Carson Ranger District
The Carson Ranger District office is located in Carson City (pop. 58,639), which is Nevada’s capital. The District lies in seven counties including Carson City, Douglas, and Washoe in Nevada and Alpine, Nevada, Lassen, and Sierra Counties in California.
The Carson Ranger District encompasses over 400,000 acres in the states of Nevada (135,632) and California (270,260). Lake Tahoe lies just to the west of the district boundary. The District includes 406,292 acres of urban interface area west of Reno, Carson City, Minden and Gardnerville in Nevada and more remote rural areas in eastern California.
The Carson Ranger District extends along the eastern front of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the Nevada/California border in a strip about 15 miles wide and 96 miles long. It stretches from the Dog Valley area northwest of Reno and ending just north of the Sonora Pass (California State Route 108). The District boasts a varied and spectacular landscape from scenic snowy alpine peaks to the warmer lower valleys of semi-arid Great Basin desert. The elevation ranges from around 4,800 feet to Sonora Peak at 11,462 feet.
Complexes
Co-located with Washoe County's Galena Creek Regional Park, the Galena Creek Recreation Area is nestled in a forested area on the slopes of the Carson Range along the scenic Mt. Rose Highway corridor. The Mt. Rose Wilderness and its namesake mountain peak loom above. Hiking and biking trails wind through the forest and into the hills while several lead to ridges providing panoramic views of the valleys below.
Located within the Galena Creek Recreation Area near the Galena Creek Visitor Center, the Jones/Whites Creek Trailhead provides access to the Jones/Whites Creek Loop (21056
The Thomas Canyon Trailhead is a popular site located on the southwest side of Reno, Nevada.
The Whites Creek Trailhead, located on Forest Service Road 41047 on the southwest side of Reno, provides direct access to the Whites Creek Trail (21066), which is 1.8 miles
The Tahoe Meadows area, located at 8,470 feet along Mt. Rose Highway (NV-431), is a favorite spot for year-round recreation for locals and tourists. From late-Spring to early-Fall, popular activities in the area including hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking, especially on the Tahoe Rim Trail. In the winter, people flock to Tahoe Meadows to snowmobile, sled, cross-country ski, and snowshoe. For those seeking alpine skiing, Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is located directly adjacent to the Tahoe Meadows area.
The Tahoe Meadows Trailhead, located off Mt. Rose Highway (NV-341) is a popular site providing access to multiple trail opportunities.
Mt. Rose Campground is located at an elevation of 9,300 feet in an open conifer forest overlooking beautiful Lake Tahoe, just 9 miles west.
The Mt. Rose Welcome Plaza is a combination trailhead and interpretative site located on Mt. Rose Highway (NV-341) at Mt. Rose Summit.
The Peavine Mountain Trail System, located northwest of Reno, Nevada, provides miles and miles of motorized and non-motorized trails for locals and visitors alike. This are is popular with hiker, equestrians, mountain bikers, and off-highway vehicles users.
Las Brisas Trailhead is s small staging area for motorized trail use located off Las Brisas Blvd in northwest Reno, Nevada.
The West Keystone Trailhead is located off Leadership Parkway on the south side of Peavine Mountain in northwest Reno, Nevada.
The Hoge Road Trailhead is located at Forest Service Rd. 41652 on the east side of Peavine Mountain.
The Raleigh Heights Trailhead is located at Forest Road 41664 on the east side of Peavine Mountain.
The Horizon Hills Trail is located at Forest Road 41645 on the northeast side of Peavine Mountain.
The Red Metal access is located at 41666 sec.3 on the North side of Peavine mountain. A variety of OHV opportunities are availiable in the area: including OHV and 4x4.
The King's Row Trailhead is located on the south side of Peavine Mountain in northwest Reno, Nevada.
Traveling the Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway is a thrilling and unforgettable “peak” experience with awe-inspiring natural surprises around every bend – majestic giant sequoias, craggy granite boulders, lacy dogwood blossoms, ancient volcanic peaks, gnarled junipers, deep forests, spectacular open canyon vistas, billowing clouds, delicate cascading waterfalls, meandering rivers, brilliant quaking aspen, fragrant meadows of prolific native wildflowers, and pristine alpine lakes right at the road’s shoulder. While driving along the highway, travelers will encounter a spectacular palette of colors – bright blue sky, billowing white clouds, the shocking red of tall cedar trunks, and the deep green foliage of mixed conifer forests. A traveler would be hard-pressed to drive the route without stopping and exploring some if its bountiful treasures.
Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway runs for 60-miles of CA Highways 4 and 89 through Markleeville, Bear Valley, and Arnold, California.
Silver Creek Campground is located in a scenic fir and pine forest on the mountainside just above Noble Creek at an elevation of 6,800 feet.
Located near the town of Markleeville, California, the Markleeville Campground is situated near Markleeville Creek and the East Fork Carson River.
Small, dispersed camping area located at the intersection of CA Highway 4 and Wolf Creek Road, near Markleeville, Calif.
The Noble Canyon Trailhead is located off CA-4 near the Silver Creek Campground.
Located on CA-4 at Ebbetts Pass, this trailhead provides access to the Pacific Crest Trail and the Carson-Iceberg Wilderness.
Recreation Sites
Armstrong Pass Trailhead
Carson River Takeout
Centerville Flat Dispersed Campground
Charity Valley East Trailhead
Clear Creek/Jacks Valley Trailhead
Corral Valley Trailhead
Crystal Springs Campground
Ebbetts Pass Trailhead
Fay-Luther Trailhead
Galena Creek Visitor Center
