Hunter Creek Trail

Near: Reno, NV
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation: 5,000 to 6,100 feet
Vegetation: Desert scrub to pine forest
Last Visit: February 2018

Winter 2018 has been pretty sad in the snow department. Well into February we're in that awkward stage where there's enough snow at higher elevations to make lots of trails hard to follow, but not enough for good skiing and snow shoeing except the on the highest trails.  So on a weekend trip up to the Tahoe area we did a day of snowshoeing on Castle Peak and a light day on the Hunter Creek Trail on the west side of Reno at the base of the Mt Rose Wilderness.  This trail starts in the desert scrub at 5,000 feet and follows a canyon up to a modest waterfall just at the tree line around 6,000 feet.  As a real forest chauvinist this hike won't be making an top ten lists for me, but it was a nice change of pace.  The proximity of the trailhead to Reno and the steady, well-graded trail makes it a popular afternoon jaunt, so you'll have some company here.

Trailhead:

Rules and Regulations:

This trail enters the Mt Rose Wilderness. Dogs are OK off leash if under effective voice control.  Groups of up to 15 may camp in the back country without a permit, but a permit is required for any campfires or operation of a camp stove.

Route:

The route is a straightforward, easily followed trail running straight up the canyon about a hundred feet above the creek most of the way.  Right at the beginning there is a ford across the creek.  At high water this can be avoided by taking the use trail up the south side of the creek to a small metal bridge somewhat hidden in brush maybe a quarter mile up the creek.

Caltopo map: https://caltopo.com/m/80UG

The metal bridge about a quarter mile upstream from the main ford of the creek.

The last half mile or so to the waterfall is through deep pine forest.

The falls.