Hunter Creek
Photos Maps Summary: Activities in Reno are not limited to gambling. There are many outdoor activities to enjoy including kayaking, biking, and hiking. Tucked away just outside the western city limits is a beautiful and easy trail that leads back into the steep and rocky Hunter Creek Canyon to a hidden gem-a 35' waterfall! The trail begins in a classic Nevada landscape with a lot of Mormon Tea & Desert Peach crowding the muddy and rocky trail along with Rabbitbrush and Sagebrush. However, the trail then transitions into a pine & aspen forest before reaching the waterfall. Hunter Creek flows through a meadow at ~6200' elevation before dropping first ~28' and then a further ~7' to form this waterfall. The best thing about this trail (other than the waterfall) is that it is accessible and walkable year-round with the creek flowing year-round. The creek flow usually peaks around the beginning of June with the year's spring melt pouring off the northern flanks of Sunflower Mountain (called Snowflower Mountain on the newest USGS Topo map). This trail is very popular, especially in the summer (even though it can be sweltering), so we would recommend visiting at any other time besides July-August.Distance: 6.0 miles round-tripElevation Gain/Loss: 1,265' totalSeason: Year-round (may be snow on trail during the winter)
Fees & Permits: None for dayhikers
Finding the Trailhead: 39.4930 N, 119.8948 W. In western Reno, take exit #8 (4th St W) from I-80 and follow 4th Street east for ~1.3 miles and turn right onto Mayberry Drive. After ~0.5 miles turn right onto Plateau Road and follow it for ~1.1 miles. Next, turn right onto Woodchuck Circle and follow it for ~0.8 miles before turning right at a round-a-bout towards the Hunter Creek Trailhead (flush toilets provided). The trail begins off the western end of the parking lot.
The Hike: The trail begins by descending to the creek in ~0.1 miles. You can either cross the creek on a set of rocks or on a wooden plank just upstream of the rocks. After crossing the creek turn left and follow the trail leading to the southwest. After climbing one of the early segments turn around for a view of downtown Reno. At ~0.9 miles (from the trailhead) the trail reaches a switchback. During this section of the trail be sure to look up the slopes of the canyon to see some interesting rock formations and caves. At ~2.2 miles the trail splits in two for a very short distance (you can take either but I would follow the left one which is more even in slope) shortly after which the trail crosses over a seasonal wash. About 2.6 miles from the trailhead the trail crosses over a creek (after this the trail is approximated on the maps). At ~3.0 miles (after previously crossing over a few more small springs) the trail crosses Hunter Creek to the east, ~100 feet downstream of the base of the waterfall. Here, there are three logs that act as a simple bridge (step on the lower middle one and use the other two for support). The Hunter Creek Trail continues past the waterfall on the eastern side of the creek up towards Hunter Lake. As I was writing this I noticed that Google Maps now has the Hunter Creek Trail outlined.
