Silver Island Mountains Dry Lake Dispersed Camping

We stayed up here for 8 days and 7 nights and loved it!

Late September into early October, we had great weather. Warm days and cool nights, allowed us to save batteries by not needing a/c or heaters.

So much amazing hiking directly from the campsite to view Pronghorns, lots of little lizards, and occasionally some birds.

If your into history be sure to visit the Wendover Army Air Base museum in Wendover, UT for some pretty cool facts about this area's role in our nation's security during WWII.

So many good free spots up here and way less crowded than the Salt Flats. During our week we had one consistent neighbor and a few that would come for overnights. The road up is paved packed gravel up until the scenic byway sign and is easily accessible.

Past the sign it gets a pretty rough with washboard so we stopped where we did.

Excellent internet connection on Verizon.

Great spot. We camped here just as bonneville speed week was starting and even with the hundreds of people down in the valley, up where we were in the hills it was peaceful, only a couple people around, but we were the only ones on the actual lake bed. We were tenting and thank god we had camping mattresses cause the lake bed is rough for sleeping on with just a pad. There are tons of areas around as well if you’d rather not camp right on the lake bed though so no worries. The whole area is paved except for the last minute or so. You should be able to get a RV or normal car down there no problem

We got an amazing spot! Would camp at again. Follow Leppy Road (paved) to the top of the hill where the fenced building is and turn onto the Silver Island Mountains Backcountry Byway (packed gravel) as if you were going to take the counterclockwise route. You will cross the lake bed, we kept going a bit over the ridge and took a spur to the right up the hillside (a little bumpy in places, took it SLOW) where there are three possible sites located near the rock formation. We camped against the right side hill and had an amazing 180 degree view across the plain over to Nevada. Very minimal wildlife except for a couple of birds and I saw a single Pronghorn while I was heading back down Leppy Road for a supply run.
In our previous reconnaissance of the area we located other campsites along Leppy Road if you continue to the West, but decided the somewhat bumpy trip up the hill along the counterclockwise route gave us a better, more scenic spot.
Was unable to find potable water en route along I-80 West or nearby to fill out tanks, had to resort to filling water cooler 5 gal bottles in town (Wendover) for basic washing/flushing. There is a KOA in town I eventually found, but didn’t want to pack up the trailer just to get water.
Pretty windy against the hillside, noticed it changed 180 degrees throughout the day so was unable to put out awning.
Great T-Mobile cell service from our vantage point, we connected with the Pilot Peak tower on the Nevada side (research Donner Party for nearby attractions, that’s where they left this valley heading West) with a full 5 bars. No TV antenna coverage, the mountains all around blocked the repeated for Wendover. We were in a 35ft 5th wheel pulled by a RWD diesel pickup, so 4WD not required.

Amazing spot! Would camp at again. Follow the paved road to the top of the hill where the fenced building is and turn onto the dirt road. You will see the lake bed. We camped on top of the berm at the far end of the lake and had amazing 360 degree views. Pronghorn when we showed up and a whole family of them visited when we were packing up.

Good cell service. We were in a 20ft travel trailer and Tacoma but I think most could get to this spot.

We intended to stay here overnight, but found we had some issues with the car on arriving and instead drove to West Wendover, took care of the car and stayed in the truck parking next to the Nugget Casino. But we would have no problem returning and staying for a few days. Leppy Pass Road is negotiable with pretty much any RV, we're 34' and pull a CRV and we had no problems. Nice views to the north from the dry lake bed camping area, but none east toward the flats. Only one other camper.

There's no overnight camping allowed on the flats, and although there are spots close to the flats, we much preferred this location! There wasn't anybody here the entire time we stayed. A few cars passing by while driving the backcountry loop, but that was about it. Total and complete privacy and unbridled views of Pilot Peak!

Lots of little poops around but no visits from wildlife. Be sure to check out the strange markings from Google Earth just Northeast of here, then drive the Aqueduct road and go explore! Those markings were once part of the Utah Training and Test Range from the 40's and 50's.

Also be sure to stop into historic West Wendover to see Wendover Will, and stop in at the casino to see the very last splice of the telephone lines connecting the East and West coasts!