can tow trailers, but try to keep them under 20 feet long. Once you get much longer than that, the road’s bumps and rough patches become a real headache. I mean, who wants to wrestle a giant trailer down a narrow, bumpy path?

Single vehicles and shorter trailers just have an easier time with it. The road is narrow and honestly, a bit rough in spots. If you’re driving something long or wide, you might run into some trouble getting to the campground safely.

 

AMENITIES:	ACTIVITIES:
Restrooms	RV Camping Tent Camping Hiking Biking Stargazine Wildlife Viewing

 

Helpful Boondocking Information Links

Bureau of Land Management
Recreation.Gov
National Park Service
Over 10,000 Free Boondocking Locations
Boondocking Recipes for 1000’s Of Camping Meals
Leave No Trace

State Specific Information Links

Nevada Park Service
Nevada Fish and Game
Department of Natural Resources