Nevada State Parks will waive entry, camping and boating fees at every state park on Saturday, Sept. 26, while reopening most of the Spooner Lake backcountry after a two-year closure connected to repairs at Marlette Dam.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced the statewide fee-free day for National Public Lands Day. Visitors with existing camping reservations for Sept. 26 will receive automatic refunds and do not need to contact the park system, the agency said.
The broad reopening at Spooner Lake State Park restores access to the Flume Trail, North Canyon Road, Marlette Lake and other routes on the west side of the backcountry. Hobart Reservoir and the surrounding trails will remain closed, so hikers, cyclists and equestrians should check the state’s current maps and conditions before planning longer trips.
The reopening is significant because Spooner’s backcountry area covers more than 12,000 acres and includes roughly 50 miles of trails and roads. The park connects recreation routes above Lake Tahoe and Carson City, making the restored access relevant to both residents and visitors after two seasons of restrictions.
Fee-free access does not mean every activity is reservation-free. The state scheduled a 9 a.m. coffee talk at Ice Age Fossils State Park and a 6:30 p.m. night hike at Fort Churchill State Historic Park, with advance registration required for the evening hike. Normal capacity limits, campground rules and safety restrictions still apply.
FOX5 Las Vegas separately reported the waiver and Spooner reopening. For travelers choosing among sites, the state’s park directory provides official pages for locations ranging from Lake Tahoe and Great Basin landscapes to historic forts and southern Nevada desert parks. The directory also filters for amenities such as accessible campsites, boat launches, showers, equestrian access and drinking water.
National Public Lands Day is organized nationally by the National Environmental Education Foundation. The foundation describes the observance as the country’s largest single-day volunteer effort for public lands and says it has been held annually since 1994. Nevada’s fee waiver uses the observance to lower the immediate cost of visiting while also drawing attention to maintenance and stewardship.
For Nevada residents, the practical takeaway is straightforward: no state-park entry, camping or boating fee will be charged on Sept. 26, and existing reservations will be refunded automatically. Visitors heading to Spooner Lake gain back most west-side routes, but Hobart Reservoir remains off limits. The state has not said the waiver extends beyond Saturday, so normal fees resume after the event.
The combination of a statewide access day and a major backcountry reopening gives the observance more consequence than a routine promotional weekend. It restores a heavily used trail network while offering a one-day chance to visit Nevada’s park system without the usual state fees.
