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 hoodoos, along with petrified trees and ancient fossils. Some people call this spot “The Grotto.”
The standout feature of this area is the slot canyon, a rarity in Nevada, especially in the northern part of the state. The slot canyon is not very long, but riding the narrow trail between sheer rock walls is a fun experience. Getting to the slot canyon, however, can be tricky.
At the main equestrian trailhead, a singletrack trail makes a steep climb up and over a ridge (great views!) that drops you down into a big dry wash. From here, you can ride the wash in either direction. One way will take you to the river. The other way will take you a little over a mile through a canyon that narrows to a dead end. There is a very steep and soft dirt bike trail at the end that can be ridden up to connect to the slot canyon, but ride it at your own risk.
Heading in the direction of the river connects to a 3.5 mile interpretive loop, but that is not open to horses in its entirety. It is not maintained and there are too many sections that require some rock scrambling. There are also singletrack spur trails throughout the canyon that you can explore, but again, not all of them are entirely rideable.
There are interpretive signs throughout the area that tell you about the flora, fauna, and geology of this area. Millions of years ago the landscape of sandstone, siltstone, shale, and clay was ancient Lake Wellington. Keep an eye open for petrified wood stumps and fossils in the rocks!
If you’re looking for more mileage options and easier access to the slot canyon, you’ll probably want to access the much bigger network of dirt roads and trails that wind and weave above Wilson Canyon. The best access for that is about half a mile down the road from the main trailhead. It is a steep climb up, but from there you can connect to virtually unlimited dirt roads in all directions. There is no signage for the slot canyon, but you can find it by reading the terrain features to where the canyon below narrows.
Depending on where you ride, the footing varies from pretty sandy to fairly rocky. Boots or shoes are recommended. It can get quite hilly, so expect some climbs. Some parts of the canyon area also have moderately technical spots – mostly narrow trails with steep drop-offs. The desert flats surrounding the canyon are crisscrossed with wide dirt roads. There are so many trails and roads out here; you can easily meander and find a loop that works for you.
Except for the river, which is lined with trees, the desert area and canyons are pretty exposed so it is not a good place to visit in the hottest months of summer. You can access the river from the main trailhead, otherwise, there is no water in them thar hills. Wilson Canyon is best ridden in the winter, spring, and fall – as long as it is not wet.
This is a very popular OHV spot so you can expect to see dirtbikes and quads, especially on nice weekends. There is no cell service so be sure to download topo maps beforehand.
Getting Here
Where to Park: The main equestrian trailhead has a large parking area with plenty of room for trailers. There is a shade structure with two picnic tables and a garbage can. There are no bathrooms. From here you can ride out directly on the main trail behind the shade structure.
Alternatively, you can park down the street at the Wilson Canyon Rest Area, which has room for several rigs. There are also restrooms and garbage cans at the rest area. There is an OHV road that parallels the highway that you can take to access the trails. Just ride west for 0.3 miles and then cross the highway. This way offers virtually unlimited mileage above the canyon.
Trail Maps
