My 300th review!!!…read more Water in the middle of the desert? No, wait, a wetland habitat in the middle of the desert? This must be a mirage! Nope, if you've found your way out to Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, that's definitely water you're seeing, along with all sorts of shorebirds, herons, egrets, ducks, owls, hawks and other wildlife coming in for a bit of respite from the harsh environment around it. With most of these types of areas, my first question is always about the quality of the roads used to get around. The roads are all gravel once inside the refuge, but I can tell you that at Stillwater, in dry conditions, a car is perfectly fine. There are no dips or divots in the road a car can't handle, and definitely no clearance issues. Even when the roads are wet, there really isn't an issue. As a national refuge, this is a federally managed wetland project designed to provide habitat and attract and sustain wetland species in Northern Nevada. For birdwatchers, this place can be paradise, with several species calling the area home. The refuge has a great walking trails that take you into some unique habitat, and give you opportunities to see the diversity of wildlife in the area. I've seen all sorts of birds, as well as deer, coyotes, and more. If you have a non-motorized boat, paddling through some of the larger ponds can be a great way to spend an afternoon. They even have overnight campgrounds that are suitable for tents or RVs. I've been coming to Stillwater for the past few years, and with the drought conditions throughout the state, this place has definitely suffered. To put it in perspective, last year there were 3 large areas holding water, and in 2014 they're down to one. I'm hopeful we have a great winter that brings a lot of precipitation that will help replenish our water supply. We all know we need it!

We went in November of 2006…read more We saw ducks, blue heron and other waterfowl. We even saw a few birds of prey. If you are into desert landscapes, and wetlands this is a great mix. I prefer lots of trees myself, of which there were very few. However it was VERY beautiful and we did enjoy it. There was also a wildlife viewing platform that allowed you to look out on the marshes. The bathrooms were impeccable for the "porta-potty/outhouse" type that most parks have. Talk about clean! wow! It wasn't to terribly hot in November when we went but PLEASE bring water with you, you'll want it. A jacket too if it's in the Winter months.

We had not been here in years and honestly, this was not my first choice for camping, but instead…read moreof heading to a campground and hoping to score a site, we decided instead to come to Pyramid Lake for a 2-night/3-day stay. Our previous camping experience many years ago was not the best, but we did come during the 4th of July weekend, so it was crowded, loud and all around not a good experience. This time however, it was wonderful!! We set-up camp where we wanted and had the area practically to ourselves, serious boondocking. The weather was also perfect, hot during the day and cool during the night. We also got to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. My only gripe would be the mosquitos and even they weren't terrible. Although we didn't leave our campsite this time, we have previously visited many other parts of the lake as well as the Marina. The lake is huge and although not all of it is accessible, there are still many beaches and areas to visit and explore. I also like to stop at the Marina for ice cream. Another must stop is the Museum and Visitor Center, well worth the stop to learn more about the mysterious and rich history of the lake and the Paiute Tribe.

I live close to Pyramid Lake. It's a STUNNING oasis in the middle of the high desert. Hardly anyone…read moregoes there, it seems, so it's easy to find a quiet spot all to yourself. The boat launch ramp area is super easy to work with and plenty of room for several boats being dropped at the same time. The biggest benefit is the superior fishing. You cannot go wrong with a trip to Pyramid Lake! Your eyes will thank you, as it's some intense eye-candy out there! Bring your camera!!

Rented a pontoon and they were very accommodating. Friendly staff and well maintained equipmentread more

We had the 21 foot "Cute toon" pontoon boat. 2 adults, 2 kids under 10. We reserved it for 4 hours…read moreand halfway through, the throttle stopped working and we were stuck in the middle of the lake. One of their staff came out to help and assured us they didn't think it would be a big deal. It happened again, and we had to get towed back. It took 10 minutes to get ahold of the "emergency line". When we got back to the dock, we circled around for 30 minutes and we were well ahead of our 4 hours. They didn't want to offer any sort of refund and when my husband pushed for one, they said "if it's going to hurt the holiday, we can try to do 10 percent." They had their information completely wrong and then called us to come back after we had left because they had accidentally refunded the whole thing. We could have just let them deal with their mistake but we came back and they still messed up the refund. They were also were ok with letting the next group go on a boat that clearly has safety issues.

What a shame...Walker Lake used to be such a full and beautiful lake. I can recall driving by it as…read morea kid on numerous occasions heading to my rodeos and 4H competitions in Reno, Nevada This most recent drive by I was shocked by how much it has shrunk through the years. Since it has been receiving little to no water from Walker River since 2011, the fish and the fishing has become obsolete. Walker Lake is a natural lake in the Great Basin. It is 11 miles in length and only 5 miles wide. At its deepest, it is 68 feet. History tells us many years ago that the Northern Paiutes ancestors inhabited the area around the lake and depended on the fish and birds it provided to live. Through the Walker Basin Restoration Program they were able to deliver water to the lake in 2019 for the first time and they aim to restore Walker Lake to a state where it can house fish and birds again. I hope this comes true. We enjoyed our lunch stop overlooking this beauty.

My week I spent in Hawthorne; I had some down time hanging by Walker Lake. I'm a water baby and…read morebodies of water calm me; my happy place. It was a huge plus that the weather was perfect and probably the last warm one this year. Learning the history and chatting it up with the locals here was good time. I hope Mineral county is able to sustain Walker lake and preserve it for years to come. I look forward to my next hangout passing through the Alt-95 or next time I'm in Hawthorne.

This was one of our most memorable camping trips with our kids when they were younger. We last…read moreminute joined a few of our friends from work and their families. Another family sold us their spot for this week. If you've ever been here to Fallen leaf you know the breath taking views this lake and it's grounds has to offer. Our campsite was the largest and no one was behind us. Our kids played in a creek nearby. We hiked and ventured to a few waterfalls in Angora while here. It was so sad to see where the fires burned through this area. None of our photos taken here do the grounds any justice. Everything was pristine. I look forward to returning some day. I'm due for some grounding and getting lost in nature.

Gorgeous hike from the main road, easy for kids and a great scenic view of the lake. If the…read morecampground is open it's an even shorter hike. We enjoyed looking for mushrooms and wildlife!

This is the best way to fish Pyramid Lake! We caught 6 big fish that morning, but we only kept 3…read more George had a fantastic boat with all the sophisticated tools, including a computerized depth finder to see where the fish are and downriggers to drop the lines down to a certain level. For example, if we can see on the depth finder that the fish are swimming at 30 feet, then we drop the lines to 30 feet. Most importantly (for me) the boat was heated! George and his son Jason were so charming and great storytellers. I highly recommend their services!!!

If you want to catch big trout on Pyramid Lake, book a charter with this guy. We caught fish all…read moreday long! He is professional and experienced, with great stories to tell. This was money well spent and the best day fishing we've had in a long time!

Wilson Canyon is a recreational area located roughly 12 or so miles outside of the city of…read moreYerington followed by Smith Valley on the other side. Walker River has cut through the canyon over many, many years resulting in the natural beauty we have now. The coolest part about it, to me anyway, is the fact that once you're on the trail and you go up, over, and down, you're standing in what used to be an ancient lake from millions of years ago. It's interesting to just stand there in between the mountains and see the geologic history that surrounds you. The main trail here is a 3.2 mile loop that begins at the trailhead in the parking lot and goes along the river before taking you up to a lookout where you can see a vast chunk of the Valley below you. It really is a spectacular site to see. There are other side trails as well. One of which will apparently take you to a petrified forest, but I can't personally vouch for this as I've never done it or found it. Do keep in mind that this particular area of Wilson Canyon is closed off to anything motorized. This trail is strictly for hiking, equestrians, etc. If you want to use your dirt bike or quad here, go to the other side of the road where you'll find sand hills abound. Please respect this area. I've seen people ignoring this rule way too many times. Remember to leave no trace, take nothing but photographs, don't feed or harass the wildlife, and stay on the established trails.

I had a great time at Kiva beach. While parking can be hard, if you take the next right after Kiva…read moreBeach onto Taylor, you'll find a lot of parking. It is a little bit of a walk to the water but well worth it!! The sand is so perfect. I loved squishing my feet in it. There are also SO MANY dogs. It's dog heaven! And the owners were all great about picking up after their animals. I highly recommend this beach.

Such a beautiful pup friendly beach in South Lake Tahoe…read more This was our first stop after a 3.5 hour drive to South Lake Tahoe and it was the perfect place for our pup to runaround and meet some friends and get her energy out. It has a decent size parking lot with an extra parking lot in the back and its a short two minute walk into the beach. There's essentially zero shade, so bring an umbrella if that's something you want or need.

We stopped here while driving down the loneliest highway, because why not? As you drive up, it is…read moreinteresting to see the huge sand dunes in the middle of a landscape where you just would not expect them. When we pulled in to enter there are signs saying that you have to pay for a weekly pass which is $40 or an annual pass which is $90 but there is no option for day use. Serendipitously, we happened through on a Tuesday which for some reason is free. Although that didn't make much sense to me, I needed to use the restrooms so we headed in. As other reviews have mentioned the roads are terrible and it's not just the bumpy pothole mess that you come to get used to in this area of the country, it's steep drop-offs from semi-paved gravel roads to dirt roads That will definitely damage your car if you are not paying attention and driving very slowly. We pulled in as far as we could and there were lots of people with trucks and trailers that had ATVs and dirt bikes. There was also a lot of garbage everywhere and when I tried to use the restroom it was flooded and full of flies. We checked out the dunes and left. I can see how the people who are really into off-roading might find it worth it to come here especially if they come a lot and they have an annual pass but for passersby or people who are just in the area, it's definitely not worth the $40.

If you're looking to take your atv out this is the place. Camp and ride all without having to…read moreleave. Dry camping. No hookups. They are restrooms and dumpsters available

An amazing find. Well preserved and maintained. Trail and area is protected and maintained by…read moreBLM. Walking along the trail to the petroglyphs the desert beauty surrounds you. Keep an eye out for snakes. The trail is about 3 miles round trip. Easy to walk, bring water with you and a charged phone! (No pictures because mine was not charged!). As you look at the drawings imagine living during that era and how rough life was for survival. Worth the stop and plan at least an hour to explore. We stayed almost 4 hours.

Camped here on the 15th, arrived at night and the stars were immaculate. We picked a spot way past…read morethe hidden cave just because we were traveling to Berlin State Park the next day. We were not disturbed and slept in our truck bed. This area is really pretty, still close to Fallon of you need supplies. The hidden cave trail loop is a special treat out here. The hidden cave is only open for tours on the weekend, but we still walked through the smaller caves that are always open. Lots on informative signage! We were the only ones on the whole trail loop which was a plus. There's a cute picnic area at the entrance. The people in town were very nice and we also got to see jets taking of from the airbase. We are aviation needs so this was a great experience. We will definitely come dispersed camping here in the future.