Cave Lake State Park

About Cave Lake State Park

Cave Lake is located 15 miles southeast of Ely, USA and is home to Cave Lake State Park, one of the largest state parks in the United States. The park offers a variety of amenities including hiking trails, picnic areas, waterfalls and picnic tables. The park is located on the east side of Lake Ely in Ely County, Nevada, about 30 miles east of Las Vegas and is open year-round. Facilities include a picnic area, water park, hiking trail, swimming pool, boat ramp, fishing pier, kayaking and rafting, canoeing and kayaking facilities and a campsite.

The fire and ice show of the white pine is the most important winter event in the region, and the snow machines are becoming more and more popular. Snowshoeing, snowskating, ice skating and other winter sports are possible, as well as snowmobiling and skiing.

The weather in the park is highly seasonal and varies widely in temperature, but summertime peaks can range from the upper 80s and 90s to the late 30s or 40s. Nights are often below zero, highs are often in the 30s and 40s, and the park weather varies more widely in the summer months.

Extreme lows can range into the 30s or below zero, and extreme highs in the mid-to-high 40s, with lows into the 50s and even 60s.

In the late afternoon, however, there are frequent summer thunderstorms, and the rest of the year is relatively dry. Rain or snow showers are rare, but snow is common in the winter months, with snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per year in some areas.

The weather forecast for Ely, Nevada, is adjusted to the weather at the park, and towing your vehicle does not incur any additional charges. The park has designated campsites, but not all, so please do not park there.

The pitch is flat, has a fireplace, barbecue table, parking and is accessed from the main entrance of the campsite by a paved road.

The access to the campsite is dirt road and the fees are payable for vehicles and at both campsites or at the toll booth. The first come, first served, free parking for all vehicles are accepted until January 2 of each year.

For information about overcrowded tents, please contact the rangers at toll booth 1 - 888 - 743 - 5555 or the campsite office at (877) 773 - 3200.

Fishing and crawling are permitted 24 hours a day and no trout stamps are required, but licenses are available in Ely for $5 per day or $10 for the whole year.

Fishermen find native brown trout at Cave Lake and in the streams of the park, and the lake is also stocked with rainbow trout. The fishing is excellent for boaters and coastal fishermen, but also for anglers from other parts of the state, such as Ely and Ely.

For current fishing regulations in Nevada, see the Nevada Department of Fish and Wildlife Fishing Regulations for Cave Lake State Park. Motorboats are allowed on the lake, but may not sail more than 30 miles from the main entrance of the park, and motorboats may not sail more than 1000 feet from one of the main entrances.

Several picnic areas are located on the lake shore, toilets, tables, barbecues and water are available, as well as picnic benches and picnic tables.

Motorised vehicles are prohibited on this route and a fee is charged for these vehicles. Entrance to Cave Lake State Park or any of the other state parks in the area is free.

Two easy-to-walk trails are maintained: the Cave Springs Trail, which includes a 5 km (3 mile) walk of moderate difficulty, starts at the lower parking lot, and an easy 3 km (2 mile) loop is located on the Steptoe Creek Trail. The trail starts in the parking lots near the dam, crosses the stream over a series of pedestrian bridges, climbs the surrounding hills and leads back to Success Summit Road.