Wild Horse State Recreation Area
🏆🏆🏆🏆 Wild Mustangs — 2,800-acre park surrounding Wild Horse Reservoir in the remote high desert of northeastern Nevada — wild mustangs roam the surrounding sagebrush hills! The reservoir sits at 6,200 feet elevation in the Independence Mountains with views stretching to the Ruby Mountains. This is real cowboy country — Elko hosts the annual National Cowboy Poetry Gathering!
Visitor Information
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Location | Elko County, NV |
| Elevation | 6,200 feet |
Getting There
Located on Highway 225 north of Elko in Elko County. The 2,830-acre reservoir is one of Nevada’s best trout and bass fisheries. The surrounding sagebrush steppe supports wild mustang herds — Elko County has more wild horses than any county in America. The reservoir provides essential water recreation in the high desert (5,500 ft elevation). Ice fishing is popular in winter.
Plan Your Visit
Wild Horse SRA offers 33 campsites, boat ramps, and a fish cleaning station. The reservoir supports rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, and black crappie — ice fishing is excellent December through February. Watch for wild mustang herds grazing on the surrounding hills (best viewed at dawn). The town of Elko (65 miles south) hosts the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering each January — the premier celebration of western ranch culture in America.
Nature & Wildlife
The sagebrush steppe surrounding the reservoir supports wild mustang herds — Nevada has 50% of all wild horses in the western US. Pronghorn antelope, mule deer, and sage grouse inhabit the high desert. The reservoir attracts migrating waterfowl including tundra swans, Canadian geese, and various duck species. Elko County’s 17,000+ square miles (larger than 9 US states) support one of the most intact sagebrush ecosystems remaining in the Great Basin.
Insider Tips
Wild mustangs: Nevada has more wild horses than any other state — approximately 50,000 mustangs roam public lands. Pro tip: Wild horses are both beloved icons and ecological challenges — their numbers exceed what the range can sustainably support. Mining heritage: The Elko area has experienced multiple gold booms — Nevada currently produces 75% of US gold.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are wild horses native to Nevada?
Wild horses (mustangs) descend from Spanish colonial horses — they’re not truly native but have been free-roaming for 400+ years. The 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act protects them on federal land. Nevada’s 50,000+ mustangs far exceed the Bureau of Land Management’s target — causing range degradation. Management options (roundups, adoption, birth control) are all controversial. The mustang debate pits animal welfare advocates against ranchers and ecologists.
