Norden, California

Take a short little hike down from HWY 28 to Secret Cove to relax on the beach on sunbathe on rocks. The water is incredibly clear and has different shades of turquoise. There are many rocks to climb on and the water is great for swimming. It gets crowded early, and is a nude beach, so plan accor...

Secret Harbor / Whale Beach is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Carson City, Nevada.

The parking for Skunk Beach is very limited and a little difficult to find. Make sure you get there early if you want a spot. The parking is a turnoff along highway 28, about two miles north of the junction with highway 50. There is no trail sign or anything but there is an old green pipe gate wh...

Skunk Harbor is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Glenbrook, Nevada.

The Lighthouse Trail is a 2.3 mile loop located in D.L. Bliss State Park on the lower west side of world famous Lake Tahoe. To get the trail, enter the park through the main entrance ($10 parking fee), the  follow the road until you see two parking areas of the left side with about 6 or 7 spots e...

The Rubicon Trail is a through hike connecting D.L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay State Park.  You can start at either point.  I opted to start at D.L. Bliss State Park to avoid the long walk uphill to catch the Nifty Fifty shuttle.  Also, there is more available parking at Bliss.  Park your c...

For the first 0.6 miles the trail follows a peaceful creek, before upping the steepness as it ascends the mountain sides via multiple switchbacks. At 2.5 miles in, you reach a peak that allows you to see from Reno to Washoe City; a perfectly good place for sane people to enjoy and turn back. Howe...

Nestled in a forested area on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, Galena Creek Regional Park is seven miles up the Mt. Rose Highway from the intersection with I-580. Galena Creek flows through the park creating separate north and south portions of the park, and the Jones Creek Loop is a great...

Starting at about 6500 ft of elevation Jones Creek Trail is a 9.2 mi loop trail starting in Galena Creek Park. The park itself is very accessible off of Mt. Rose Highway, parking is free, and there is plenty of it during a typical weekend. When entering the park simply follow the signs that say "...

D.L. Bliss State Park to Emerald Bay State Park via Rubicon Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Tahoma, California.

I think all explorers agree there is nothing more serene than being surrounded by nothing but wilderness. If you are one of these said explorers, a trip to Calpine's fire lookout is a must.Calpine is a forest fire lookout tower that was constructed in 1934 and is one of 3 remaining examples of th...

The Sierra Buttes are one of the most scenic mountain features in all of the Sierra Nevadas. Nestled below the buttes are Upper and Lower Sardine lakes which both offer amazing fishing. Sardine Lake Resort lies at the base of the mountains and offers boat rentals, dining and cabin rentals. Just m...

Sardine Lakes is a loop trail that takes you by a lake located near Sierra City, California.

Just outside of Reno find a fun little hike through the hills along a creek, ending at a beautiful waterfall.  The trail is heavily trafficked and easy to follow with two creek crossings.  It is mostly a moderate but steady climb on the way out, with just a few steep spots. The parking lot has ...

Salmon Creek Campground is a quiet campground in the Northern Sierra Buttes. Since it is right up the road from Sardine Lakes it seems to get overlooked a bit. We were able to reserve three campsites the same week of our trip. There were 11 to choose from! The campground is just passed the turn f...

West Plateau Loop is a loop trail that takes you by a river located near Reno, Nevada.