Ambrose Carson River Natural Area

(8 reviews)

4.6 mi

What a nice park!!!! This was my first time here (9/21/25)…read moreIt's clean, well maintained, wheelchair accessible, 3 big benches, exercise equipment and it has games (connect 4, a rainmaker, a maze, and musical instruments) weaved in throughout! overall just fantastic! It's great for all ages! There's a very nice covered pavilion, lots of beautiful green grass, and even a very big pond full of geese! (Watch out for poop!) * The pond is not fenced, but it's far enough away from the playground and it's surrounded by big rocks.*

Ross Gold is a large park that includes a pretty manmade lake and covered barbecue pavilion that…read morewas seeing some use today with a birthday party. There is also a really nice playground, with horseshoe pits, tennis courts and a rare sand volleyball court. The park is in fantastic condition with bright green grass. I appreciated the public restroom. Thanks for that! [Review 17684 overall - 30 in Nevada - 1205 of 2022.]

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Fuji Park / Carson City Fairgrounds

4.3

(22 reviews)

5.6 mi

We really enjoyed this park and like how many different slides there were. The park was very clean,…read morewell-maintained, and gated, which we liked. It also felt nicely separated from the dog park, which made it more comfortable for families with young kids. The only downside was safety-related: there weren't many safety rails in certain areas, and there were several large gaps where a small child could easily slip or fall. There were also some unexpected gaps at floor level near entrances that felt a bit concerning for little ones. Make sure to keep an eye your kids here and be an arm length away since they can fall and hurt themselves pretty easily. Overall, it's a great park with a lot to offer, but adding more safety rails and closing some of those gaps would make it feel much more kid-friendly and secure. Huge sandy parking lot right across from Costco.

No complaints with this park. It was a good size and my kids loved it. The play structure was…read moreclean. It was next to a dog park so the whole family is welcome!

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Sonoma Park

(12 reviews)

3.7 mi

The best dog park in Carson City you can take your furry babies. Meet and play with new friends.read more

Beautiful, well maintained, large, clean all grass dog park with water, poop bags and trash.read more

Field

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Stone signage

John Mankins Park

3.8

(5 reviews)

4.0 mi

The playground at this park is awesome. There is a larger and a smaller playground. The larger…read moreplayground is unique and huge! It has several big slides and lots of cool places to climb. The smaller playground is great for smaller kids. There is a soft padding underneath the playground. There are toddler swings but no swings for the bigger kids. There is a baseball field at this park. There is a covered eating area with three picnic tables underneath. There are several other picnic tables throughout the park. There is a nice tennis court. There are two half court basketball courts at this park. The courts are in pretty bad shape and could use maintenance on the ground. Street parking is available. The park is clean. There are no bathrooms at this park. Have fun out there. - Dadzone

Clean park with a lot to do. Basketball courts are really beat up though. Nice tables to sit at as…read morewell

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Mills Park

(24 reviews)

2.7 mi

This is a beautiful park and maintained nicely. It is so green in the summer. Very nice place to…read morepicnic and walk.

Beautiful colors in October!…read more Well-maintained park with beautiful trees! Fun to go to at any time of the year.

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Blackwell's Pond Park

3.7

(7 reviews)

2.4 mi

It's a nice park, but it's in an HOA community. I've seen people get kicked out of it before…read morebecause they didn't live there. I don't know what the laws are about that. Otherwise it's a very nice park with good play equipment for kids of all ages. (not a wheelchair access accessible playground)

Cute little park tucked away in an adorable neighborhood. We stopped on our way home from the…read moreRailroad Museum. Quiet, safe, not a lot of traffic, and the kids had a great time!

Accessible from all three sides.

Blackwell's Pond Park

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Large green area for running around, frisbee, football, etc.

Carriage Square Park

4.2

(6 reviews)

3.9 mi

This park is well-maintained with lovely walking paths. The swings are very high off the ground,…read morebut everything else is wonderful.

Quiet, well kept, shady, and a nice size park. We go often and the park is never crowded during the…read moreweek. Good playground equipment and lots of grassy areas for a blanket. Nice place to play. We agree the swings are way too high, children can not reach them without a helping hand.

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Preston Field Park

(7 reviews)

15.2 mi

What a cool park for the kiddos and others!…read more There is lots of parking and room to run. Don't forget the two playgrounds, tables throughout, bbqs, bathrooms, and fields for sports. If your looking for a place, look no further, this it it. What a cool park for the kiddos and others! There is lots of parking and room to run. Don't forget the two playgrounds, tables throughout, bbqs, bathrooms, and fields for sports. If your looking for a place, look no further, this it it.

This is the best playground in Incline Village. It also has…read morepicnic tables and restrooms.

Big kids area from the swing area

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Yay!!! Ice ice baby!!!

Carson River Park

3.0

(2 reviews)

2.2 mi

Great trail for leaf peeping this year…read more Trails were well kept and easy to navigate in this out and back trail network by the river

Description: 40-acre park area. Amenities: picnic tables, handicap accessible fishing pier, river…read moreaccess ramp for non-motorized watercraft, decomposed granite walking paths, trailhead parking lot, enclosed portable toilets April thru November. Dogs are allowed off leash at all times. (Carson City Parks & Recreation) No water fountain.

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Secret Cove

4.6

(100 reviews)

12.3 mi

The greenish blue lake looks just like a giant gem. It's also as clear as a mirror. The trails down…read morethere are really hard to walk. While walking in the woods you can just hear the wind sound and the birds singing.

Secret Cove is a really beautiful, crystal-clear beach on Lake Tahoe's East Shore, with stunning…read moregranite boulders. Parking: Along Highway 28. It fills up super early, so plan accordingly. Clothing: Optional. If you plan to wear swimwear, I'd recommend putting it on at the parking lot since there isn't much privacy or covered area at the cove for changing. How to get there: A scenic 0.75-mile hike. Water: Warm-ish (for Tahoe standards) and a bright turquoise color. There are porta-potty restrooms available at the parking lot at the start of the trail. When I went, I only saw a couple of older men fully nude; most people were wearing swimwear. The hike is a bit steep at the beginning, so sturdy shoes or water shoes are a good idea. A lot of people bring water sports gear, coolers, and picnic setups. There was even a small hippie-style drum circle near the cove, which added to the laid-back vibe. Please remember to pack out all your trash and help keep this beautiful spot clean.

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In Secret Cove

Hidden Beach

4.5

(34 reviews)

12.5 mi

Quality/Quantity - Not so hidden, lol. The first beach…read morewalking towards Sand Harbor from Incline. Very small, but we were here off season (just the way I like it) and other than one other family, it is just us "two" here. So a private beach, lol. We are hosting our friends today. Showed them our free local parking spot. Gave them a quick tour of this area and all of Incline. A short 1.5 walk on the beautiful and easy Tahoe East Shore Trail. Just be careful of all the ebikes that do NOT have full control of their bikes or themselves. It would be nice if there was a separate bike path, or only allow manual bikes on the walking paths...? Atmosphere - Again, a very small, NOT so hidden beach. A nice stop/break from the 3 mile walk. Approximately the half way mark from Incline to Sand Harbor. Restrooms nearby, but I can NOT recommend them. More like outhouses with NO sink to wash your hands. Easy walk or bike ride. Fairly easy, very short walk/hike to each path. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - N/A.

If you park at tunnel creek cafe, you can access the beach. You walk on the sidewalk then loop…read moreunder a tunnel. The lake is always amazing. You can even do the walk with a stroller.

Babe alert!

Crystal clear water

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Lake Tahoe Boat Rides

(382 reviews)

22.9 mi

Lake Tahoe Boat Rides is where it's at! By far the best private charter company around South Lake…read moreTahoe. After we called around all other businesses, such as this, we realized that Lake Tahoe boat rides was the most professional and upfront about their prices. Many companies didn't let me know that fuel and captain fees would be tacked on at after the ride as well as a certain gratuity. Sneaky! Once we arrived at Lake Tahoe, Boat Rides, Lindsay, the owner and everyone else was super friendly and helpful. They have a store with food/drinks, towels etc.. but they tell you in advance that you can pick it up elsewhere. They helped us carry our bags over to the perfectly clean and well maintained boat complete with our own captain who was incredible!!!!! Ask for Steve-O!!!! I do believe no matter who you get as a captain that you will have an amazing experience as we did. Steve-O was friendly and great with our 4 1/2 year-old. He provided just the right amount of history and information as we rode along and also took us to less touristy places that were also beautiful and so worth seeing. We cannot wait to come back and see Lake Tahoe boat rides next summer, and we will definitely be asking for Steve-O.

Great service!!! Such a fun day on the lake!!! Pleased to the maxxx!!! Will we back for sure!!…read moreCapt Heather was fantastic!! NS

Sunset cruise

Sunset on Lake Tahoe

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Washoe Lake State Park

(38 reviews)

5.7 mi

Sitting right on Washoe Lake, you'll get the most out of a…read morevisit to Washoe Lake State Park by camping at $15.00 per night. It's offered on a first-come basis, There are 29 campsites, equipped with a table, grill with fire rings and room for trailers. Two comfort stations, one of which includes a shower, are available. Several sites can hold an RV up to 45 feet in length. Don't forget to get your Nevada fishing license before dropping a hook into the lake. The views of Washoe Valley & the Sierra Nevada Mountains make it all worthwhile !!

In the almost 20 years we have lived in Northern Nevada, and driven by here enroute back and forth…read morebetween Carson City and Reno, this is the first time I have stopped, gotten out and walked around. I spent some time in the picnic area and walking along the shoreline. The park was well maintained with lots of shady spots, cool grass and sandy beaches. The bathrooms were convenient and clean and there was a generous parking area. There are BBQ grills and lots of picnic tables throughout the area. There is also a large group pavilion. There are a number of trails around, but may be better suited for cooler weather as there is not a lot of shade away from the day-use area. There is a ranger station a few miles north that is worth a stop. Staff are friendly and helpful and there is a small exhibit of old mining and farming equipment and a very nice native plant garden. Definitely worth the stop.

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Silver Oak Golf Course

3.9

(31 reviews)

4.2 mi

This is a great municipal course. I played there in November 2025 and it was WELL maintained, a…read moregood pace of play, good equipment, nice people. I was worried based on some reviews and anecdotal stuff from friends. I was not only glad I played but altered my schedule so I could visit a second time. There were some areas under repair, but not to the extent it diminished my experience here. It was winter golf, after all. Tee Boxes: All were in good repair when I was there Fairways: There appeared to be mostly bermuda grass and all the fairways I actually hit from the tee boxes played fairly. Green: I found some of the greens to be challenging because they differed. Some were fast, some were slow. Hole placement was reasonable. No complaints. Bar: I can report that the staff ROCKED and the beer was delicious. Cart: Cart was clean and worked well. The cooler function was most excellent. Heh heh heh! Pro Shop: Great folks and they had a large selection of merch' that I succumbed to after my first round. Nice, affordable shirt to show off when I returned the next day. Driving range: What's to say? It's a driving range- ample room and buckets. Practice green: The practice green was covered with leaves and twigs so I couldn't really get in putting time...

I was very much looking forward to playing this course as I never had before. I was invited as a…read moreguest for a charity golf outing here. Having reviewed the layout prior to showing up I was very excited to play. Unfortunately when I got there, the disappointment set in. The fairways look like a three year old is the greenskeeper. Full of weeds, bare spots, dandelions...they are a mess. There are huge portions of fairway and rough around the cart paths that are destroyed. The place looks like its a dump and going downhill fast. There's construction work on one hole that I am told has been going on for 3 years. The carts are junk. This place could be THE BOMB! But, instead IT BOMBED? I'm in no hurry to go back to this place and if I had to pay to play at this place. I would have been livid. HUGE disappointment.

Full house tonight

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Beautiful

Marlette lake trail

(6 reviews)

10.5 mi

We hiked the Marlette Lake Trail from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake as a backpacking trip for my…read morefriend's bachelorette party! We added some extra distance at the end by hiking to the Marlette Peak Campground to stay for the night. From the parking lot to the campground was about 7 miles each way. The trail itself was well-maintained, moderate difficulty, and had everything you'd want in a good hike! Solid trail conditions. Beautiful mountain and lake views. Some sections of wildflowers. A good amount of sun but also some shaded parts. Gradual incline that never felt super steep, so the elevation gain felt manageable. We saw people hiking as well as mountain biking on this trail. There are several sections of aspen trees along this hike, so it's a great one to come back and do in the fall once the leaves turn yellow. The trailhead area has great facilities, the bathrooms were clean and there is ample parking. The park rangers I spoke to were friendly and helpful. There is a $10/car entry into this area but it's totally worth it, especially when you see how well they take care of it. I loved this hike and will continue to come back to Spooner for hikes in the future!

There are a few ways to reach Marlette Lake, all of them totally worth it, especially this time of…read moreyear. This trail takes you around Spooner Lake and up to Marlette. It's a 9 mile out and back with fairly gradual elevation gain, up through the trees, until you reach the lake. A great little workout. Marlette sits along the Flume Trail, so you're likely to see a lot of mountain bikers. Fun fact: The Flume Trail got its name because Marlette and the tributaries that feed it were part of a log flume system to carry logs used to build our region all the way down from as far as Virginia City! Marlette has a short fishing season, but people say it's grand if you make the trip. Of course you need to hike in to have that experience. This is definitely a trail worth checking out in our area!

Things to do in Carson City

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Ambrose Carson River Natural Area - parks - Updated July 2026

Best of Carson City

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Wilson Commons Park

4.5

(2 reviews)

This is a little hidden gem in Northwest Washoe Valley, off of the old highway 395. It is hidden…read morefrom the new freeway and not visited by many. What a beauty though. Freshly mowed grass, nice little pond for fishing. Picnic area, benches, gazebo and a wonderful view of the surrounding mountainous area. Lots of geese habitating in this 20 acre pastureland area. Much more acreage surrounding. Horseshoe pits, tennis, volleyball. So fortunate to live in this beautiful place in Nevada. So much to do. Get outside!

Wilson Commons Park is on the west side of Washoe Valley…read more There's a 100-year old barn and several buildings. Featuring I20 acres of pasture, and several acres of developed parkland. They have a large picnic area, a fishing pond, horseshoe pits and a tennis court. In warmer weather there's volleyball and benches for viewing the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains.

Lone Mountain Park

3.0

(1 review)

Undeveloped park on Lone Mountain ridge, good views of Carson City. East of Roop St and south of…read moreNorthridge Dr.

Washoe Lake State Park

(10 reviews)

Absolutely the best dog walking area in the south Reno area. Offers different terrain (beach,…read moredune, sage forest and wetlands) at both the South and North Landing developed areas. Little Lake Washoe has more limited trails, but offers the opportunity to catch the wild mustangs watering. Trails are hard pan, with intermittent markings. Terrific bird watching (eagles) as well as mighty men in their flying machines!

Did some local camping this weekend and was so surprised with how convenient and clean and well…read moretaken care of the facilities are. It's $15/night for dry camping if you're a Nevada resident, $20 for non residents. There are some nice hiking trails in the area with prime views of the Sierra nevadas. The wildflowers were in bloom and the pagoda trail was beautiful! There is also a nice green park with plenty of picnic tables right by the lake. There was so much snow during winter that the lake was pretty full. All in all a great experience and can't believe it's only a 25 minute drive from home! So fortunate to live surrounded by the mountains!

Mills Park

(24 reviews)

This is a beautiful park and maintained nicely. It is so green in the summer. Very nice place to…read morepicnic and walk.

Beautiful colors in October!…read more Well-maintained park with beautiful trees! Fun to go to at any time of the year.

Bowers Mansion Regional Park

4.5

(37 reviews)

The Bowers Mansion is behind the pool. They have a display about the history about the…read moremansion...Very sad history. It's a very nice park to take a walk and relax.

We recently visited Bowers Mansion to take our annual family photos and had the most enjoyable…read moreexperience! I have often visited this park for the playground and I believe I have been to the pool once or twice as a kid. My most recent visit was the first time I have ever walked the grounds of the mansion and I was so very impressed. I had no idea that there was another small playground near the mansion. I also did not know you could take a tour of the mansion. How cool! I love the historical signs all over the grounds and appreciate the county's effort in educating visitors and keeping the grounds so pristine. The pool, large playground, picnic areas, massive parking areas, historical significance, and wide open expanses are a few of the reasons you should totally go here! Enjoy the great outdoors!

Davis Creek Regional Park

(40 reviews)

If you love the outdoors with beautiful scenery of lakes, hiking trails, trees and appreciate the…read moreartistic talent of woodcarvings in tree trunks of fallen or cut trees, you will love Davis Creek Regional park. Nestled close to the freeway between Reno and Carson city, when you drive in, it is like you are in a far away land with tree sculptures and nicely maintained pathways, picnic areas, fishing areas and serenity. The park was not crowded at all. Enjoy it whenever you can for a quick getaway!

Don't forget this one. This is a sleeper in the world of STAY-CATIONS. Easy access to this park in…read morethe woods halfway between Carson City and Reno. Perfect views of Washoe Valley & Lake. Hiking, biking, Bower's Mansion & pool are all just outside your tent or RV. The only draw back is that it is tempting to run to town for forgotten items or take outs. If you need to turn off the city for a few days this is a good spot. Reservations are available and recommended on the Washoe County Parks website. 2024 rates: $30.00 - Per Site/Night with 7 people maximum and 1 vehicle. $6.00 - Per night for each additional vehicle & $6.00 - Per vehicle for visitors (regardless of stay length). $1.00 - Per Pet/Night. $5.00 - RV Dump Station use, & $8.00 - Per bundle of firewood (when available) * Quarter-operated Showers ($1 for 3 minutes). Unique setting for small birthday celebrations or work gatherings because people can come, go, or stay pretty easy.

Fuji Park / Carson City Fairgrounds

4.3

(22 reviews)

No complaints with this park. It was a good size and my kids loved it. The play structure was…read moreclean. It was next to a dog park so the whole family is welcome!

Seeman Ranch Park

(1 review)

This is a newer park that has a fishing pond, dock, clean restrooms, parking lot and happens to be…read morealong the Martin Slough Trail. It's a great place for families and the views of the snow capped mountains are incredible from here. It seems to be a popular place on a Sunday afternoon. We saw several people enjoying fishing and/or walking along the trail around the pond. The trail around the pond is dirt but flat enough to push a stroller along. There are park benches and a covered pavilion as well. There's not a lot of shade unless you are under the pavilion and if you venture along the paved Martin Slough Trail make sure to wear a hat and sunscreen because it's pretty exposed to the sun as well.

Fulstone Wetlands

3.0

(1 review)

Undeveloped wetlands area with gravel path, north of Northridge Dr just west of the Hwy 395 freeway.read more

Geiger Lookout