For a thrilling hike, full of new sights and sounds, we headed west from Reno to Verdi to explore…read morethe newest section of the Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway. Opened in 2013, the Verdi Upstream section follows the Truckee Meadows Power Authority (TMPA) utility road approximately three miles from the gravel parking area at the south end of Quilici Ranch Road to Fleish Dam and Bridge. We walked parallel to the California state line, Truckee River, Interstate 80, and the Union Pacific Railroad. Along the way, the whistle of a freight train heading west and an Amtrak train heading east punctuated the background sounds of the rumbling interstate and roaring river. The wide and graded service road passed the Fleish Power Station, side-stepped into California, and wandered beside the Truckee River Flume and Steamboat Ditch. The power station, built in 1904 to supply electricity to Virginia City and its mines, runs on river water diverted upstream and carried to its turbines in the timbered flume. The climax of the hike came at the end, with a crossing of the Fleish Bridge. The 200-foot long pedestrian span suspends above the spillway of the Fleish Dam, which impounds the Truckee River for diversion into the Steamboat Ditch and Truckee River Flume. Our footsteps on the narrow wooden deck created out-of-sync waves, that generated an electrifying finale to our thrilling hike.

We stopped here to see if we could get any fishing action. The pathway was short but a nice stop…read more Beautiful and clean. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any bites but it was relaxing!

Just by looking at all of the gorgeous photos everyone has uploaded from their visit here to this…read morespot.... you can tell that it's a hidden gem within. Nevada City didn't feel like that far of a drive from Sacramento and it really was an outdoor type oasis when we visited during the summer months. It's surrounded by lush forests and gorgeous waters from the upper Tahoe areas. There's a defined parking area so you're not just pulling off the side of the road. We had taken swim shorts and dressed for the ability to free swim and jump off the rocks so it really was the best blend of hiking, nature, and swimming all in one! I would love to return here for another visit when it gets past the chill factor of winter and snow!

Finally made it here! Been wanting to for years and I most definitely was not disappointed…read more Knowing how busy it can get we came on a Monday. We were able to find parking and it was an easy and pretty walk to the pools. My only regret was not having the right shoes as the rocks can be slippery. The water is clean and clear with a lovely green color. As the water was low the grandkids were able to wade, but it can be much fuller with rushing water earlier in the year.

Heavy snowmelt runoff on 5/5/2012…read more Elevation ~5,130 ft. Difficulty: Moderate. Hiking season: May through October. Accessible from the Johnsville cemetery parking lot.

Thanks to previous reviewer whose info made us check this out. A slippery beginning down a steep…read morelittle trail then levels off to an easy 1/4 mile walk to the falls. Water level is pretty low, so a lot of rocks to jump around on, but not so low that there was no swimming hole. It was so much fun to try to get down to the swimming hole - someone tied a rope line, and our 9 y.o. was able to "rappel" down to the area, as were many other kids. They all had a blast swimming in the icy cold water, and jumping off the rocks. If it was 20 degrees warmer in the water, it would have been filled with adults, too. Nice crowd, too, not rednecky, just families from the nearby campground. Check out the local cemetery while you're here, just don't leave any trash -- people do, and it's just too annoying to pick up after them. Leave no trace, please.

Some of my favorite hikes start right in our foothills and this is one that I really enjoy. It's…read moreonly a 2.6 mile hike, but with the hike up the mountain, it really does get your heart pumping. Once at the top, there is a nice view of the city of Reno and beyond. There is a variety of memorials and even a journal where you can write your sentiments, but my favorite thing is to just take in the beauty of the place that I call home. Today's hike was awesome. No pace to keep, no rush to get back, just enjoying being in the moment.

No pot of gold, but a beautiful photo taken by our son Christoph today. We have such wonderful…read moreviews from Cross Peak!

This is a great trail that has a medium level of difficulty depending on the route you take. A…read morelarge portion of it is flat. It is a dirt trail with a few spots with rocks. Nothing too challenging. There is not a lot of shade so from late spring to early fall, morning would be your best bet. There is a parking area at the trailhead, but there are no amenities (toilets or water) so come prepared. The views are magnificent. Highly recommended.

I am so surprised that there aren't any reviews of the Tom Cooke Trail here in Reno! We have been…read moreon it, or parts of it, many times over the years. Yesterday was the first time we completed the whole loop and we realize we could have easily done it before. We always park at Mayberry Park and walk along the paved Tahoe-Pyramid Bikeway until crossing the rickety bridge over the Truckee to reach the trail. The starting point of this 3.7 loop trail is well-marked and the hike can be easily tracked via AllTrails. If you decide the walk the whole trail, we found it is easier to take it clockwise, climbing up the switchbacks before it flattens out for quite a while. The trail back down to the beginning is very rocky. There are many little trails that criss-cross between the loop so you can change up the hike it you want. This trail is dog friendly for leashed pets. At this time of year there are a few muddy, icy, and watery areas to navigate, but it's doable. You will find trail runners and mountain bikes here, and beautiful mountain views.

We came here since it was a popular trail and it wasn't too far away from our casino hotel. You…read morewill be sharing your parking space with many baseball players who play right next door to the trail entrance. The trail is easy and there is a monument near the beginning of the trail. No water or major hiking shoes are required. Bring some peanuts if you want to feed some of the squirrels or birds.

This is the first trail that I went to when I first moved to Reno many years ago. It was Fall and I…read moretook the most amazing pictures on the Nature Trail, like something out of a fairy tale. Coming in the Winter is quite a different story as everything is leafless and dry, so I decided to venture out into the canyon. There are so many possibilities for exploration, but limited on time, I decided on a quick loop up the Rancho Connector. It was a steady incline, but worth the views of downtown and nearby snow-capped mountains. Awesome time! If you are looking for a hike that is easily accessible and has a diverse trail system, come check it out. Also worth the mention is The National Monument to the Basque Sheepherder just past the trailhead.

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!