Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Fire restrictions

Nevada Fire Info, BLM Nevada's interagency fire site, keeps the Nevada fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Nevada fire map of active fires.

Before you go

Cave Valley Road is usually passable by passenger cars most of the year; use caution in winter and after heavy rain (as of September 25, 2026).

• Drinking water from Mid-May to September only
• Vault toilets

Camping at Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park has 1 developed campground. Camping costs $15 per vehicle ($20 for non-NV vehicles). Stays are limited to 14 days in any 30-day period. There is 1 group site.

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park camping (0.1 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.

Reserve a site with the park's booking system

Trails

• Riparian Loop (2 mi loop) Follows Willow Creek and South Fork Willow Creek
• Ward Legacy Trail (2.2 mi one way) Multi-use; the only park trail open to ATVs and motorcycles
• Ridgeline Loop (1.6 mi loop)
• Overlook Loop (0.9 mi loop) Passes lime kilns near the charcoal ovens
• Interpretive Loop (0.6 mi loop)
• Campground Ovens Trail (0.6 mi one way) Links Willow Creek Campground to the ovens area
• Day Use Trail (0.1 mi one way)

What to see

• Historic site Ward charcoal ovens Six beehive ovens, about 30 ft high, used 1876 to 1879 to make charcoal for silver smelters

Photos