Beaver Dam State Park - Caliente, Nevada

Beaver Dam State Park - Caliente, Nevada

The first people to explore this area were the Indians, and then the Spaniards were here in the years between 1540 and 1775 while establishing trade routes in the Southwest.  The Indians hunted, fished and camped in the area, the Spaniards probably did similar activities.

The first homestead in the area was settled by a couple that had been headed for the California Gold fields during the 1860’s.  Today the remains are an early 1930’s railroad tie house and a wooden corral.

In 1935 the Legislature designated Beaver Dam as a state park.  The CCC came to the area in 1934 through 36 and built campgrounds.  No other improvements were done to the park until 1961 when the dam was completed, creating the reservoir which controls flooding and providing a great fishing environment for the hardy fisherman that wants to be in the true wilderness.  The original campgrounds flooded out and were rebuilt higher up to avoid the same type of problem later.

This area is great for those hikers that don’t want to be crowded out by lots of people or the nature enthusiasts who enjoy its primitive and rustic character.

The deep canyons, meandering streams, and the diverse plant communities make the landscape a delight to be in.  There are also a mixture of wildlife to watch such as mule deer, beavers (yes, they build dams), rabbits and small animals, you also want to keep your eyes open for snakes…welcome to the wild!

Beaver Dam State Park is Eastern Nevada’s most remote park. Situated in rugged canyon country the 2,393 acre park is located approximately 34 miles from Caliente and is next to the Utah border.

Directions: drive six miles north of Caliente on US 93, then 28 miles east on a graded gravel road that leads to the park entrance.

The weather is highly seasonal with wide temperature swings.  Summer temperatures range from 95 degrees F by midday to a drop of 50 degrees F at night.  The park is open year-round but due to harsh winter conditions, heavy snowfalls and below zero temperatures, the access is limited. 

Enjoy your adventure back to nature!