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