Little Washoe Lake Trail

The Little Washoe Lake Trail traces a portion of the small lake's perimeter on a mostly undeveloped trail, offering an easy off-the-beaten-path walk with some excellent views of the lake and neighboring mountains.

While lying within Washoe Lake State Park, Little Washoe Lake lies a bit north of the main park features, and offers a scaled down version of the Washoe Lake experience. This small remote park offers boating, fishing, a few picnic benches and trails leaving the parking area heading either north or south along the lake's perimeter.

Heading south, this portion of the trail totals 1 mile out-and-back, ending at a small vault toilet beside a wide stream where water feeds into Little Washoe Lake. The path tracks through sage, some sand and some grass tufts. You'll likely see signs of the feral horse population that makes its way down to the water source from the neighboring Virginia Range. If leaving the parking area and heading north along the lake, the trail is mostly soft sand, weaving between the growth and eventually coming to some shaded areas and the nearest to a sandy beach shore. There is also a small observation bench located pretty quickly along the trail. 

The hike itself isn't anything spectacular, however the views of Slide Mountain and Mount Rose dominating the landscape to the west offers a refreshing perspective on local landmarks that are often seen more in context from viewing them in relation to an urban area. This trail offers hikers the chance to get out into the landscape and breathe a little bit. 

The trail is easy, with nearly no elevation gain, though the softer sand makes it a slower ramble.

As part of the state park, visiting the Little Washoe Lake area is subject to state park rules, including hours and entry fees.