Nevada State Parks Waives Fees for National Public Lands Day as Spooner Backcountry and Flume Trail Reopen

CARSON CITY / LAKE TAHOE, NV — Outdoor recreationists across the Silver State can access all 27 Nevada State Parks free of charge this weekend, as state conservation officials celebrate National Public Lands Day with fee-free entry, complimentary camping, and the reopening of the iconic Spooner Lake backcountry.

The statewide fee waiver—effective Saturday, September 26, 2026—applies to day-use admission, boat launch facilities, and overnight camping sites from Valley of Fire in Southern Nevada to the alpine basins of the Carson Range.

The highlight of this year’s observance is the conclusion of the multi-year rehabilitation of the historic Marlette Dam, enabling the state to lift a two-year closure on premier hiking, equestrian, and mountain biking routes above Lake Tahoe.

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|       NEVADA STATE PARKS PUBLIC LANDS DAY DOSSIER      |
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|  - Managing Agency: Nevada Division of State Parks     |
|  - Event Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026            |
|  - Scope: All 27 Nevada State Parks System Units       |
|  - Fee Waivers: Day-Use Entrance, Camping & Boat Launch|
|  - Reservation Policy: Auto-Refunds Issued for Booked  |
|    September 26 Campsites via Reserve Nevada           |
|  - Major Reopening: Spooner Lake & Backcountry Unit    |
|  - Infrastructure Milestone: Marlette Dam Repair Wrap  |
|  - Reopened Trail Corridors: Flume Trail, North Canyon |
|    Road, Marlette Lake Shoreline, Hobart Reservoir     |
|  - User Groups: Hikers, Trail Runners, Equestrians,    |
|    and High-Altitude Mountain Biking Enthusiasts       |
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Marlette Dam Modernization and Backcountry Restoration

For more than two years, the western expanse of Spooner Lake & Backcountry State Park has remained off-limits to through-traffic while engineering teams completed extensive structural overhauls on the 150-year-old Marlette Dam.

The high-elevation dam and flume system, originally engineered in the 1870s to supply water to the Comstock Lode silver mines in Virginia City, remains an operational water utility for Carson City and the Virginia City water district.

The multi-million-dollar restoration stabilized the earthen embankment, repaired deteriorated spillway valves, and modernized intake pipelines while safeguarding the fragile subalpine watershed.

With heavy machinery now cleared, visitors will regain unhindered access to the world-renowned Tahoe Flume Trail, a sheer 14-mile singletrack offering panoramic views of Lake Tahoe 1,500 feet below, alongside the aspen-lined corridors of North Canyon Road and the shores of Marlette Lake.

Fee Waivers Across 27 State Parks

State park officials confirmed that day-use fees will be waived at the entry gates of every state park facility on Saturday.

For campgrounds that typically operate under the state’s Reserve Nevada digital booking portal, campers who reserved stays for the night of September 26 will have their base campsite fees automatically refunded to their original payment methods.

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|             VISITOR LOGISTICS & ACCESS DETAILS         |
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|  • Tahoe Alternatives: Sand Harbor & Cave Rock open    |
|    free of charge (early arrival advised for parking)  |
|  • Southern Regional Icons: Valley of Fire, Spring     |
|    Mountain Ranch, and Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort open  |
|  • High-Altitude Weather: Fall foliage underway across |
|    Carson Range; morning temps dipping near freezing   |
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“National Public Lands Day is about celebrating the open spaces that define Nevada’s heritage and quality of life,” said Bob Mergell, Administrator of the Nevada Division of State Parks. “Reopening the Spooner backcountry on this day is especially rewarding, returning one of Tahoe’s most beloved recreation corridors to hikers, cyclists, and families after vital infrastructure protection work.”

State park rangers advised visitors heading to popular destinations like Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe or Valley of Fire in Clark County to arrive early, as parking capacity remains limited and gates will close temporarily once staging lots fill.

Source: Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Nevada Division of State Parks Public Recreation Wire, Carson City Public Works Water Utility Records.