Sheldon NWR: Camping

Virgin Valley Campground

Camping

Camping is permitted only at designated camping areas. There is no fee for camping and is on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations). Virgin Valley campground is open year-round. There you will find pit toilets, picnic tables, drinking water, a warm springs pool and a rustic shower house. All other camps are primitive; none have potable water and some have pit toilets.

Overnight backpacking is a great way to experience some of the more remote parts of the refuge. A backpacking permit is required for camping along the desert trail corridor and for safety reasons is accepted for the refuge as a whole. Contact Refuge Manager for permit.

You are welcome to camp on the refuge for up to 14 days. Observe quiet hours between 10 pm and 6 am. Plan to pack out what you pack in. Garbage collection and septic dumping facilities are not provided on the refuge. Winter snows and muddy road conditions in the spring limit access to remote camps.

The Royal Peacock private campground offers full hook-ups for a fee. Public telephone available.

See map for details and locations of the campgrounds.

Campfires

Campfires and charcoal barbecues are permitted only in times of low fire danger. Bring your own firewood. Propane stoves may be used year-round. Please check with the refuge headquarters if you are unsure about the level of fire danger and restrictions.

Horseback Riding

Horses are allowed on the refuge. Corrals are located at Badger Camp and Fish Creek. Pelletized feed is required to avoid introducing weeds from hay.

Rock Hounding

A maximum of seven pounds of rocks may be collected per day for personal use only, except in the Virgin Valley Mining District (covers 67,000 acres of refuge lands). Surface collecting only, NO DIGGING. Within the mining district there are thousands of claims (some of which are patented) and permission from claim owners must be obtained for rock collecting. Several patented mines offer opal hunting for a fee. Virgin Valley opal deposits include the prized black opal as well as fire opal of many hues, with the brilliant fire unique to the valley's gem. If you have the opportunity to visit the Smithsonian Natural Science Museum in Washington D.C., there are several Virgin Valley opals on display. The opal mines are operated by private groups.