Hunter Creek Falls

The first thing that most people relate to Reno is gambling, casinoes, or both. The last thing that they would think about is a waterfall. However, tucked away just outside the western city limits is a beautiful and easy trail (hike description here) 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 (I would estimate any flow above ~5 cfs in the creek is worth seeing the waterfall). 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). You can check on the current flow here. This trail is very popular, especially in the summer (even though it can be sweltering), so I would recommend visiting at any other time besides July-August. In the winter many interesting ice formations develop around the waterfall and offer many different options for photographers. The trailhead elevation is ~4,990' and the base of the waterfall is at ~6,140'. The overall elevation gain/loss of the trail is probably close to ~1,225' (steady slope). Of the three waterfalls in this database in Nevada (the other two being Kings Canyon Falls & Galena Creek Falls), I was most impressed with this one.Location