| (Blue Ribbon) Rancho San Rafael Park (city of | | | | Ponderosa pines. More demanding trails climb into the |
| Reno)A Reno showcase, beautifully landscaped | | | | eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevadas.(#7) Caughlin |
| Rancho San Rafael Park serves up several enticing | | | | Ranch (city of Reno)This planned residential |
| canine hikes: a self-guided nature trail through the | | | | communtiy maintains a 36-mile network of parks and |
| many plant zones of the Great Basin, a gravel | | | | trails the public is welcome to explore. Even though |
| footpath that circles the wide open spaces of the | | | | the hikes are often right along the road, the trails still |
| park, and access to the trails of Peavine Mountain. | | | | feel like an escape into nature. Your dog can often |
| This park is a favorite for exercising your dog.(#2) | | | | sniff rabbits, ducks and other wildlife along these |
| Virginia Lake (city of Reno)This quiet 21-acre park | | | | paved paths.(#8) Davis Creek Park (city of Carson |
| feels much as it must have when it was founded | | | | City)Davis Creek offers miles of hiking trails, including |
| more than 60 years ago. Little has been altered | | | | routes to Price Lake and the Tahoe Meadows on |
| around the edges of Virginia Lake. One thing that has | | | | Mount Rose. Less ambitious canine hikers will enjoy |
| changed - to the delight of dog owners - is a | | | | the half-mile nature trail around a tiny pond. The |
| fenced-in, off-leash dogpark at the northern end of | | | | Discovery Trail around the park perimeter is another |
| the park.(#3) Sparks Marina Park (city of Sparks)The | | | | paw-friendly trail. The spectacular pine trees in Davis |
| conversion of an abandoned quarry into a popular | | | | Creek Park are some of the oldest in the Tahoe |
| lake has earned the City of Sparks national | | | | area, survivors of the clear-cutting of the 19th |
| recognition. A concrete walking path surrounds the | | | | century because they were on private land.(#9) |
| Sparks marina and covers almost two miles. The trail | | | | Hawley Grade National Recreation Trail (Lake Tahoe - |
| system is lighted for evening walks with the dog. The | | | | East Shore)The old road connecting Echo Summit to |
| dogpark is the only off-leash dogpark in the Reno | | | | the Upper Lake Valley was built by Asa Hawley in |
| area for dogs to play in the water.(#4) Mount Rose | | | | 1855. It was the first wagon road into the Tahoe |
| Wilderness (Lake Tahoe - North Shore)Even if you | | | | Basin. Today your dog can trot along the same path |
| decide not to complete the 6-mile, 2000-foot ascent | | | | used by thousands of westward bound emigrants |
| to the summit of Mount Rose, there is plenty here | | | | and the fabled riders of the Pony Express.(#10) |
| to thrill canine hikers. More than 20 miles of | | | | Pyramid Lake (Sutcliffe)All the fun at Nevada's largest |
| designated trails are available through the canyons | | | | natural lake isn't on the water. There are sandy trails |
| and ridges of the high country of the Carson Range. | | | | along the shoreline of the 30-mile lake and rocky |
| This is the closest wilderness area to Reno.(#5) Prey | | | | paths on the eastern flank that lead to interesting |
| Meadows/Skunk Harbor (Lake Tahoe - East | | | | tufa formations of blanched white rock. There isn't |
| Shore)One of the prettiest canine hikes in Lake | | | | much shade around the water in the summer but |
| Tahoe is the 1.5-mile trek to Prey Meadows and | | | | Pyramid Lake makes a great canine swimming hole.I |
| Skunk Harbor. Stroll through thick pines to the | | | | am the author of over 20 books, including 8 on hiking |
| meadow, stealing glimpses of the lake as you go. | | | | with your dog, including the |
| Skunk Harbor is a charming cove with a sandy beach. | | | | widely praised The Canine Hiker's Bible. As publisher |
| Beside the path lie remains of an old railroad built in | | | | of Cruden Bay Books, we |
| the 1870s to haul timber from Lake Tahoe to Virginia | | | | produce the innovative A Bark In The Park series of |
| City.(#6) Galena Creek Park (city of Reno)Any level | | | | canine hiking books found at |
| of canine hiker can enjoy 440-acre Galena Creek | | | | During the warm months I lead canine hikes as |
| Park, which once housed a fish hatchery supplying | | | | tour leader for tours, leading packs of dogs and |
| trout to Northern Nevada. An easy, self-guided | | | | humans on |
| Nature Trail navigates through the park's rich forests | | | | day and overnight trips. |
| - pause to breathe in the rich vanilla fragrance of the | | | | |