3 Trails I Love to Hike in Reno

If you haven’t done much hiking, trail running, or mountain biking, it may be overwhelming to choose a spot to go. I get asked almost weekly for trail recommendations- these are 3 trails in the Reno area that I direct people to. All of these trails can be accessed and downloaded on the AllTrails app.

I believe in protecting the “under the radar” areas I frequent, since very few places are actually still in that category. These trails are all well-used, so I don’t feel like I’m sharing any secrets here.

You’ll notice these are all loop trails. Personally, I love a loop. I also enjoy changing up the direction (clockwise versus counter-clockwise), because if you never look behind you on a trail, you’re only really seeing 50% of the view!

If you’re new to getting outside, or are just looking for some tips before you go, you can find info here.

Best Multi-Use, Year-Round Trail: Keystone Canyon Loop

Description- 4.8 miles, +/- 600′ elevation gain

You know that giant mountain with very few trees that has repeater and cell towers on top of it on the north side of town? If cardinal directions aren’t your jam, the base of Peavine has an “N” on it for the University of Nevada, Reno.

Peavine has no shortage of trails. It is covered from top to bottom with single track, off-road vehicle trails, and even has a road (unpaved) that goes to the top for the utility folks working on the towers. This trail is just one of the countless options on Peavine.

The Keystone Canyon Trail is one of my favorite loops. It’s close to town, easy to access, and stays in great shape year-round (minus post-heavy precipitation). It climbs up towards Hoge Road, a popular mountain bike parking spot, and then descends either back through Keystone Canyon or mid-slope on single track, depending what direction you choose. I prefer clockwise, because I enjoy descending Keystone Canyon proper.

Uses

• hiking
• trail running
• mountain biking

Best Time to Go

This trail is exposed, so it’s perfect in the fall/winter/spring months when the outdoor temperature is cooler. Wildflowers are common every spring and can be a sight to behold. Note: please leave them for the next person to enjoy!

It is also pleasant in the summer if you can go early, before the heat of the day. Water runs seasonally through Keystone Canyon, but don’t rely on it. If you’re hiking with a dog, this is a good area to pack extra water for them.

Getting There

From I-80 Westbound, take the Virginia Street exit. Turn right on Virginia Street (towards the University). Continue 1.2 miles. Turn left onto North McCarran Blvd. In 1.2 miles, turn right onto Leadership Parkway. Turn right into Keystone Canyon East access, or continue for about .5 miles more to park in Keystone Canyon West access.

Heavy construction is occurring near the Keystone Canyon East access parking area in Spring 2020. The parking lot is still open, but heads-up for heavy machinery.

Best “Kick Your Butt” Trail: Hidden Valley Backcountry Loop

Description- 3.5 miles, +/- 1020′ elevation gain

Hidden Valley is a community on the east side of the Truckee Meadows at the base of the slope. It is directly east of the SouthEast Connector. Similar to Peavine, this area, accessed via Hidden Valley Regional Park, is full of multiple trail options. I enjoy this particular loop because it’s a lot of elevation gain quickly, meaning you can get a good sweat in a relatively short time frame.

I prefer to walk this loop counter-clockwise; this makes the steepest part the ascent and the descent more gradual. Your climb is worth it, as you get a killer view of the Reno/Sparks area from the top. The trail itself doesn’t top out at the ridge, but you can walk just a bit further to the top to get a full 360°view.

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Uses

• hiking
• trail running
• mountain biking

Best Time to Go

This trail is also exposed, so it’s nice in the fall/winter/spring months when the outdoor temperature is cooler. Wildflowers are common every spring and can be a sight to behold. Note: please leave them for the next person to enjoy!

There is NO water along this trail. Plan accordingly! Hidden Valley Regional Park has drinking fountains, but don’t rely on these as sometimes they are not working.

Getting There

From I-80 Eastbound, take the Sparks Blvd. exit and turn right onto Sparks Blvd. In 2.5 miles, turn left onto Pembroke Drive. In .8 miles turn right onto Parkway Drive. Go about .5 mile and enter the park. Take your first left and continue up towards the foothills. The road will veer right; continue on. A large parking lot will be on your right (directly above the horse arena). Park there.

Best Trail for After the Snow Melts: Dry Pond Loop

Description- 6.5 miles, +/- 1175′ elevation gain

If you enjoy trees and creeks, this is a beautiful option. The Dry Pond Loop is part of a trail system on the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in South Reno just off Mount Rose Highway. The trail ascends a creek drainage, crests a saddle where the dry pond lies, and then descends into another creek drainage.

If it’s early in the day, I prefer to hike this one clockwise (ascending White’s Creek and descending Thomas Creek). There is an exposed southern aspect as you climb out of White’s Creek that can get very warm later in the day and in the summer. Both Whites and Thomas Creek have water in them year-round. In fact, springtime water flow can be very high, so there are bridges to cross in designated areas.

Uses

• hiking
• trail running
• mountain biking
• fishing
• horseback riding
• snowshoeing

Best Time to Go

This is a late spring, summer, and early fall hike. Once the snow starts to fly, this trail becomes unusable for hiking (but useable for snowshoeing), especially up high.

The Dry Pond Loop is nice early on a warm summer day when some of the more exposed trails are too hot to hike. It is also stunning in the fall, especially the Thomas Creek side, with all the leaves changing colors.

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Getting There

From I-580 South, take the Mount Rose Hwy. exit onto SR-431. Keep right onto Mount Rose Hwy. toward Lake Tahoe. In 4.6 miles, turn right onto Timberline Drive.

From Timberline Drive, you have several options, depending on which direction you’d like to go and where you’d like to park. You can park either at the bottom of the White’s Creek Road (.6 miles down Timberline) or at the bottom of the Thomas Creek Road (1.5 miles down Timberline).

There are private residences along Timberline Road. Be mindful when you’re parking; please don’t block anyone’s driveway or road access.

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Before you go, please consider…

• Mud: If it has rained or snowed recently and trails are muddy, stay off of them. It creates a mess, and often people want to step off the trail. This can easily create undesignated trails and can harm sensitive plant and animal species.
• Snakes: Yep, they’re out there. Heads up, especially on warmer days.
• Ticks: Again, yep, they’re out there. Be aware of this if you’re stepping off trail to use the restroom. Thoroughly check yourself and your dogs post-hike.
• Fellow recreationists: Know who yields to who and be courteous. As a hiker, I step off the trail for bikes, even though they yield to me. It’s just a nice thing to do, and much easier for me than for them!

• Dogs: Please be considerate of others with your dogs. As a new dog owner, I am learning a whole new trail etiquette. Pick up and carry you dog’s poop out. Also, don’t let them run up to others…not everyone likes this! Some trails (Dry Pond Loop) have strict leash laws. Be aware of these.
• Secure your vehicle: Don’t leave anything valuable in sight; lock your doors/roll up your windows.
• Overall awareness: If you want to wear headphones on the trail, no judgement. Just ensure you’re aware of your surroundings. Please adjust your volume so you can hear if someone or something is coming up behind you. Safety first!
• LEAVE NO TRACE: These trails are all heavily-used, and we want to keep using them for years to come. Please adhere to the LNT Principles at all times.

Happy trails, friends!