Carson City’s best walks and hikes revealed in new book
The hike up Jumbo Grade, located on the east side of Washoe Valley, is included in Mike White’s new book, “50 of the Best Strolls, Walks, and Hikes Around Carson City.” (Photo: Richard Moreno)
Author Mike White knows his way around Carson City. That fact is obvious after reading his latest book, “50 of the Best Strolls, Walks, and Hikes Around Carson City,” published recently by the University of Nevada Press. Reno-based White, who has written nearly two-dozen books about hiking in Nevada and California, focuses on trails and walks in the vicinity of Nevada’s capital. Aided by informative maps and photos (by award-winning outdoor photographer Mark Vollmer), White provides detailed directions and descriptions of the various trips in the book. The book is divided into four geographical sections: Eagle Valley and the Carson River; the Foothills; the Mountains; and Washoe Valley and Virginia City. Within each, he describes about a dozen individual hikes/walks that can be found in that area. For example, he kicks off the first section (Eagle Valley and the Carson River) with the popular Riverview Park walk, an easy trek that my wife and I enjoyed doing when our children were young. The trail, which has several loops, takes visitors through some 108 acres of sagebrush, wetlands, and cottonwoods on the west bank of the Carson River. We often saw wild horses along the way during our regular walks. Within each entry, White includes a map, photos, distance information, elevation gain, things to look for, recommended users (e.g., hikers, trail runners, bikers, etc.), whether dogs are allowed, difficulty of the hike, and recommended best time of year to make the trek. The section titled the Foothills focuses on hikes in the hills around Carson City, such as the V&T Railroad Grade (which overlooks the northern part of the city), the Waterfall Trail, Kings Canyon Loop (directly west of the city on Kings Canyon Road and takes you to the only waterfall in the area), and C Hill (where you can hike up to the big white “C” above the city). The Mountains section takes visitors outside of the city limits and includes directions for hiking portions of the Tahoe Rim Trail, the hike to Marlette Lake, the famed Flume Trail, and the Lam Watah Trail to Nevada Beach. The final section, Washoe Valley and Virginia City, includes hikes in Davis Creek Park, the Jumbo Hill Loop (which rises above Washoe Valley’s east side and leads to Virginia City), the easy Deadman Creek Loop at Washoe Valley, and the fairly challenging hike to the top of Mount Davidson above Virginia City. One of the highlights of each entry are Vollmer’s beautiful images, particularly of the views visitors will find and of the wildlife they may encounter. The book begins with an informative section addressing things such as the best ways to hike with children, hiking with dogs, trail etiquette and safety, what to pack on backcountry hikes, and other useful tips. “50 of the Best Strolls, Walks, and Hikes Around Carson City” by Mike White is available on the University of Nevada Press website (www.unpress.nevada.edu/) or in local bookstores or from online booksellers. Rich Moreno writes about the places and people that make Nevada special.
