State tests online parks reservation system

Nevada’s first state park will also be first to use a new online reservation system that allows visitors to book campsites, group areas and cabins, and purchase annual permits.

The first available booking dates at Reserve Nevada will be at Valley of Fire State Park with the earliest arrival date of Sept. 15, followed by Big Bend of the Colorado and Washoe Lake with arrival dates of Oct. 15. Other parks will follow, with the remainder being available to book with an arrival date of Nov. 15. The reservation system will be based on an 11-month rolling window, with sites becoming available for reservation at 8 a.m.

ReserveNevada.com will allow visitors to prepay for entrance passes, good for the day they are purchased and available for entrance any time of day, provided the park is not filled to capacity.

As part of a pilot program to reduce traffic congestion at the park entrance, Big Bend of the Colorado visitors will have the option to make reservations for day-use permits, which will give them guaranteed access to the park until 11:30 a.m., after which the park will open to first-come, first-served visitors. At this time, other day-use parks, such as Sand Harbor State Park, will not offer reservations. The new reservation system will continue to be optimized with additional features and tools to meet the diverse needs of Nevada State Park’s staff and visitors.

To discourage “no-shows,” reservation related transaction fees are nonrefundable, and reservations canceled within three days of the arrival date will require a $10 transaction fee and the cost of a one-night stay. Dispersed and primitive camping areas are not reservable at most state parks in Nevada. Online camping reservations must be made at least three days in advance; however, reservations are not required to visit or stay at a Nevada State Park. Visitors are welcome to stay at unreserved sites on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability.

For more information about Reserve Nevada, visit parks.nv.gov/reservations.