FACILITIES & AMENITIES

View the Beaver Dam Brochure with Map

Camping: There are two developed campgrounds offering individual campsites, each containing a fire pit, picnic table and parking suitable for one vehicle and a small trailer. Drinking water is available from April through November and vault toilets are available year-round. There is no trailer dump station at the park. Camping is limited to 14 days in a 30-day period.

Group Area: The group area in Campground B has a large shade ramada, table space for 60 and horseshoe pits.

Picnicking/Day Use: A day use area is at the east end of Campground A. It has picnic tables, potable water, barbecue pits and restroom facilities. A turnaround parking area accommodates larger rigs. At the park's southern boundary lies another picnic area. At the Waterfall Trailhead visitors can sit under the shade of an old cottonwood tree and have a picnic before hiking up the trail.

Fishing: Fishing opportunities abound in the streams below the day use area and Oak Knoll Trail. The Nevada Department of Wildlife stocks the streams with rainbow trout. A Nevada Fishing License is required for anglers over age 12. Licenses should be purchased prior to visiting (buy online at ndow.org); licenses are not sold in the park. Check NDOW's fishing guide on current fishing regulations.

Hiking: Beaver Dam contains trails for many levels of hiking experience. See incredible views from a vantage point high on the Overlook Trail that offers a 360-degree panorama of the canyon. To the north you can catch sight of the remnants of Hamblin Ranch where Headwater and Pine Park washes merge to form the Beaver Dam Wash. To the south you can glimpse the Beaver Dam Wash canyon that directs the streams to Littlefield, Arizona, and into the Virgin River. Access this loop trail at the southern end of Campground B. The ascent to this viewpoint is a moderate hike.

The Oak Knoll Trail is an easy hike and you may want to bring a fishing rod because this trail descends to the stream bank for perfect access to rainbow trout. This easy trail is southeast of the campgrounds. Follow the park road south about .5 mile, turn left at the Oak Knoll sign onto the spur road and park at the gate.

The Waterfall Trail offers streams, warm springs and waterfalls that drew the Civilian Conservation Corps to this part of the park during its stay in 1934-35. Visitors can explore the pond and natural Jacuzzi remnants of days gone by. Hiking the trail offers visitors a glimpse into the past along with incredible scenery. This easy-to-moderate trail is near the southern boundary of the park.

Programs: Information about program scheduling may be obtained from either park staff or kiosks. Upon request, special presentations can be arranged for groups.

Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.

FIELD NOTES

• Electric power is not available in the park.
• Landline phone service is not available; some cell phones can receive reception at the park's north entrance gate. In an emergency, a landline phone may be accessed in the small town of Barclay located west of the park.
• Currently over 10 miles of OHV trails have been established with more to come.
• If you see cattle in the park, please inform the ranger.
• Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.
• Removing, disturbing or damaging any historic structure, artifact, rock, plant life, fossil or other feature is prohibited. State and federal laws protect this area and its resources.
• Pack it in, pack it out; there is no trash disposal in the park.
• The use of drones or any remote controlled aircraft is not allowed. Visit B4UFLY for more info.
• Visitors are responsible for knowing all park rules and regulations in effect. Detailed rules and regulations are posted at the park or may be viewed on the Park Rules page.
• Those with developmental and/or physical limitations are invited to enjoy all of the recreational activities of Nevada State Parks. If you would like to request additional support or accommodations, please call Nevada State Parks at (775) 684-2770. We continually seek ways to provide recreational opportunities for people of all abilities and welcome any suggestions you may have.
• View a  list of frequently asked questions.

NATURAL RESOURCES/CLIMATE

Millions of years of volcanic activity formed the dramatic geologic outcrops of igneous and sedimentary rock, including pink rhyolite, dark red and grey andesite and white ash-fall tuff. Obsidian and volcanic glass nodules may also be found in the park. At about 5,000 feet in elevation, this high desert park includes much more than sagebrush and cactus. Pinyon pines and junipers dominate the woodlands, with Ponderosa pines near the park’s springs. Gambel and shrub live-oak, sumacs and small-tooth maples provide fall color. Willows and cottonwoods along the wash are the preferred food and dam-building material for the native beavers. (READ MORE)

HISTORY OF BEAVER DAM STATE PARK - Established 1935

Beaver Dam was formed from more than 10 million years of volcanic activity and erosion. Due to its lush environment, Native Americans inhabited the area, living off fish and beaver from the perennial stream. During the gold rush of 1849, a group of emigrants happened upon the area looking for a shortcut to the goldfields of California. Rather than a shortcut, what they found was a beautiful valley with steep cliffs and nearly impassable canyons. Although no shortcut was found, stories and descriptions told by the California bound emigrants led to the permanent establishments of Beaver Dam and the town of Barclay. One group of these settlers, the Hamblin family, built a small house, blacksmith shop and one-room school house in the area. Portions of this original ranch can still be seen in the northern portion of the park near the confluence of the Headwaters Wash and the Pine Park Wash. (READ MORE)