Lake Lahontan Reservoir was built in 1905 to irrigate farms in Fallon. In the early 1970s it became a State Recreation Area managed by Nevada State Parks. Today, this desert oasis is an extremely popular recreation destination. Hundreds of thousands of people visit each year, mostly to camp and play in the water. Fishing, boats,…
Lyon County
Churchill Narrows
Adrian Valley runs between Silver Springs and Yerington. You can see it west of Highway 95 between the two towns, flanked by the Pine Nut Mountains and the Desert Range. At first glance, this valley might not seem like one of the most scenic or interesting parts of Nevada, but looks can be deceiving. A…
Pony Express Trail
Though it only operated for 18 months, the Pony Express left an indelible mark on the American Western history. The image of a lone rider galloping across the frontier to deliver the mail is iconic, still depicted in movies, advertisements, and more. From 1860-61, the private mail service linked St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California…
The Gym
Thanks to its low elevation and mild winters, this is a great spot to keep the conditioning up during the cooler months. Local endurance riders have affectionately named the hills just north of Fort Churchill in Silver Springs, the Gym. This area is, admittedly, not the prettiest country that Nevada has to offer. But what…
Eldorado Canyon
This fun and slightly challenging route will take you through a deep canyon with trees, water, interesting rock formations, and lots of history. Look for the hillside letter “D” to the southeast of Dayton. Eldorado Canyon lies just beyond. “El Dorado” means the golden in Spanish. Most place names in Nevada come from mining and…
Walker River State Recreation Area
Hidden in the desert of Lyon County is a lush river corridor where you can immerse yourself in the ranching side of Nevada. Located just outside Yerington, the Walker River State Recreation Area is one of Nevada’s largest and newest state parks. The park officially opened in 2018 and is a lovely location for a…
Wilson Canyon
Just south of Yerington, you’ll find Wilson Canyon, a dramatic gorge between the Singatse Range and the Pine Grove Hills, carved out by millions of years of water. It is a bit of a stark landscape, but the riding is fun and it is a fascinating place geologically. Here you’ll find cool rock formations like…
Scout Camp – Fort Churchill State Park
This easily accessible equestrian campground is a great year-round basecamp for exploring the river trails or the wide open desert. Located just south of Silver Springs on the Carson River, Scout Camp is a popular spot to day ride or horse camp for a weekend. The campground is part of Fort Churchill State Park and…
American Discovery Trail
The American Discovery Trail is the nation’s only coast-to-coast trail for hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians. Spanning 6,800 miles, the trail links the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean through 15 states… including Nevada! Nevada’s portion of the trail is approximately 550 miles and runs east-west across the central part of the state, generally just south…
Delta Camp – Lahontan State Recreation Area
Enjoy miles of sandy trails that weave through cottonwoods, willows, and sand dunes at this oasis in the desert. Delta Camp is located on the far south end of the Lahontan State Recreation Area in Silver Springs and is managed by Nevada State Parks. From the equestrian campground, you can ride for miles on a…
Sweetwater Canyon
This scenic trail boasts non-stop views, water crossings, wildflowers galore, and a very special surprise that awaits you if you make it to the top. Sweetwater Canyon is one of those rides I could do a hundred times and not get tired of. It is never boring. The scenery stays interesting no matter what direction…
Pine Grove
One of the many things that makes Nevada unique is its abundance of ghost towns. From the 1860s to the 1910s, hundreds of camps and towns sprung up to accommodate the influx of people hoping to strike it rich in mining. Some settlements boomed up seemingly overnight only to go bust and disappear just as…
