This interstate trail gives riders the best of the high desert and the mountains. The Fay-Luther Trail System is managed by the Carson Valley Trails Association and features 10+ miles of well-maintained and signed trails. There are a number of different loops that can be made and horses are allowed on almost all of them with the exception of the Jobs Peak Ranch and Valley View trails to the north.
Riding out from the parking lot, you’ll quickly cross over the state line. Most of the trail system sits on the California side. At first, the trail leads through open country with thick sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and bitterbrush and then climbs into pine forest. Higher elevations include mountain mahogany, aspens, manzanita, and other trees.
The trails are mostly all single track and generally easy with good footing. Some of the higher elevation trails have a few obstacles like rocks or narrow trails with sharp drop-offs or soft edges. A stream runs through the lower end of the trail system and there are a few places to access water. The peekaboo views of the Carson Range, Pine Nut Range, and Carson Valley are spectacular no matter which trails you choose.
There are a number of informative interpretive panels on the trails that describe the history of the region and the flora and fauna. This is a popular hiking and dog walking spot, and the trails can be moderately busy on some weekends. It is also open to bicyclists, but it doesn’t seem to be a wildly popular spot for them. The Fay-Luther Trail System is best explored on horseback in the spring when the wildflowers are blooming, in summer to escape the heat in the trees, and in the fall when the leaves are changing colors.
Getting Here
Where to Park: There is a large parking lot at the trailhead with marked areas for horse trailers. Plenty of room for several rigs and turnaround. There are no bathroom facilities.
Trail Maps
