Cave Lake State Park ~ Nevada

For those who wish to escape from it all, Nevada has plenty of wide open spaces to explore, especially where the mountains meet the desert up north near Ely. The southern end of this big state is a literal frying pan during the extreme heat of summer, while heading north to the mountains provides some relief from the heat. There are several wildlife refuges and National Forests that offer a great back to nature experience around Ely, while the rough back country adventures tend to be best suited for 4x4 vehicle enthusiasts. Not everybody relishes the thought of rationing water way out in the middle of nowhere with little chance of rescue if the unexpected occurs and this is where Cave Lake State Park fits into the picture. 

Cave Lake State Park is fully developed and it offers a high level of comfort. Nevada State Parks are secure and heavily regulated, so even the meekest adventurer can enjoy this unique place. The main attractions are the blue water lake and the views of the surrounding desert mountains, which are as majestic as can be. There are two campgrounds that are offered on a first come, first serve basis and one overlooks Cave Lake. Dispersed camping options can be found in the BLM territory just outside of this park, which is nice to know during busy holiday weekends. This park can be crowded on the weekends, but there is a seven day camping limit, so the turnover rate ensures open campsites. 

The main activities at Cave Lake State Park are hiking, fishing and splashing in the cool water. There are two lengthy hiking trails in this park that offer views that will be remembered for a lifetime. The hiking trails are moderately strenuous in this mountainous environment and there is nothing like jumping into the cool refreshing lake water to finish the trek. A nice swimming beach is located near the boat ramp, which is cordoned off from boat traffic. Starting the day with a few free-stroke laps in the clean mountain air certainly is an invigorating way to go. Small craft boating boating is an option and motorized boats are limited to the 5 mph no wake rule, which means the aquatic adventures are guaranteed to be a pleasant experience for all. For fishermen, Cave Lake is stocked with Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout, so filling the creel for dinner is easy to do. In fact, Cave Lake is a top ice fishing destination during the icy cold winter season and setting up a hot tent on the thick ice can be safely done.

There is a lot of old west history to discover in Ely and the outdoor adventures in this region are practically endless. This is a great place to make a summer vacation last forever and Cave Lake State Park is as comfortable as it gets. Those who make the mistake of picturing Nevada as being nothing more than a barren desert wasteland will be in for a pleasant surprise and the best part is this lesser known State Park tends to be overlooked by mainstream tourists, so overcrowding is rarely a problem. For this reason, be sure to keep Cave Lake State Park in mind when planning a tour of northern Nevada!