Looking for an epic hike that isn't too far from Reno? Look no further than Mount Rose! To find the…read moretrailhead, head up the Mount Rose Highway and once you reach near the top, you'll notice a decent sized parking lot off to the side of the Highway. The trailhead begins behind the bathrooms. This hike is slightly deceptive because for the first half (2.5 or so miles), it's relatively flat. I mean, you're definitely going upwards but you barely notice it (at least I didn't). Once you reach the waterfall (the unofficial halfway point), that's where things begin to get a bit more interesting. The scenery gets better and better, but the incline in the trail will get far more noticeable not just due to steepness, but due to the elevation as well. Many people were turning around as my friend and I continued going. In no way is this a difficult hike, however, it's definitely not easy either. If you're out of shape or have any medical problems, this may not be the hike for you. There's plenty of other gorgeous hikes in the area that would be more suitable. But if you think you can tackle the 10,778 foot Mountain, by all means give it a go. The hike is just shy of 11 miles round trip. Once at the summit, you'll have an amazing 360 view with Lake Tahoe on one side and Reno on the other. It makes for some amazing pano shots.

Okay, I am going to probably get a lot of hate from giving this hike 3 stars instead of 4 or 5…read morestars which seems to be the norm in terms of reviews. When I go on hikes, I prefer it to be flat, scenic and with pretty meadows. I was not expecting it to be quite scary actually as my husband reassured me that this hike was easy and flat; he was wrong trust me. The beginning of the hike was a steep uphill climb that was full of sand and dirt. Combined with the intense heat and the uneven rocks, I was already getting a shortness of breath when we climbed the uphill. My skin also got a burning sensation even though I slaughtered on sunscreen before the hike. I looked up the UV index on my phone and it was at level 11; wow, no wonder why I felt like I was burning! Thankfully, I brought some sunscreen with me so I started applying it to my face and skin again. The heat was also so intense that my hair started sticking to the back of my neck. Anyways, we continued our climb and when we reached the top, my heart started racing as I noticed we were a good 9000 feet up in the air and the trail was so thin and narrow that my husband and I had to make a single file line just to walk on it. I remember throughout the entire hike, I had to look down because the rocks were so uneven (trust me, they were everywhere) because I didn't want to fall and hurt myself. Another thing about being so high up, we encountered wind storms that constantly blew up dirt and sand on our faces; talk about feeling super dirty and gross! The sand and dirt got all over my clothes, skin and hair. Needless to say, I was not enjoying myself and I kept wishing we were lying on the beach instead listening to quiet waves and sunbathing. After a good 2 and a half mile hike, we finally reached the waterfall and relaxed. The waterfall was gorgeous and there were cute chipmunks too; this is why I gave my review three stars; this was the one good thing about our hike. When we got home that night, I scrubbed my face clean and washed my hair twice too. For avid hikers like my husband, this hike will be enjoyable as for me however, I will take a pass for next time.

Quality/Quantity - Something for everyone! For both locals and tourists; well the tourists I feel…read moreout number us.... Views of Lake Tahoe, Sierras, Washoe Lake (yes quite a ways of a hike), Incline Lake (I have not been yet), etc. Winter - Sledding, cross country, snow shoeing, hiking, snow mobile, etc. Summer - Hiking, biking, etc. The path is 1.4 miles with only a 78ft elevation. It should take you no more than an hour. Only certain parts of the trail are ADA friendly. And of course, feeding the chickadees; bird seeds only please!! Do NOT give them "human" food. They will literally eat out of your hands. A great experience for all ages. Overall, very easy trails. But if you want to keep going, there are more challenging ones that you can connect to. We do not come here often enough... Ambiance - Beautiful and user friendly! Road parking, be safe. And please do NOT run across 431, wait for NO traffic before crossing! A place to drop off your snow mobiles, etc. Oh, and now I am starting to see food trucks?!?! NO restrooms or services. If available, you can drive a mile to Mt Rose Summit to see if the public restrooms are open. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thank you to the team at Tahoe Rim Trail Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for maintaining this beautiful area.

One of the most unique experiences at Lake Tahoe! I've snowshoed here twice now and will always…read morerecommend this trail to visitors. Make sure you bring some bird seeds and be on the lookout for chickadees (or other people doing the same)! They will fly directly into your palm! At the ridge, there are also some great views, especially if it's a clear day. The whole trail is about 2-2.5 miles out and back and very beginner friendly!

Super pretty hike with a couple different trails some very easy and others with pretty decent…read moreelevation changes

Spring is here! Discovered this close-in trail for quick midday hike. A few trails at this…read morelocation to choose from. Small paved parking lot allows for off street parking. Trail head has bathroom facilities, clear trail signage. Be aware that some trails do not allow dogs while some allow them on leash. Did a quick family friendly hike to the Kings Canyon Waterfall (.3 miles) and then the North King's Loop (1.8 miles). Waterfall hike is short and a well-groomed trail makes for a great family friendly stroll for all ages. Falls are really flowing right now with a lot of shade trees. North King's Loop. 1.8 miles loop with about a 450' elevation gain for about .9 miles. Trails are well-groomed (kudos to City of Carson and volunteers). For most of the loop, the trail is narrow to a shoulder width with a hill on one side and a slope off on the other. My hike is late March, early spring, so still signs of snow and ice hazards on parts of the shade sections of the trail. Overall, a great hike in the City of Carson.

Fortunately, I missed most of the OHV traffic…read more the view from the top is very nice. Like so many of the trails around Lake Tahoe, there are no directional signs along the trail. But with GPS and a trail map, that's not a problem. Without a GPS and able to trail map, there are plenty of places along this Trail for you to make a wrong turn. That said, the trail itself is a one-lane road all the way to the top. By one lane road I mean it's generally wide enough for a narrow vehicle. But at least 75% of it would be like driving on the surface of Mars. I saw OHV tracks all the way to the base of the summit. I hiked this Trail alone, starting at around 1330 in October 2020. I made it back by around 1630. This trail is rated as hard, I suppose because of the Rocky and Boulder terrain.

4 stars for the scenery and the workout; minus one if there are dirt bikers!…read more If you're looking for a 3-4 hour scenic high Sierra hike with steep (not mountain goat!) climbs, and don't mind sharing the trail with an occasional mountain bike or dirt bike, you might want to check out the Ellis Peak Trail, accessed via Barker Pass Road. It's a good summer or fall hike and it's dog-friendly. Be sure to add in drive time to the trailhead - about 30 minutes from Tahoe City and about 20 minutes from Homewood. You'll find the trail listed online or you can pick up a free map at Sugar Pine Point SP entrance. At the trailhead, the sign reads 5 miles to Ellis Peak. Using MapMyRun, we measured it at 3.5 (7 miles round trip). Starting out, you'll be eating dust for the first mile as you grind out the first of three steep climbs to the peak. Don't get discouraged! At the top of this hill, you'll be rewarded with sweeping vistas as you hike gradually uphill across decomposing granite. Next, you'll drop steeply for a mile through forest, eventually crossing a trail to go straight up the hill. This second steep climb gets you to a ridge where you'll see a trail heading to the peak. It's a brief glute-burner for your final climb to the top, where ya can plant your flag, eat lunch and enjoy the 360º views. Save some energy for the way back, where you still have one short climb and a mile-long dusty climb to go. Expect a mountain bike or two; hopefully you won't encounter any dirt bikers as they'll raise plumes of dust. Directions: From Highway 89 in Homewood, drive 2 miles north on 89 to Tahoe Pines. Turn left on Barker Pass Road (road sign is poorly placed, 100 ft. west of 89) and bear left at the fork (3.7 miles). Continue uphill for approx. 4.7 miles, winding up the side of the mountain where you'll encounter sharp switchbacks shortly before the paved road ends. Park anywhere; the trailhead is just up the hill on your left. For you navsat hikers, the Ellis Peak lat/long is - http://bit.ly/Z5KXsr The roundup: Distance: 7 miles Time: 3-4 hours plus time at the top Difficulty: Strenuous, with steep hills in loose footing. Highlights: Awesome views of Lake Tahoe, rim views, downhill return. Sucks: Dirt bikers use the trail. And, it's a 30 minute drive from Tahoe City! Water: Two liters. Dogs: Allowed!

I love this trail in the Summer because it's somewhat shaded and flat for the most part…read more Today (1/26/2025), we decided to do it with snowshoes. The last storm was over a week ago, so the snow was pretty packed and ended up using Trax instead. I loved it and as usual, the views of the lake and surrounding snow-capped mountains were stunning. What I love about this trail is you can make it as far as you want to and it connects with various other trail systems. The trailhead is accessible from Highway 431 and there is a small parking area across the highway.

This is one of my favorite trails to run on becuase it's fairly flat and the dirt is compacted…read morewhich makes the running better. I went up yesterday hoping for an 8 mile walk but after a 1/5 mile in there was still snow. I made it out 1 mile and decided to turn around then looped back again because it was just so nice outside and thunder was in the distance. I can't wait till the trail dries up and I can get some good hikes, runs, and walks in.

Independence Lake is a beautiful glacier-cut lake located less than an hour's drive from Truckee…read more Here, you can borrow one of the small fleet of kayaks and fishing boats ~after first filling out a registration waiver~. No outside watercraft are allowed! This is to protect and preserve the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that are native to this habitat. Outside watercraft are risky because they may unknowingly transport foreign mollusks that are detrimental to the health of the trout living there. If fishing waders are used, there is a wader scrubbing/washing station located at the registration area. There are Nature Conservancy staff people on site if you have further questions. I found them informative and helpful. The loaner kayaks are located to the left side of the lake. The ones on the right side are for staff members. Every other week, ~only~ the kayaks are allowed out. Call to check the calendar schedule to avoid disappointment if you want to use one of the motorized boats. They require a motorized boater's card {available online at https://www.boat-ed.com/california/) There are single person and tandem person sit-on-top kayaks available. after 8AM Thursdays through Sundays. Loaner PFDs are also available in standard sizes. I recommend getting there early morning after opening while the water is calm. I was told that later in the day, the wind can pick up. This makes paddling a kayak to get backk across a lot more difficult. You may fish using barbless hooks. Only artificial lures are permitted. All trout caught must be released. Kokanee salmon are an invasive species here. Fishermen are allowed to keep those. Limit 5 per day, or 10 per trip, total. No live bait. There is no overnight camping on the Conservancy's grounds. There are campgrounds at nearby Webber Lake and Lake of the Woods.

Independence Lake Preserve is an amazing place to enjoy the high Sierras. The best part is the free…read morekayaks that are available to anyone who signs a waiver. How cool and inclusive is that? You get to Independence Lake Preserve from highway 80 by heading north on 89 and then turning L at the "Little Truckee Summit OHV/Snowmobile" area, which is on a road labeled "07." It's the turn you'd take if you wanted to go to the Mt. Lola trailhead or Webber Lake Campground, which are also nearby. You'll need an offroad capable vehicle to make it over a water crossing and two miles of rocky road. There are lots of signs that explain that no watercraft are allowed, because Independence Lake is one of the two places in the world with a wild, self-sustaining lake population of Lahontan cutthroat trout. That's why they care so much about not letting folks put their own watercraft on the lake: they might unintentionally introduce invasive species. When we pulled up (with a canoe on our Jeep: we didn't know the rules beforehand), a ranger came out to verbally explain things to us and to let us know about the free kayaks to use. I was pleasantly surprised that there were not a lot of bugs out in July 2022. The last time we were in this area, which was maybe July three years ago, there were so, so, so many bugs. We came armed with bug spray but didn't need it! There are hiking trails around the preserve as well. The lake is large and beautiful, and the view of Mt. Lola is spectacular.

I love Galena Creek Regional Park! The big, beautiful coniferous trees always provide shade because…read moreof their size. There are numerous trails that are scenic and enjoyable. I especially love to go there when it's hot in Reno, during the summer. It's always cooler in Galena Creek Regional Park because it's nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the huge conifers that provide a lot of shade. There are numerous trails that you can hike on. My favorite one is The Natural Trail. It is located off of the parking lot, across from the park ranger's office. You will hear the sound of water flowing down from the mountains, in Galena Creek and there is a wooden bridge that leads to The Nature Trail and Bitter-Brush Trail. There is also a fishing pond. Church's Pond is located up the paved drive, past the Park Ranger's office. I hope that my review will inspire others to enjoy a nice picnic or hiking experience. Maybe you can catch a few fish https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/nevada/galena-creek-regional-park

Quality/Quantity - One of our favorite places to do a quick easy hike. It also has on and off…read moreshade. As Reno is a desert, there are NOT enough hiking places with shade. We have to drive towards Mt Rose, Incline, or/and Tahoe. Paved short 1 mile walk/hike. More short unpaved 1 mile, 2 miles roundtrip, hikes. But it was VERY dusty today. Breaking in my new REI Salomon hiking shoes. "Ruined" or broken in on the very first day, lol. Lots of wildlife in the summer. Again, stay safe - Coyotes, bobcats, mule deer, black beers (we get this at the house also, LOL), mountain lions, rodents (too many to name), bats, birds, reptiles, etc. But during the winter, it feels very safe and relaxing. Atmosphere - Plenty of parking. I enjoy visiting these places most during off peak seasons. There are also campsites, BBQ, picnic areas, volleyball courts, horse shoe, clean bathrooms, plenty of parking (cars, RVs, buses, etc). There is even a stage in Eagle Meadows for events. Open 7 days a week from 7am to 7pm (hours are also seasonal, see their website). Clean bathrooms throughout the different parking lots and camp sites. And also "outhouse" smelly bathrooms in other parking lots, you choose... Horse and bike trails. Service - Self service. The visitor center was open, but I did not visit it. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thank you Washoe County for another great park and trail!

The only thing better than riding along the Truckee River is probably floating down the Truckee…read moreRiver! We started at our Campground at William Kent and then continued West along the Truckee River all the way to The River Ranch Lodge. They have a Patio overlooking the river, so it was a perfect place to stop and get some refreshments before heading back. The path offers amazing views of the river, the surrounding landscape and endless Pine Trees. Such a fun time!!

The trail is honestly beautiful. How often do you get a paved bike trail away from cars where you…read morecan be next to a river! We didn't have bikes and just wanted walk and it was still really enjoyable. There is parking in a lot across the street from a bike rental shop. You have to then cross the street and go down by the road till it takes you on a bridge and then it gets much cooler by the water. There's lots of opportunities to walk down paths and get closer to the river as well.