(Blue Ribbon) Rancho San Rafael Park (city
of Reno)
A Reno showcase, beautifully landscaped Rancho San Rafael Park
serves up several enticing canine hikes: a self-guided nature
trail through the many plant zones of the Great Basin, a gravel
footpath that circles the wide open spaces of the park, and access
to the trails of Peavine Mountain. This park is a favorite for
exercising your dog.
(#2) Virginia Lake (city of Reno)
This quiet 21-acre park feels much as it must have when it was
founded more than 60 years ago. Little has been altered around
the edges of Virginia Lake. One thing that has changed - to the
delight of dog owners - is a fenced-in, off-leash dogpark at the
northern end of the park.
(#3) Sparks Marina Park (city of Sparks)
The conversion of an abandoned quarry into a popular lake has
earned the City of Sparks national recognition. A concrete walking
path surrounds the Sparks marina and covers almost two miles.
The trail system is lighted for evening walks with the dog. The
dogpark is the only off-leash dogpark in the Reno area for dogs
to play in the water.
(#4) Mount Rose Wilderness (Lake Tahoe - North
Shore)
Even if you decide not to complete the 6-mile, 2000-foot ascent
to the summit of Mount Rose, there is plenty here to thrill canine
hikers. More than 20 miles of designated trails are available
through the canyons and ridges of the high country of the Carson
Range. This is the closest wilderness area to Reno.
(#5) Prey Meadows/Skunk Harbor (Lake Tahoe
- East Shore)
One of the prettiest canine hikes in Lake Tahoe is the 1.5-mile
trek to Prey Meadows and Skunk Harbor. Stroll through thick pines
to the meadow, stealing glimpses of the lake as you go. Skunk
Harbor is a charming cove with a sandy beach. Beside the path
lie remains of an old railroad built in the 1870s to haul timber
from Lake Tahoe to Virginia City.
(#6) Galena Creek Park (city of Reno)
Any level of canine hiker can enjoy 440-acre Galena Creek Park,
which once housed a fish hatchery supplying trout to Northern
Nevada. An easy, self-guided Nature Trail navigates through the
park's rich forests - pause to breathe in the rich vanilla fragrance
of the Ponderosa pines. More demanding trails climb into the eastern
slopes of the Sierra Nevadas.
(#7) Caughlin Ranch (city of Reno)
This planned residential communtiy maintains a 36-mile network
of parks and trails the public is welcome to explore. Even though
the hikes are often right along the road, the trails still feel
like an escape into nature. Your dog can often sniff rabbits,
ducks and other wildlife along these paved paths.
(#8) Davis Creek Park (city of Carson City)
Davis Creek offers miles of hiking trails, including routes to
Price Lake and the Tahoe Meadows on Mount Rose. Less ambitious
canine hikers will enjoy the half-mile nature trail around a tiny
pond. The Discovery Trail around the park perimeter is another
paw-friendly trail. The spectacular pine trees in Davis Creek
Park are some of the oldest in the Tahoe area, survivors of the
clear-cutting of the 19th century because they were on private
land.
(#9) Hawley Grade National Recreation Trail
(Lake Tahoe - East Shore)
The old road connecting Echo Summit to the Upper Lake Valley was
built by Asa Hawley in 1855. It was the first wagon road into
the Tahoe Basin. Today your dog can trot along the same path used
by thousands of westward bound emigrants and the fabled riders
of the Pony Express.
(#10) Pyramid Lake (Sutcliffe)
All the fun at Nevada's largest natural lake isn't on the water.
There are sandy trails along the shoreline of the 30-mile lake
and rocky paths on the eastern flank that lead to interesting
tufa formations of blanched white rock. There isn't much shade
around the water in the summer but Pyramid Lake makes a great
canine swimming hole.