This high desert northern Nevada town is the gateway to hot springs and the vast Black Rock Desert.
At the base of Granite Mountain in northern Nevada, Gerlach is an ideal basecamp and gateway to the Black Rock Desert (and the annual Burning Man festival held in late summer), the vast alkaline lakebed remnants of the ancient Lake Lahontan. Camping options include an RV park in town and tent and RV camping at a nearby ranch. Adventurous and self-sufficient campers will want to head into the Black Rock Desert playa for unrestricted dispersed camping, along with plenty of space for off-roading, setting land speed records, rocketry, rock hounding, wildlife watching, stargazing, and hot springs soaking—enjoy dispersed camping near Trego Hot Springs, and a free BLM cabin and semi-primitive designated campsites at Soldier Meadows Hot Springs. For a change of pace from the desert, head south to Pyramid Lake, Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation, for fishing and tent and RV camping along its west shore.