4/17/2014

Walker Lake, Nevada

Walker Lake, Nevada

Walker Lake is a beautiful lake in the Nevada desert that is shrinking at an alarming rate. Walker lake is fed by the Walker River which has been diverted for agricultural and municipal use. The lake level has dropped over 140 feet since 1882. As the lake evaporates, salts and agricultural pollution become more concentrated in its waters. The increasing concentration of dissolved solids in the lake has recently become lethal or close to lethal for most of the fish and other aquatic life in the lake. The white stuff on the lakeshore in these photos is salt, not snow.

 

Walker Lake, Nevada

These pictures were taken at Twenty Mile Beach dispersed camping area. There are signs for the camping area on highway 95 along the Northwest side of the lake. It's managed by the BLM and is a really great spot. There is no shade and no wind breaks but otherwise it would be nice for tent camping. There are no developed campsites so you just pull of the dirt roads away from anyone else and set up camp. It's free. I loved it. There is one centrally located pit toilet. There were two other small groups spending the night when I was there. Plenty of room for everyone. Hawthorn is a few miles South and has services and motels. There is a developed BLM campground a few miles North of Twenty Mile Beach. The sites at Sportsman's Beach are very close together and completely lacking in privacy. Sportsman's Beach is $8 per night.

 

Walker Lake, Nevada

Walker Lake, Nevada

Walker Lake, Nevada

 

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