Hike to Hunter Creek Falls in Reno

Waterfall Chaser

Hike to Hunter Creek Falls in Reno and Stay at Kramer's Midtown

hiker at Hunter Creek Falls in Reno

A golden rule for hiking: If you wanna know a top hike to do in an area, ask a local. In Reno, the most likely answer is Hunter Creek Falls, accessible year-round but especially fantastic in spring when the desert peach wildflowers paint the landscape, and the marquee waterfall has snowmelt mojo.

HIkers at Hunters Creek Falls in Reno

Desert Peach in Hunters Creek

The 6-mile round-trip journey is always interesting, thanks to mixed terrain. First you’re hiking along rugged, exposed canyon where green foliage pops with peach florals against rocky amber hills. Then there’s a dramatic shift as you get closer to the falls. For the last half mile you’ll wander under a canopy of sugar pines.

Two Hikers at Hunter Creek Falls

Also cooling? The mist of the falls as you get closer. There are a few places to cross the creek with the help of fallen trees and logs. Be mindful of your footsteps and enjoy the double-tiered oasis in refreshing free flow. Return the way you came and get a great bird’s-eye vantage of downtown Reno flanked by mountains in the distance.

Check out the best hikes around Reno!

Two hikers at Hunters Creek in Reno

The trailhead is located at the end of Hunter Lake Rd. in Reno; the road dead-ends at the trailhead. Get an early start. This is a popular trail, and the parking lot fills up by 10 a.m. on weekends. Most of the trail is exposed, so make sure to bring sunscreen and a hat. Bring plenty of water. Always check water depth and flow to ensure safe passage to the base of the falls. Dog-friendly! 

Where to Stay: Midtown Momentum!

Kramer's Midtown in Reno

Kramer’s Midtown in Reno is a stylishly refurbished boutique motel at an excellent price point. Rooms are contemporary, art-deco, and outfitted with all the requisites for a comfortable stay: nice TV, kitchenette, and a modern sofa bed that—go figure—doubles as your sofa and your bed. The on-site clubhouse has cornhole, a pool table, main TV, and morning coffee.

Woman walking by Kramer's Midtown mural in Reno

The Clubhouse at Kramer's Midtown

Kramer’s location lets you walk to all the fun stuff in Midtown, which right now has all the momentum, filled with artisan eateries, upscale bars, and independent boutiques. For breakfast, head to Midtown’s phenomenal Perenn Bakery.

Check out all of the awesome lodging options in Reno.

Perenn Bakery in Midtown Reno

People inside Perenn Bakery

Tasty dinner and sweet treat options include Homegrown Gastropub and the Arch Society, Reno’s only dessert bar, where you can order a delicious milkshake spiked with various liqueurs or Tahoe Blue Vodka. Yes, please!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View