Into the Great Wild Open

The Wild Outdoors in Reno Tahoe

Wide open spaces can be hard to come by these days, unless you know where to go. So go to Reno Tahoe! Here there are no limits to finding your true nature in the great wilds—from desert to lake. Trails start right in town or are just minutes away. Reno is where neon lights meet the ultimate outdoors scene, with some of the country’s best novice to gnarly mountain biking, peak-bagging hikes, lesser-known lakes, and hidden hot springs nestled around the Black Rock Desert. Take the big leap this fall, into Reno’s great wild open.

Kick Up Some Dust – Reno’s Exceptional Bike Terrain

Reno has quietly built a world-class reputation as one of the best off-road biking destinations. Defying gravity isn’t just for astronauts … in Reno Tahoe you’ll get that cloud nine feeling biking flowy singletrack. Expansive desert, mountainous backdrops, hidden lakes, and car-free trails make Reno’s terrain perfect for exploration on two wheels.

The 12-mile Truckee River Bike Path cuts right through downtown Reno and goes all the way to Sparks, where you should absolutely make a pit stop at one of the tasty craft breweries (more on that in a minute).

Intermediate and advanced riders can roll with the good terrain at Peavine Mountain, just a few miles outside of downtown yet a wilderness world away. Take your pick of 60+ miles of singletrack. The Halo-Crispy Bacon Loop is filled with fun climbs, tight turns, and some cross-country connections that let you take in the beautiful scenery. In fall, conditions here are prime, with views of beautiful churning foliage for miles.

Brew Bonus Sparks! Reno Tahoe has some of the West’s tastiest locally crafted brews. Just east of Reno, in Sparks, Great Basin Brewery at Victorian Square makes a refreshing stop, especially if you like IPAs. Pair their famous “Icky” (Ichthyosaur) with beer-battered fish and chips. There’s also Revision Brewing Company, named by USA TODAY as a great beer destination. While in Sparks, check out The Outlets at Legends, an outdoor shopping area where you can find some good deals on apparel! Next ride…

Reno Tahoe Bike Rides

Hike from Town, Swim at Sparks Marina

Hike right from town? Absolutely! In Reno Tahoe it’s easy to find yourself in nature quickly by taking a trailhead from town. Take the Tom Cooke Trail. At just 1.2 miles all-in, this short but scenic hike ascends quickly via switchbacks. Once you reach the top you have the option to continue on a trail following the Steamboat Ditch for several miles. The trailhead is located behind the Patagonia Outlet store.

If you’re looking for a short hike with incredible views—including sublime sunset scenery—Huffaker Hills has a 2-mile loop with a beautiful view of Reno’s skyline. And it’s all within minutes of downtown Reno.

Take a walk by the lake and have a little beach time at Sparks Marina Park, just minutes from downtown Reno. With the Sierra Nevada mountains as a backdrop, the park’s 77-acre lake has two sandy beaches for waterfront fun. Relax and stroll one of the multi-use walking paths. Every day the lake is replenished with 2 to 3 million gallons of fresh water by a naturally recurring aquifer, making Sparks Marina Park a prime place for swimming, boating, windsurfing and other water sports. There’s plenty more here, with picnic areas, volleyball courts, and playgrounds, plus a dog park. Keep an eye on the calendar for special events.

Reno Tahoe Hikes

Desert Dreaming and Hot Springs

One of the world’s most famous festivals happens every September near Reno, in Nevada’s Black Rock Desert. We’re talking Burning Man, of course. But the “playa” is a completely different world when it’s not occupied by Burners from around the world.

Soothe your bones in this rugged landscape by sinking into the Soldier Meadow Hot Springs or Black Rock Hot Springs.

Or see if you can get onto a tour to see the impressive (photo-famous) Fly Geyser. The geyser is on private land, so you have to go on a guided trip to see six-foot spews of boiling water fly into the air for several feet, and in technicolor!

The Black Rock Desert is about two hours by car from Reno. Enroute you’ll pass historic trails in the Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, and the ethereal Pyramid Lake.

Explore the Black Rock Desert

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. 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
  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View