July 17-19, 2026 – Hunter Lake : Nevada
What is a Howling?
A family-friendly weekend gathering at beautiful Hunter Lake above Mogul, NV – easily accessible from Reno – near the California-Nevada border. The free event, sponsored by Wildwood Open Lands Foundation, will feature self-sufficiency, camaraderie, and public lands stewardship throughout the weekend. Dispersed camping is available. Camping opens at sunrise on Friday, July 17th, and closes at noon on Sunday, July 19th.
Conservation, education, outdoor community, and fun are the foundations of the Howling Event. Regardless of what mode of travel we use to access and explore our public lands, the same respect for the resource, as well as one another’s experience in doing so, is the purpose behind creating this gathering.
This year’s rally format is different from last year’s. Our location is, again, remote. Self-sufficiency, back-country navigation, personal preparedness, first aid, and responsible recreation will all be necessary.
Stewardship at the HOWLING
On Saturday, July 18th, we will descend from camp to our adopted open space, Carcione Ranch, for our summer stewardship project. The Carcione Ranch is along the Truckee River, where we will build a hiking trail, remove rubbish, and eradicate invasive weeds.
Our stewardship at Carcione Ranch is in Partnerhip with Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful and Washoe County Parks and Open Space.
Come 10 am-12 pm, dressed in sturdy shoes and cool clothes, KTMB, Washoe County, and WOLF will take care of all the equipment and materials. After we have wrapped up at noon, feel welcome to take a dip in the river, enjoy lunch, or even drop a fly line for top-notch trout fishing. We will return to camp at Hunter Lake.
The open space is located at 10195 Mogul Rd, Mogul, NV
Hunter Lake – Location & Accommodation
The event is being held in a beautiful mountain location. The destination has large open areas for camping. The region is ripe with opportunities for exploration of historical sites, geology and trails, rock climbing, biking, hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. We will need to practice Leave-No-Trace and Tread Lightly! principles when it comes to managing trash, recycling, and human waste. Recycling and trash will need to be hauled out; make appropriate preparations to remove all waste. Potable water is not available; please plan to carry as much consumable water, meals, and libation as you require. We will monitor UHF/VHF 146.460MHz as well as Garmin-InReach (213) 529-8561.
Directions
There are several routes to access Hunter Lake. All have varying levels of length and technical difficulty. The instructions provided below are for the MOST DIRECT and ACCESSIBLE route to the location. The image below is for reference purposes only. Please consult your maps and software for the route that best serves your vehicle and driving skill level.
- Location: Hunter Lake 39.42899, -119.91644
- Distance from Reno: 5.9 miles.
- Travel duration: 45 Minutes – with conservative driving
Directions:
- From I-80 Exit 10, Eastbound in Reno, stay right to merge onto NV-659/S McCarran Blvd for 3.4 mi
- Turn right onto Caughlin Pkwy for 0.2 mi
- Turn left onto Village Green Pkwy 0.5 mi
- Turn left onto Pinehaven Rd 0.3 mi
- Using your mapping software or following the yellow HOWL signs, follow the trail to Hunter Lake at 39.42899, -119.91644.
About the Host
We want to see open lands preserved and protected from exploitation. This organization was formed in 2020 because we believe we can be a uniting entity towards this purpose. We are small but mighty, leveraging our passion and commitment towards tangible positive impact.
Wildwood Open Lands Foundation is a local, Nevada Domestic Nonprofit Corporation (82), designated 501(c)(3) conservation organization. We are based in Washoe County. Our current efforts are focused on northwestern Nevada.
We believe that open spaces are critical resources, irreplaceable, and invaluable to human and ecological stability, best preserved by united, dedicated individuals and businesses.
Our approach is, in part, to preserve open spaces through privately funded efforts to purchase and preserve tracts of undisturbed, open land for sale on the real estate market. No government funding, no public resources. In all that we do, this effort is the most critical, most challenging, and where we need the most assistance to be successful.
If you value open spaces as we do, we need your support. We encourage you to become a Friend of the WOLF, volunteer, corporate partner, or donor to our foundation.
Learn more about Wildwood Open Lands Foundation at wildwoodopenlands.org.
Our HOWLING Responsibility as Users of Public Lands
It is important to understand that Hunter Lake is a heavily used, dispersed camping location. There is trash around the site and decay of the resource. As users of public lands, we are stewards of public lands. We intend to collect and remove refuse found around the site. To this end, we propose 1/2hour of group effort on Sunday. We will bring hand tools, plenty of contractor bags, and an empty trailer to haul refuse out.
As acknowledgment of our team effort for care of our camp as well as our Carcione Stewardship, Wildwood Open Land Foundation will be cooking dinner for all attendees of the Howling on Saturday night. Expect a BBQ-style meal and sides.
Admission and Acknowledgement of Responsibility
The Howling is presented free of cost to all. All attendees will be required to sign an assumption of risk form regardless of event participation or age. (Guardians may sign for minors). It is critical to acknowledge that participation in outdoor activities and travel inherently includes a level of risk to person and property. It is the responsibility of attendees to recognize and assume this responsibility by signing off on the participant acknowledgement of risk form upon arrival. Emergency response by Mono County EMS is accessible by Emergency alert via satellite device, or, possibly, but unlikely, calling 911 via cellular phone.
Vehicles
YOUR VEHICLE IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. Attendees who bring vehicles to the event must ensure that they are suitable for the event and are in good working condition, including:
- Working headlights
- Working signal lights
- Working service brakes
- Working parking brakes
- No major fluid leaks.
- Intact exhaust system
- Adequate Tires/Tread
- Adequate spare tire
- Appropriate tools in case of a flat tire or minor repairs
Insurance – The Howling does not provide coverage for bodily injury. Attendees should have their own medical coverage, and vehicles must be fully insured. DO NOTE, all roads (paved or otherwise) are legal highways. In Nevada and California, state law governing motor vehicle operation is ubiquitous regardless of road surface.
Vehicle Recovery – If you find yourself stuck in the event area or adjacent roads, don’t worry, there are lots of good people attending who are willing to help. If your vehicle experiences a breakdown, it is your responsibility to get it home.
Alcohol – All roads on Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management Lands are subject to motor vehicle laws. Alcohol consumption on the trail creates a dangerous and irresponsible environment. Furthermore, it is illegal to drink and drive on Federal, California, or Nevada State Highways. Please leave libation for camp.
Psychoactive cannabis substances – Again, all roads on USFS and BLM Lands are subject to motor vehicle laws. Consumption of cannabis products containing THC on the trail creates a dangerous and irresponsible environment.
Other Event Particulars
Campfires – We have a small propane central campfire during the evening events. Small fires are possible at camp.
We discourage building fire rings for wood fires. If you would like a fire at your camp, we recommend propane fire pits or raised fireboxes.
Kids and Dogs – The Howling is a kid and dog-friendly event. We encourage and enjoy both kids and dogs, but we recognize that both need to be managed at an event. Please look after your kids and ensure they don’t play in areas where vehicles may be moving about. Dogs should be leashed, NEVER left in a locked vehicle, and PLEASE pick up any poop.
Water – Be prepared to carry all the water you will need for all the occupants of your vehicle. There is a running creek adjacent to the camp; however, water pollution is a significant concern.
Food – There are resources for food in the immediate event area. There are groceries available at Raley’s in Caughlin Ranch en route to the trailhead.
Fuel – Fuel is available on MacCarran Parkway north of I-80.
Propane – Please be well supplied with propane before you arrive. The propane fill stations are on MacCarran Parkway north of I-80 and at Boomtown Chevron.
Shower – There are no shower facilities at the event area.
Electricity – There are no utilities at the event location. We recommend you be prepared with an off-grid solar power solution, or a small generator, but generators must be shut off at 10 pm.
Hookups – There are no RV/Camper hookups at the event.
Weather – The weather in the Mountains of Nevada and Northern California can be unpredictable in June. The upslope terrain may be snow-covered. Average temperatures in Mid-June range from mid-50’s to mid-70’s. There can be a chance of rain as well. Bring appropriate clothing for sun and cold, sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellent!
Garbage and recycling – Recycling and trash will need to be hauled out; make appropriate preparations to remove all waste.
Be Critter-Smart. Please don’t leave food around your campsite. Any waste should be secured. Scavenging critters and birds abound.
Music – Music enhances many of life’s experiences. On the trail, music must be kept at a volume such that the driver and passengers can clearly hear the instructions that are audible inside the vehicle. Once in camp, please keep music at a volume respectful of your fellow travelers.
