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Galena Creek Nature Trail

The lower reaches of Mount Rose and the steep canyons of the Galena Creek watershed offer long, arduous trail access to tantalizing altitudes. This gentle interpretive trail along lower Galena Creek offers a sampling of that alpine experience.

Start: At the trailhead in the second Galena Creek Regional Park parking area

Distance: 0.9-mile loop

Hiking time: 45 minutes to 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Trail surface: Dirt singletrack

Best seasons: Late spring, summer, and fall

Other trail users: None

Canine compatibility: Leashed dogs permitted

Fees and permits: None

Schedule: As a rule of thumb, Washoe County Parks are open from 8 a.m. to sunset. Formal hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend; 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Labor Day to the start of standard time; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from the start of standard time to the start of daylight savings time in spring; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. from the start of daylight savings time to Memorial Day weekend.

Trailhead amenities: Parking, restrooms, water, picnic tables, a dog waste station, trashcans

Maps: USGS Washoe City NV; no map is necessary, as the trail is well marked with interpretive posts

Trail contact: Galena Creek Regional Park, Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space, 2601 Plumas St., Reno, NV 89509; (775) 823-6500; www.washoecountyparks.com.

Finding the trailhead: From US 395 southbound, take the NV 431 (Mount Rose Highway) exit. Head west on the Mount Rose Highway for 7.2 miles to the south entrance to Galena Creek Regional Park (the second park entrance). Go past the garage and park sign, then down into the lower parking lot. The trailhead is at the west end of the parking lot. The main park address is 18350 Mount Rose Highway in Reno. GPS: N39 21.245' / W119 51.458'

The Hike

Galena Creek begins, as most mountain streams do, as a trickle in the snow-packed heights. But by the time it reaches the lowland park that shares its name, it’s a rumbling, tumbling, defining watercourse. Kid-friendly and popular, the Galena Creek Nature Trail explores the ecotone that surrounds the creek.

The stream is particularly raucous in spring and early summer, when engorged with meltwater generated in the heights of the Mount Rose Wilderness. Later in the season it mellows, inviting foot-soaking or, if the flow is slow enough, water play. But regardless of the season and its vigor, Galena Creek supports a riparian strip lively with aspen and willow. On the slopes farther from the water, a lovely lower montane yellow pine forest, dominated by Jeffrey and ponderosa pines, thrives. Check the cones to identify which tree is which: ponderosa pine cones have sharp points (prickly ponderosas), the Jeffrey cones don’t (gentle Jeffreys).

The nature trail consists of two stacked loops, one about 0.5 mile in length—easy for younger schoolchildren to negotiate—and the second closer to 1 mile in length. Eighteen signposts keyed to an interpretive brochure, available in a kiosk at the trailhead, help hikers identify and learn more about the forest they wander through.

Galena Creek rushes under the bridge near the beginning of the nature trail.

Begin your exploration by crossing Galena Creek on a sturdy wooden bridge. On the far side a trail sign directs you left (west). Pass the junction of the Bitterbrush Trail, then the path narrows to singletrack and gently climbs to the intersection of the two legs of the loop. Stay straight (west), traveling the trail in a clockwise direction, with the creek on the left (south) and the forest on the right (north).

The path climbs gently alongside the wall of the steep, narrowing canyon. Pause along the way to ponder the purpose of a circular concrete structure on the far side of the creek (a flood containment pond? a livestock watering hole? a bear bathtub?). The nature trail curves right (north) up a short flight of steps, earning views of the Truckee Meadows as it climbs.

Once out of the creek drainage, the route meanders through woodlands scattered with boulders (glacial erratics) and low-growing mountain manzanita. Stone and log steps break up the steepest section of a slow descent that skirts a striking split rock. On flat terrain again, the rock-lined trail swings south, back toward the creek. Close the loop back alongside the creek, and unless you want to do laps, retrace your steps to the trailhead.

Miles and Directions

0.0Start by heading right (northeast) down the gravel road at the south end of the lower parking lot. Once across the bridge turn left (west), following Galena Creek upstream.

0.1At the junction of the Bitterbrush Trail, stay left (west) on the signed nature trail. The junction of the two legs of the loop is less than 0.1 mile farther; stay straight (streamside) to complete the route in a clockwise direction.

0.4As a concrete structure appears on the opposite side of the canyon, the route bears right (north).

0.8Close the loop where the two legs meet. Turn left (east) and retrace your steps toward the trailhead.

0.9Arrive at the parking area.

Hike Information

Local information: The Chamber, serving Reno, Sparks, and northern Nevada, offers information and links to community events, government, and businesses including restaurants and lodging. The Reno office is at 449 S. Virginia St. 2nd Floor, Reno, NV 89501; (775) 636-9550; www.thechambernv.org. For information about the city of Reno, call Reno Direct at (775) 334-INFO, or visit www.reno.gov/index.aspx?page=1.

Information about Carson City is available through the Carson City Chamber of Commerce, 1900 S. Carson St., Suite 200, Carson City, NV 89701; (775) 882-1565; www.carsoncitychamber.com/. The city site is at carson.org; the address is 201 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV 89701. Phone numbers for the various city departments are on the site.

Local events/attractions: With shaded picnic grounds, access to the Mount Rose Wilderness, an overnight camping lodge (Camp We Ch Me), a visitor center, outdoor campfire programs, winter sports activities, and a fishing pond and fish hatchery, Galena Creek Regional Park is a wonderful place to spend a day. Information about all activities in the park is available from the Galena Creek Visitor Center. The center is located at 18250 Mount Rose Hwy., Reno, NV 89511; call (775) 849-4948; or visit www.galenacreekvisitorcenter.org.

Restaurants: Midtown Eats Reno, 719 S. Virginia St., Reno, NV; (775) 324-3287; midtowneatsreno.com. The lunch menu is simple and the selections are delicious, whether you want a quinoa salad or a burger with habanero. The dinner menu is more refined (even if pork belly and veal cheeks don’t sound elegant). The restaurant is also open for Sunday brunch.

The Galena Creek Nature Trail offers a peaceful, educational romp through the woods.

Bowers Mansion

Sandy Bowers, an immigrant from Missouri, struck it rich in the wake of the California Gold Rush. He and his wife, Eilley, mined silver claims near the Carson River that turned out to be bonanzas; they were Comstock Lode tycoons by the mid-1850s. To celebrate, the couple built the Bowers Mansion and hosted lavish parties for fellow millionaire miners. The glory was short-lived, however; within twenty years, Sandy was dead and Eilley had lost the mansion to foreclosure.

Bowers Mansion is now the centerpiece of a Washoe County regional park, located on Old US 395 between Reno and Carson City. In addition to touring the mansion and the historic artifacts contained therein, visitors can also enjoy picnic facilities and the hot springs pool. For more information call (775) 849-1825 or visit www.co.washoe.nv.us/parks/parkdetails~pkid=1.