How To Visit Walker River State Recreation Area: Camping, Fishing, and More
On September 22nd, 2018, Nevada unveiled its newest State Park, Walker River State Recreation Area (mouthful, isn’t it?) This gorgeous stretch of the East Walker River is made up of four historic ranches; Pitchfork Ranch, Flying M Ranch, Rafter 7 Ranch, and Nine Mile Ranch.
Thanks to these acquisitions, the nearly 30-miles of river and picturesque 12,856 acres of rangeland will be open for the public to enjoy for generations to come. Of the four, Pitchfork is the only one developed and open to the public. The Elbow at Nine Mile, while publicly accessible and popular with Fishermen, isn’t developed. The others will be developed in phases.
Walker River is an outdoorsman’s paradise, offering many recreational opportunities such as hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, photography, and more! In this guide, we’ll go over topics such as where you can camp, park fees, nearby attractions and restaurants, and how to get there.
Park Information
Directions
Getting to Walker River State Park is relatively simple. The turn-off is right off Highway 208 just 10-miles or so from the town of Yerington.
From Downtown Yerington, head west on highway 208 for 10-miles and turn left onto E. Walker road for 4-miles until you reach the park entrance.
E. Walker road is a 4-mile, well maintained dirt road. It’s the road you’ll be on after turning off the highway and will take you to the park.
Our Chevrolet Cruz made it just fine, so a truck or some other high clearance vehicle isn’t required. RV’s can also navigate it easily.
While it is maintained, if wet weather recently happened, you may experience some difficulty. It would be best to call the park ahead of time to check road conditions.
Pitchfork Ranch
Pitchfork is the main area of the park and is an outdoorsman’s paradise. You’ll know you’ve arrived when you see the giant arch entrance. Turn right here.
About half a mile after turning right you’ll see your first right turn into a huge dirt parking lot. This is the group-use area with picnic tables, restrooms, and handicap parking.
Parking & Park Fees
As with most state parks, there are fees associated with visiting. The pay stations can be found on the left side of the visitor center in the smaller parking lot. *The pay station has recently been moved to just off the main road before reaching the visitor center.
There are two ways you can pay your fee:
Cash: You’ll slip the cash into the provided yellow envelope, fill out the necessary information, and drop it in what’s called the, “Iron Ranger” (Don’t forget to tear off the receipt section of the envelope).
Debit/Credit Card: Adjacent to the cash station you’ll see an electronic pay station. Here, you’ll select your fee amount, swipe your debit/credit card, and take the printed ticket. You’ll then place this ticket on your dashboard.
Park fees are as follows:
Nevada Resident
Day Use: $5.00 per vehicle
Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night plus $10.00 per night for sites with RV hook-ups
Non-Nevada Residents
Day Use: $10.00 per vehicle
Camping: $20.00 per vehicle, per night plus $10.00 per night for sites with RV hook-ups
Also, if you bike in (non-motorized), it’s a $2.00 day-use for no matter your state residency.
Visitor Center
The visitor center is centered in the Pitchfork Ranch entrance of the park in a beautiful, Spanish style building with western flare.
Inside, you’ll find the staff office where a Park Ranger is often stationed and a mini museum featuring multiple exhibits detailing the park’s history and local wildlife.
Unfortunately, during our visit, it had closed for the day. The Ranger did offer to let us in to look around but we left our masks in the car (this was before the mandate was lifted).
Visitor Center Hours
While the park itself is open 24/7/365, the visitor center is not. The hours for the visitor center are as follows:
9am to 5pm - Monday - Friday
10am - 2pm - Saturday & Sunday
*Note - Despite the hours listed above, the visitor center has not been open the last three to four times I have gone, despite being there during the listed hours. Your milage may vary.
Exterior Features
Outside the rear entrance of the visitor center is a rentable event space featuring picnic tables, a propane grill, and fireplace.
Adjacent to the event space is a beautiful grassy area with many trees and a man-made pond (not filled in the winter).
Camping at Walker River State Recreation Area
Camping at Walker River State Park is a wonderful, hassle-free experience. Unlike other parks, there isn’t a whole lot of red tape to jump through to camp here.
Some things you’ll need to know are:
Camping sites, both RV and primitive, are first-come, first-serve. They cannot be reserved ahead of time.
You’re limited to 14-days in a 30-day period. This policy is strictly enforced.
If you’re using an RV site, you’ll pay an additional $10 per night. This is true for Nevada residents and non-residents alike.
The RV sites include shaded picnic tables, grills, a communal restroom, and dump site.
Campground Locations
There are three designated campgrounds (so far) in the park. They are:
Riverbend Campground: There are 16 sites able to accommodate RV’s, Motorhomes, or tents. Sites come with shaded ramada, fire ring, and table. No hook-ups available.
Quail Run Campground: Site features include everything above, but come with power hook-ups.
Bighorn Campground: This campground is located up the load in the unspoiled Nine Mile section of the park. Sites include a table and fire-ring. This campground is primitive and has only a pit-toilet (BYO TP).
Squeeze Chute River Access
An additional three miles up the road from Pitchfork Ranch is where you’ll find a quaint, quiet area of the park known as, Squeeze Chute.
You’ll need to keep your eyes open for the turnout as it isn’t obvious. You’ll see a sign on your left pointing the way through a small entrance on your right. Turn here.
At Squeeze Chute, there’s a small parking area with a sole, uncovered picnic table. From here, you can access the river for fishing, swimming, etc.
As you drive in, take note of the gate on your right. This is the start of a hiking trail and follows the river through a beautiful tree-covered meadow.
Just keep in mind that cows do graze this area. So be sure to give them plenty of space and watch your footing (if you know, you know).
Walker River State Recreation Area Fishing
Fishing is the undisputed king of activities at the park. If you’re from out-of-state or a resident, you will need to have a Nevada fishing license.
If you don’t have one, you can scan the QR code near the pay station at the park with your smart device and purchase one.
Keep in mind that cellular service at the park can be spotty at best. To avoid disappointment, it would be wise to purchase one prior to arriving.
River Access
There are multiple river access points throughout the park, specifically in Pitchfork Ranch and The Elbow. You can swim and float to your heart’s content.
The Squeeze Chute area offers free, fly fishing introductory classes (you just need a fishing license). You can check this link for available dates.
Photography
Our personal favorite! Photographers of all kinds will love this photogenic oasis. For maximum results, definitely come during sunset.
River and mountainous landscapes plus ample wildlife such as; Deer, Antelope, Big Horn Sheep, Water Fowl, and Chukar provide endless photographic opportunities.
Nearby Attractions & Restaurants
Attractions
While the park itself offers plenty of fun activities all its own, if you’re planning on an extended stay, you may want to know what else the area offers.
Thankfully, there are many wonderful parks and destinations to visit that are within an easy drive from Walker River:
Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Historic Park: This one is the furthest away at about 2 hours (one-way). However, it’s more than worth the effort. It’s a preserved, mining ghost town and is also the site with the most Ichthyosaur fossils in the state. To read more about it, check out our article here.
Fort Churchill State Historic Park: If you’re into military history, this park is mandatory. Located just 30-minutes or so from Walker River, this state park features the ruins of an old military post. It also features a museum and campground all its own. You can read our article about it here.
Wilson Canyon: Wilson Canyon is a recreation destination all its own. Since it’s BLM land, camping is free and plentiful. You can hike, fish, and use motorized vehicles such motorbikes, side-by-sides, and more! You can read our article on its hiking trail here.
Bridgeport, CA: Bridgeport is a charming town in eastern California right next to the mighty Sierra Nevada Mountains. It’s our favorite town in California due to its proximity to amazing hiking trails, Yosemite, lakes, hot springs, and more! Check out our article about Bridgeport here.
Virginia City: About an hour from the park is the famed mining town, Virginia City. Step back in time and explore this wonderfully preserved and highly historical place. You can tour awesome attractions like MacKay Mansion , Chollar Mine , and more! Check out our article here.
Restaurants & Supplies
The small town of Yerington is a short drive away from the park and is a great place to pick up supplies or get something to eat. When camping, it’s always preferable to eat your meal over a fire but in the case of an extended stay, you may want to sit down at a restaurant.
For supplies, the one and only traditional grocery store is Raley’s. There’s also a Dollar General located on Main Street that offers limited grocery supplies. As far as restaurants go, there are three fast food joints if all you’re looking for is a quick bite. They are:
McDonalds
Port of Subs
Subway
If you’d rather support a local business and sit down to eat, there are a few local places we can personally recommend. They are:
Country Sunflower: It’s slightly out of town but this small, charming, local spot serves up amazing breakfast and lunch. It’s our personal favorite in the area.
Tailgaters Sports Bar: Open for lunch and dinner, Tailgaters offers traditional fare like cheeseburgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, and more in a sports themed setting.
El Alteno: If you’re craving hot and fresh Mexican food, head to El Alteno. It’s the closest restaurant to the park and has great food and service (Note: They are closed on Saturdays and close at 6pm on Sundays).
Additionally, Yerington has a Raley’s, Dollar General, and Family Dollar where you can pick up supplies like ice, firewood, s’mores kits, and more. Of the three, I would recommend Raley’s, as the two other stores are often cluttered and dirty.
