Virgin Valley Campground is a free, rustic campground that makes a great base for exploring the Sheldon Wildlife Refuge. Light on the amenities, the campground offers 12 sites - each with a picnic table and fire pit - on a strictly first-come, first-served basis.
Situated near the northeastern end of the wildlife refuge and 2.7 miles from Highway 140 down a maintained gravel road, those traveling to the campground will pass Dufurrena Ponds, a series of manmade ponds created to help irrigate the area but which now serve as home or stopover points to a variety of birds and waterfowl, along with pronghorn antelope and stocked fish.
An additional bonus for campers is the Virgin Valley Warm Spring swimming hole and shower house, a waist-deep pond suitable for swimming that naturally maintains a temperature of about 85 degrees, alongside a shower house using water pumped from the pond.
Sites at Virgin Valley are spacious, though there is little to no barrier between neighboring sites, creating a lack of privacy. Several vault toilets serve the campground, and a spigot with potable water sits beside the shower house building. Of the 12 sites, only one - the first site in on the right - has any type of shade, so if this spot is available when you're entering, it might be worthwhile to grab it!
A campground host is onsite during the tourist season, and wildlife viewing platforms overlooking several ponds are walking distance from the campground.
There are no RV hook-ups or pull-through sites necessarily, but the spaciousness means that unless all sites are taken, it will probably be possible for RVs to park here. There is no trash collection available at the campground, and a 14-day limit is in place for campers.
Those seeking a less-rustic camping experience might want to consider looking into the Royal Peacock privately-maintained campground just a little further up the road.
Additional information regarding Virgin Valley Campground can be found here.
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