The change of the season is upon us in Nevada. Visit 3  fall foliage locations between now and November 30th to get your leaf peeper badge!

Cave Lake State Park

Open 24/7 365 days a year, this park has everything to offer from hiking and watersports in the summer to snowmobiling and ice fishing in the winter. 
Trail Uses
Walking Hiking Mountain biking Horseback riding Cross-country skiing Paddling Motorized watercraft
Location
White Pine County
Length
14.80 miles (Network)
Difficulty
Easiest, Easy, Moderate, Difficult
Town
Ely
Surface
Dirt, Rock/Ledge, Sand, Boardwalk
Pets
Permitted on Leash
Fees
Yes
Wilderness Areas
High Schells Wilderness Area
Other Activities
Dirt Biking ATV Riding UTV/Jeep Driving Snowmobiling

Description

Cave Lake State Park surrounds a 32-acre reservoir, making it a popular place for for boating, fishing, and swimming. There are many options for hiking, mountain biking, and camping. The American Discovery Trail can be accessed by Cave Lake, making the state park a great place to camp and explore for a few days. It is also a great place to depart from to join up with the rest of the Schell Creek OHV system in White Pine County.

Due to the high elevation, mule deer, bobcats and coyotes frequent the area. Follow old game trails in the hills and you might just spot one of these amazing animals! As you’re exploring the hillsides keep your eyes open for large predatory birds such as hawks and eagles. 

Summertime temperatures range from 80 to 90 degrees; in the winter the daytime highs range from 30 to 40 degrees with nights sometimes dropping to 30 below zero.

A visit in winter offers plenty to do such as ice fishing, cross country skiing, and ice skating. Each year the White Pine Fire and Ice Festival is held here making this a must-do on anyone’s winter bucket list! In the winter this park opens up a system of snowmobile trails. These are usually open from December to February, assuming there is enough snow during the season.

Other Information

Nevada State Parks has switched to a reservation system. Check the requirements for camping here!

There is a fee to enter the park. It has campsites, restrooms and other amenities. 

Camping is first come first serve and sites are equipped with fire pits, a picnic table and parking. Group campsites can be reserved via email. Showers and flush toilets are available while the campground is open. 

A license is required for both hunting and fishing on State Park property.

View additional information about Cave Lake State Park on the Travel Nevada website.
View information on the connecting Schell Creek OHV Trail System.

Trail Manager

For additional information, visit the Nevada State Parks Cake Lake website, or contact:

Nevada State Parks - Cave Lake

Nevada State Parks - Cave Lake
P.O Box 151761
Ely, Nevada 89315
Phone: 775-728-8100
clsp@parks.nv.gov
View website

US Forest Service - Ely Ranger District Office

US Forest Service - Ely Ranger District Office
825 Avenue E
Ely, Nevada 89301
Phone: (775) 289-3031
View website

Download

Download map files for your own use.

Working with Downloaded Files

Recreate Responsibly

Plan Ahead and Prepare
Find out about and follow any local regulations and respect landowners’ property.
Legend
|
Hide All

Trailhead Information

From downtown Ely, head south on US-50 to NV-486 (Success Summit Road) on the left, 7.6 miles from US-50's junction with US-93 in the center of Ely. Look for the brown sign with directional arrows pointing to Steptoe Creek, Cave Lake, and Success Loop at the head of Success Summit Road. Continue on this road for 6.4 miles to the park entrance on the right.

The Cave Springs trailhead can be found at the lower parking lot. The Cave Lake Overlook trailhead begins at the east end of the lake. The Twisted Pines trailhead begin just below Elk Flat campground and connects to the Overlook and High Roller Trails. The Steptoe Creek Trail is accessed from this same trailhead as well as from additional points along NV-486.

Click on a parking icon to get custom directions
Please Log In or Create Account to add comments.
SHARE THIS TRAIL
PRINT THIS TRAIL

Add Trail Log

Please wait…
Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
Join In on the Fun!
Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Nevada Trail Finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more!
Your log in attempt was not successful. Please try again.
    Lost your password? Reset your password
    Don't yet have an account?
    There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.
      * Indicates required field
      Already have an account? Login here
      Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account.
      There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.

        Success! A new password has been emailed to you.

        Log in now

        Please wait…