Water Canyon Recreation Area

So l, unfortunately, I ended up there again on my way back from the North, only because I got burned in hot springs and wanted to stay a couple of days near a hospital. This hellhole had lived to its reputation again. This time it was motorcross type of stuff and endless dangerously speeding atvs and dirt bikes and constant roar of modified exhaust and generators, need to pressure blm to ban these loud type of people for good from the canyon. All the trashy locals come out with noisy machines, generators, pitbulls on a weekend, you get the idea. I usually camp in quiet places where I dont have to hear such garbage or any human sounds, for that matter. Traffic here s such that I've seen less busy interstate highways. Reviewing online info I see how much trouble had been happening: weirdos, vandals, sheriff evictions, etc, people banging on RV door demanding to drive them to town - happened to me here in spring. Not feeling safe sleeping here and I normally feel safe in most remote paces. Apparently, a woman was recently followed by 2 men on a trail here, which had resulted in Sheriff-run safety workshop in town this June.

We spent two nights (Tue & Wed) in site #4 with our 34' TT. There are 10 sites total in this area. Site #4 is a very large pull through site with a real nice area to set up tents along the creek and in the shade. There is both shade and sun in this area and we parked more in the sun to charge our solar panels. The sign for #4 is in the pull through area and not visible from the road.
Walking further up the road there was site #5 on the right just after #4 and better for smaller RV's.
Site #6 on the right is for small RV's and slopes down so will require some good leveling front to back.
Site #7 on the right is a real nice site for larger RV's.
Site #8 on the left is for medium size RV's and more parallel to the road.
Site #9 on the left is for small RV’s or tents.
Sites #8 & 9 are near a vault toilet and an area to possibly turn around. Continue up around some S turns and the road will end at a large turn around area, vault toilet, Site #10, and a hiking trail. Some cars park in this area to hike. Site #10 was a back-in site.

A little before the Site #10 area there is a turn off on the left for ATV vehicles to ride the hills.

I did not pay so much attention to Sites 1-3 on the way up the road to provide details for this review. I remember passing a very large pull-through site as we first entered the area and then a nice site after which was occupied. We continued and found Site #4.

There are speed bumps on the gravel road to cut down on fast vehicles that kick up dust. There were around 20 vehicles that drove though the area during the afternoon/evening on Tuesday. Wed was quiet with minimal vehicles.

It's crazy here. Nature, creek, aspen trees are gorgerous, weather is much cooler than down in Winnemucca, but people... First off, I was chased by someone else's pitbull in my own campsite, inconsiderate rude townies use other people's campsites as parking and let their dogs out. That's why I really only do truly dispersed remote camping anymore, out there without any people near me, people are nothing but trouble these days, and near the interstate highways one has to watch out. So, later the same day, I had to call 911 because of a different situation, there appeared to be victims of abuse in another campsite and I was asked for help, but I'm still not sure this was not a ruse and not some robbery attempt. Did not feel safe. I will not stop here again, actually still a bit shaken after 911 call. I also was approached by 2 men in a truck looking for their dogs, back when I camped in campgrounds, for many years I never been approached in my campsites, this area is shady. They need a camp host here and a speed trap. Endless stream of trucks and SUVs that do not observe speed limit here, starting after 2-3pm into the dark until late, also, kicking up huge dust clouds, they just drive in and out, in and out. Don't seem to be looking for campsites because they pass on available campsites, seems like driving to take a look (hopefully not to take a look at what to steal!)

While canyon and creek are beautiful, there was constant maddening vehicle traffic on the dusty dirt road right by campsites - even on a weekday, kicking enormous clouds of dust, vehicles going in and immediately out (no, these are not campers, its a stream of random people who come to take a look), after dark ATV traffic started too, as if they wanted to harass campers on purpose, speeding, bright lights, driving in and out right away with no purpose, its, 10.30pm and another loud ATV id iot just went in and out. I saw local teenagers come in to do illicit activities, clearly, shortly before campground start there seems to be a hangout spot. The place changes elevation by at least 700 feet, so temps can be quite different at the start or end of campground. I woukd not drive an rv too far in, low branches start they will scratch you. I shudder thinking what kind of traffic is here on weekends, so leaving after one night They need to shut down this place and preserve the nature.

We stayed here over night in our 40ft fifth wheel in jan 2023. Dirt road getting in is well maintained. You drive down the dirt road for a little bit in before you get to the actual BLM land. The sites are well defined. We used Google maps satellite view, which also helped see where they are. When we were there the road was closed off about half way up because of snow/ice but we didn’t have an issue finding a place for the night. We were the only ones there. We did the first pull through just after the bathrooms. Wasn’t very level but it was ok. There was a picnic bench and a creek. It was pretty and quiet. We would stay again.

This place is amazing. The roads are excellent, and the sights are beautiful. Unfortunately, as canyons go, this thing goes straight uphill the entire way from I80. Although the sites are large and appear to be flat, There is really no good way to get a large motor home level. We ended up staying at the ADA accessible site. Although it appears flat, The slope is enough that I had to chock the wheels on my manual transmission Jeep to stop it from rolling even when it was in gear. If you don't mind fighting getting level, or if you are camping in something small or a tent this this is a perfect and amazing place.

As others have mentioned, there is a lot of traffic near the front of the area. But since there is no exit, the traffic is simply people coming and going from the campsites that are deeper in. I took the Jeep to the very end the end of the road. There there is a large turnaround that I probably could have gotten the 38' motor home turned around in without my Jeep attached. So don't be afraid to drive all the way down the road because you because you can get turned around at the end.