Cave Lake State Park
- Status
- Status not posted
- Entrance fee
- $5 per vehicleAnnual pass available
- Day-use reservations
- None mentioned
- Dogs
- Dogs allowed6-ft leash
- Camping
- Yes
- Official site
- parks.nv.gov(775) 296-1505
Official page last checked Oct 29, 2026. How we keep this current
Overview
In White Pine County, about 10 miles southeast of Ely, Cave Lake State Park covers about 1,129 acres.
Visitors come for horseback riding, canoeing and kayaking, boating, biking, and wildlife watching. On the water side, there is a boat ramp. Overnight options include campsites, with RV sites, tent sites, and showers.
Hours
Park, gate, office and facility hours are listed separately because they often differ. Alerts above override normal hours.
| Facility | Days | Hours | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| The park’s wording doesn’t give clock times — see the official wording below. | |||
Official wording
Always Open
Hours: Open seven days a week, 365 days a year.
Source: official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Times are local to the park (America/Los Angeles).
Fees and passes
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Day use entrance fee | $5 · vehicle |
| Day use entrance fee | $10 · vehicle |
| Boat launch | $10 |
| Boat launch | $15 |
| Camping | $15 · vehicle |
| Camping | $20 · vehicle |
| Camp and boat | $20 · night |
| Camp and boat | $25 · night |
| Bike in | $2 · walk-in |
Official wording
Day use entrance fee: $5.00 per vehicle (Non-NV Vehicles $10.00 per vehicle) Boat launch: $10.00 (Non-NV Vehicles: $15.00) Camping: $15.00 per vehicle, per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $20.00 per vehicle, per night) Camp and boat: $20.00 per night (Non-NV Vehicles: $25.00 per night) Bike in: $2.00 per bike
Nevada park passes
- All Access Permit — $250. Entrance, camping and boating fees at all parks for 12 months (hook-up sites +$10/vehicle) Details
- Annual Day Use Permit — $100. Entrance to all parks for 12 months; camping/boating extra Details
- Senior Citizen Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Nevada residents 65+: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Disabled Veteran Permit — $30 annual administrative fee. Qualifying Nevada disabled veterans: entrance, camping and boat launch for 12 months Details
- Veteran Annual Entrance. Nevada veterans: entrance to all parks for 12 months Details
From the Nevada state guide. Confirm which passes this park accepts.
Reservations
- Day use
- No day-use reservation requirement mentioned
- Booking system
- ReserveNevada
We link to the official booking system rather than showing live availability, which changes minute to minute.
Pets
Dogs allowed · leash up to 6 feet
Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length. Pets are welcome, but they must be kept on a leash of not more than six feet in length.
Service animals are generally permitted where pets are not. Check with the park for specific areas.
Camping
Camping: Cave Lake offers two designated campgrounds: Elk Flat Campground and Lake View Campground. All sites are level and include a fire pit with grill, table and parking. Access roads to campsites are unpaved. The camping limit is seven days in a 30-day period.
Elk Flat Campground is the first camping area visitors see as they approach from Highways 93, 50 and 6. The campground opens early May and closes mid-October, weather permitting. Showers and flush-type toilets are available while the campground is open.
The Lake View Campground is near the lake and open year-round with flush toilets and showers. In extremely cold conditions the facilities may be closed. Please contact the park if you plan to arrive in the winter.
From the official park page, checked Oct 29, 2026. Site counts and prices can change; confirm when booking.
Things to do
CampingHikingBikingWildlife viewing and birdingBoatingCanoeing and kayakingHorseback ridingFishingPicnicking
Trails
Hiking: Motorized vehicles are prohibited on all trails. Four developed hiking trails are maintained. An easy, three-mile round trip can be found on the Steptoe Creek Trail. The trail starts at the lower parking lot and crosses the creek and returns via Success Summit Road.
The Cave Springs Trail is five miles of moderately strenuous hiking. It starts at the lower parking lot and meanders throughout the surrounding hills.
The Cave Lake Overlook Trail is a strenuous 4.5 mile loop that starts on the east end of the lake.
The Twisted Pines Trail is the park’s newest addition and connects to the Overlook Trail. This trail is moderate, starting below Elk Flat Campground. It is just over four miles one way and ends on the Overlook Trail loop.
Read more from the park
American Discovery Trail: The American Discovery Trail is a great way to experience Nevada's beautiful and rugged backcountry. The Nevada portion of this 6,800+ mile trail covers 500 miles of Nevada's remarkable landscape, traversing 14 mountain ranges and challenging its explorers to a total climb of 34,000 feet! Six of Nevada's State Parks can be accessed by way of this route, including Cave Lake State Park. Stay with Nevada State Parks while exploring the American Discovery Trail!
Boating, paddling and fishing
Fishing/Boating: Fishing is permitted 24 hours a day and a fishing license is required (buy online at ndow.org). Anglers will find German brown trout in Cave Lake and park streams. The lake is also stocked with rainbow trout. Fishing is excellent both for boaters and from the shore. Motorized boats are permitted on the lake, but may not exceed 5 mph (flat wake).
A state fishing license is usually required.
Amenities
Facilities
- Restrooms
- Showers
- Drinking water
- Picnic areas
Water
- Boat ramp
Camping
- RV dump station
- Tent camping
- RV camping
Recreation
- Horse trails
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
✓ listed by the park · ✕ the park says it is not available. Anything not shown here isn’t mentioned by the official source — that means unknown, not unavailable.
Accessibility
- Accessible campsites
American Discovery Trail: The American Discovery Trail is a great way to experience Nevada's beautiful and rugged backcountry. The Nevada portion of this 6,800+ mile trail covers 500 miles of Nevada's remarkable landscape, traversing 14 mountain ranges and challenging its explorers to a total climb of 34,000 feet! Six of Nevada's State Parks can be accessed by way of this route, including Cave Lake State Park. Stay with Nevada State Parks while exploring the American Discovery Trail!
Official accessibility information
Conditions change. Contact the park to confirm specific accessible features before your visit.
Rules and permits
Only licensed drivers with licensed vehicles are allowed to operate on divided highways and must stay on established roadways. OHV use is allowed on divided highways.
Gathering firewood is prohibited.
Trash receptacles are in the park for your convenience.
Getting there
- Address
- US 93-Success summit Rd
Ely, NV 89301 - Nearest town
- Ely — about 10 mi southeast (straight line)
- Coordinates
- 39.1838, -114.7173
- Phone
- (775) 296-1505
- clsp@parks.nv.gov
Nearby state parks
Sources and freshness
- Nevada State Parks — park page — last checked Oct 29, 2026
- Nevada State Parks 'Explore Parks' directory (park cards; slug = officialId) plus each park page for title/designation/coordinates
- Wikidata
- USGS PAD-US 4.1 (boundary and acreage)
- Photo: Cavelake.JPG — Public domain (released by the author), N Walters
“Last checked” is when our system last read the official source. No change has been detected since this page was first published. Hours, fees and rules can change without notice — confirm with the park before you go. Methodology