Free hiking events set in Carson Valley for National Trails Day

The Carson Valley Trails Association will present Carson Valley Trails Day, a celebration of the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day, on June 3.

Free events are planned at two trails — the Fay-Luther Trail in Gardnerville and the Bently Heritage Trail in Minden.

The Fay-Luther event will take place from 8 a.m. to noon and will feature interpretive hiking. Participants can begin self-guided hikes anytime during the event and meet experts along the trail who will talk about topics with connections to Fay-Luther and the Carson Valley. Topics include the Washoe Tribe; history of the Fay-Luther Canyon; and geology, plant and wildlife of the Carson Valley.

Hikers will hear from Lana Hicks and Lori Pasqua of the Washoe Tribe; Debbe Nye of the Douglas County Historical Society; geologist Peggy Ristorcelli; Erin Gavlock and Christine Seliga of the Nevada Department of Wildlife; and Ed Smith of UNR Cooperative Extension.

The Bently Heritage trail event will be presented in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and will include 3, 5 or 6-mile guided trail runs at 7:30 a.m. with Carson Valley Trails Association President-elect Norah Gastelum.

At 9 a.m., a trail reopening/renaming ceremony and ribbon-cutting will be conducted by Duane Petite, The Nature Conservancy Carson River project director, and Jeremy Vlcan, Carson Valley Trails Association trail operations vice president.

A guided hike with Pam Petite will follow the ceremony.

Registration isn’t required for either of the events; however, participants must register on site and sign a waiver of liability.

Anyone 17 and under must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Snacks and water will be provided, as well as CVTA merchandise and membership information.

National Trails Day is the only nationally coordinated event designed to unite all muscle-powered trail activities with the goal of connecting more people to trails. Each year, on the first Saturday of June, American Hiking Society and the trails community invite Americans of all ages and abilities to find their own adventure and discover their unique story at one of the thousands of events hosted throughout the country.

The Nature Conservancy works in the Carson Valley and around the world to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. For information, go to www.nature.org/Carson.

The Carson Valley Trails Association is an all-volunteer, nonprofit working to provide access to public lands through a recreational trail system for present and future generations. For information, go to www.carsonvalleytrails.org.