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, jet skis, and swimming are especially common. But Lahontan is also a great destination for horseback riding and camping.
The Silver Springs portion of the park has a large equestrian area. From here, you can access hundreds of miles of sandy trails that wind around the lake and desert.
Campground
You won’t find the equestrian area on any maps, nor are there any signs for it in the park, but we promise you it does exist! It features a large open parking area that could fit many rigs, a large roundpen, two open pens, two shaded pens, hitching post, fire pits, and grills. There is water onsite at a handpump. Not far is a large covered picnic pavilion, bathrooms, and showers (seasonal access only).
The terrain is sandy and the area is surrounded open desert with mountains in the distance. The lake is about 500 feet from the equestrian area. Reservations are not required, and use (including camping) is on a first come, first serve basis. That said, this site sees pretty low usage by equestrians so you probably don’t have to worry about getting a spot.
While the equestrian area is open year-round, camping and riding here is probably most comfortable in the spring and fall. Summer temps can be quite high – not to mention the thousands of other users that flock to the shoreline. (It can get pretty rowdy. For a quieter camping option, the southern boundary of Lahontan State Recreation Area also includes Delta Camp.)
Trails
Lahontan has about 70 miles of shoreline, much of which can be ridden. Or head out into the open desert that surrounds the lake. There are hundreds of miles of sandy roads and trails to ride as short or as long as you’d like. The terrain is relatively uncomplicated – nothing terribly technical here, unless you want to play in the dunes or navigate some of the downed trees. Otherwise, it’s easy to stay on the easy trails.
Keep an eye open for pelicans, herons, egrets, hawks, and a variety of other species. Lahontan is a nesting site for bald eagles which can often be spotted perched high in the trees that dot the reservoir’s shoreline. Occasionally wild horses will come through here. There are also porcupines, fox, and deer in the area.
Fall is a lovely time to ride when the cottonwoods change colors to gold. This area gets very little snow so it’s also great for winter riding. In the spring, it can be quite buggy so spray is recommended.
West of the equestrian area you can find remnants of an old obstacle course. Unfortunately, it has not been maintained over the years and has fallen into disrepair. Use it with caution.
CAUTION: In some years, Lahontan State Recreation Area can have Harmful Algae Blooms (HAB). When a HAB is active, Nevada State Parks will issue a HAB Watch Advisory. This means that toxic algae may be present in the water, which can cause serious health issues for humans and animals.
Getting Here
Where to Park: It can be difficult to find the equestrian area as there is no signage for it! From the park entrance in Silver Springs, follow the road until the pavement ends and turns to gravel. Continue on the gravel road until you see the sign for beaches 9 & 11. Turn right and follow the road to the equestrian area.
Trail Maps
