U.S. Forest Service · Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest · Nevada

Columbine Campground

Primitive sites in an open setting with views of the canyon. Access to Toiyabe Crest National Recreation Trail. County Road 21 intersects, and in places follows, the Austin-Grantville Stage Route (1861-1866)

First-come, first-servedFreeTents only

More like this: first-come in Nevada · free in Nevada · tent only in Nevada

Amenities & rules

EquipmentTents
FeesNo fee

Individual sites vary. Confirm on Recreation.gov or with the managing office.

Season & status

SeasonMid-May to Late October
ForestHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
FeesNo fee
RulesDogs must be on a leash at campground. Weed free certified hay required.

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest recreation page ↗

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Columbine Campground20°30°40°50°60°70°January: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 6.7 inches of snowFebruary: 0.44 inches of precipitation, 7.3 inches of snowMarch: 0.59 inches of precipitation, 4.9 inches of snowApril: 0.85 inches of precipitation, 7.1 inches of snowMay: 1.08 inches of precipitation, 1.3 inches of snowJune: 0.57 inches of precipitation, 0.2 inches of snowJuly: 0.48 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 0.44 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 0.34 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 0.62 inches of precipitation, 1.9 inches of snowNovember: 0.56 inches of precipitation, 4.2 inches of snowDecember: 0.80 inches of precipitation, 6.5 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 26.6°F averageFebruary: 29.5°F averageMarch: 35.3°F averageApril: 39.7°F averageMay: 47.7°F averageJune: 55.7°F averageJuly: 63.1°F averageAugust: 61.1°F averageSeptember: 53.4°F averageOctober: 42.7°F averageNovember: 33.1°F averageDecember: 25.7°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Reese River Ione 13Ne, 11 miles from the campground at 6,413 feet, station USC00266746 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 8 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 40 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Getting there

Coordinates38.9002° N, 117.3765° W · Directions ↗

Supplies & services

Dump stationDump station ↗12.5 mi

Locations © OpenStreetMap contributors. Call ahead; hours change seasonally.

Explore

Video

Colorado Camping Near Denver: Columbine Campground Virtual Tour (9000ft Escape)

Worth a stop

Trails nearby

Forest Service trail data →
  • 0.2 mi
    Columbine
    2.3 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.2 mi
    Stewart Creek
    2.6 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 0.4 mi
    Mahogany Mountain
    3.2 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike
  • 2 mi
    North Twin River Cutoff
    2.9 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.6 mi
    Arc Dome Trail ↗
    4.8 mi trail · hiking, horse
  • 2.9 mi
    Stewart
    under 0.1 mi trail · hiking, horse, bike, 4WD

Trail and trailhead records are the Forest Service's. Distances are straight-line to the nearer trail end. Trail conditions are not tracked here.

Public land it sits in

On Wilderness Atlas →

This campground sits inside Arc Dome Wilderness, which overlaps Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.

Each unit is published as a centre point and an acreage rather than a boundary, so this section stands it in for a circle of the same area. Whether a campground is inside, and how far it is from one it is outside, are both approximate.

On the National Register nearby

On Register Atlas →

Guidebooks for Nevada

We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.

  • Hiking Nevada
    Bruce Grubbs, 2018
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Backpacking Trips in California and Nevada
    Mike White and Douglas Lorain, 2015
    Find at Bookshop.org
  • Best Hikes Reno and Lake Tahoe
    Tracy Salcedo, 2019
    Find at Bookshop.org

Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.

Reference

Questions people ask

Do I need a reservation at Columbine Campground?

No. Columbine Campground is first-come, first-served. Sites are taken on arrival and paid at the fee station.

Source: Forest Service

How much does it cost to camp at Columbine Campground?

Nothing. Columbine Campground is listed as free. No fee

Source: Forest Service

Can I bring an RV to Columbine Campground?

Columbine Campground is listed for tents only.

Source: Forest Service

What if Columbine Campground is full?

The nearest public campgrounds are San Juan Dispersed Campground (16.2 mi, first-come), Kingston Campground (25.6 mi, first-come), and Pine Creek Campground (29.5 mi, first-come).

Source: Campgrounds nearby