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    Ballardini Ranch Trailhead

    4.3 (14 reviews)

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    Koga, an Alaskan Malamute puppy, on a hike
    Kelcey K.

    Beautiful hike my Malamute loves! We go early before the sun comes up and watch the sun rise as we go. There's no one out there then and he loves trotting around Remember to pick up your poop and throw it away when on the trail! There's clearly lots who don't so don't be part of the problem!

    Waiting for the floods
    Louis M.

    Took a trail challenge with my wife at Ballardini Ranch. Not bad. For the challenge, you do need to be in fair shape. To do the trail without a group, you can do it at your own pace. Study the trails as some branch off and you can end up in Galena! Here's a link to the trail: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/nevada/ballardini-ranch-trail?_branch_match_id=519932165660136315 As with all trails anywhere. Pick up after yourself! It's simple and easy. If you bring a pet, pick up after the pet! If you're new to hiking up in the hills here. Bring water and/or a Camelbak type of device Wear sunscreen Bring a hat Watch for rattlers during the warmer months Leave nature natural This trail is good for newbies. It's not too hard, good views of the city and gives you the impression that you're miles away from civilization. ---------------- Bottom Line I wouldn't mind coming back here and taking some of the tertiary trails to Galena.

    Brand, spankin' new!
    Tracy S.

    Reno's newest trailhead is really lovely, which one would hope, seeing as the land was dedicated in 2008, and it only just opened a few months ago. Apparently it takes the county six years to construct a trail and parking lot. Still, though, it IS lovely. This trailhead and the land behind it was part of a very, very long battle between the city and Ballardini Ranch developers. I really don't know all the details, but suffice to say lots of people were very angry, and much time was spent in court, and many millions of dollars wasted. With that in mind, I guess I was expecting a more extensive project than what is here, and, as is so often the case, expectations lead to disappointment. The trailhead consists of about 20 parking spots, a covered picnic area, and a bathroom with two pit toilets. No water is provided on site, nor did I see a doggie-doo station. A creek runs through the trailhead, providing trees and shade. It is overall just a nice little spot. The trail consists of two loops--a "lower" loop, which is only .5 miles (why even bother?!) and an "upper" loop that adds another 1.7 miles. If you do them both together, you'll log about a two-mile hike. Like I said, not terribly impressive, especially considering how much the trail loops back on itself, fooling you into thinking you are covering more terrain than you actually are. You WILL get some very nice scenery, though. There are better views to be had of the city on other trails; the real pleasure here is the view back into the BLM land behind the development area. I managed to find a few small side trails that led to convenient gaps in the barbed wire, should you decide to take off into all that beautiful open space. Just sayin'. The best thing about this trail is it's newness. Everything is fresh and clean, with no trash, no gardens of dog turds, and no broken glass. The toilets don't even smell bad yet. Let's hope it can stay this way for a little while, at least! Overall, this trail is great for a short hike or very short trail run, but not really extensive enough for serious hiking. It's perfect for kids--you could probably even do it with a stroller--and my dog loved it. Eventually, there will be a diversion trail that connects this small loop to the greater Rim to Reno system, and then it will really be awesome, but until then it's just a nice way to spend an hour.

    lilies in May
    G S.

    I took the family out for a late-spring hike and was pleasantly surprised by the trails and property. In mid-May (after a good wet, spring), the wildflowers were still blooming (calochortus lilies, penstemons, etc.) and the cheatgrass was tall but not yet a threat to everyone's socks. Bird life in the middle of the day was pretty quite (as expected), but there were still meadowlarks singing here and there. The trails look like they were made with a bobcat, but still nicely contoured for hiking with a 5 year old. The bench near the "summit" was a nice treat and the views to the west make you forget all the sprawl of south Reno to west (which has a certain appeal when seen from a distance). We ran into a rattlesnake on the descent to the creek (from the 'summit'), always exciting. The wiggly trail goes in and out of some gullies, passing by some cottonwoods where we saw flicker and kestrel nests. Overall, the lack of shade would make this a challenging place to enjoy fully in the middle of a summer day, and the weeds (esp. cheatgrass) could be really annoying if you weren't careful. For a cool-weather day (or early summer morning), however, it's a great choice.

    Beautiful place to hike!

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    Review Highlights - Ballardini Ranch Trailhead

    There's no one out there then and he loves trotting around Remember to pick up your poop and throw it away when on the trail!

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    Upper Thomas Creek - Whites Creek - Dry Pond Trail

    Upper Thomas Creek - Whites Creek - Dry Pond Trail

    4.9(7 reviews)
    3.9 mi

    Ski season is over for me, cycling season is starting, and maybe hiking, but only in shaded areas…read more Quality/Quantity - So I am looking for more and more new bike paths. We just cycled The Tahoe East Shore Trail (6 miles round trip) and I am ready for something new and different. My wife is NOT a big dirt road rider, but she wanted to come here, so we will see. I think she would enjoy this more for just hiking...? We will see. Not much shade and/or amenities. Come prepared. Cut and pasted from the internet: "These trails are open to dogs, bicycles, and horses. Everyone can have a good experience by exercising common courtesy and adhering to some accepted rules of the trail... When hikers meet, those going uphill have the right-of-way unless they stop to let downhillers pass. When approaching other hikers from behind, give a friendly greeting so those in front aren't startled. Horses have the right-of-way over both hikers and bikers. Stand aside quietly while they pass. Hikers have the right-of-way over mountain bikes, but it is usually easier for everyone if hikers let the bikes pass since they are usually moving faster. Mountain bikers should announce their presence in places with limited visibility, like blind turns. When passing, let hikers know if more riders are following." Atmosphere - Depending on where you park, I suggest that you only come here with 4 wheel drive vehicle. Not an issue with us as we have a truck. The internet said that there were many shaded areas...? Maybe we did not go far enough? It just means we will be back. Thomas Creek Trail - 4.4 miles, 1272 elevation, 2.5 hours. Lower White Creeks Tail - 6.9 miles, 931 elevation, 3 hours. Dry Pond Loop - 6.2 miles, 1072 elevation, 3 hours. Service - Self service. Price - Free, thank you. Owner Comment - Thank you to Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Washoe County Regional Parks, and Open Space Teams for maintaining this area.

    I went on the Thomas Creek Trail for a short hike/exercise yesterday. I went out for a mile before…read morereturning back. According to my Fitbit watch, I walked 2.2. miles. This is a beautiful, easy trail right along the Thomas Creek in the Galena area south of the city of Reno, NV. There was a lot of water flowing down the creek with a little snow and ice in some areas.. The weather was perfect (cloudy and not cold or hot). According to the U.S. Forest Service, this trail is 7.8 miles long however (like in my case) I just wanted to walk a couple of miles for my daily exercise routine. I highly recommend it.

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    Upper Thomas Creek - Whites Creek - Dry Pond Trail - 6/4/25 FYI. Time for my cycling season.

    6/4/25 FYI. Time for my cycling season.

    Upper Thomas Creek - Whites Creek - Dry Pond Trail
    Upper Thomas Creek - Whites Creek - Dry Pond Trail - Shaded trails

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    Shaded trails

    Oxbow Nature Study Area - Education center...not open when we've been there.

    Oxbow Nature Study Area

    4.1(28 reviews)
    5.1 mi

    Great easy trail for those of us who enjoy a nature walk but nothing too hard! Lots of nice benches…read moretucked here and there for a quiet break...unless of course a train goes by...but I always enjoy that. On the northern most path, once the shrubs and trees leaf out, you walk thru a green tunnel. I used to bring my mom here when she used a wheelchair for mobility...paths are pretty level and hard packed, and there are a couple of observation points paved with that plastic decking...they are holding up very well! There is a mystery here tho...closing hour is listed as 4:00pm, with notices the gate will be locked and your car stuck...but we've been there later in the afternoon and the gate was open and the parking lot full... We had our dog with us, on her leash, only to see a sign as we left, that dogs are not allowed...sorry.

    Convenient parking in a small lot. Restrooms in the beautiful, round park building. Decks allow…read moreaccess out over the water's edge for comfortable (and dry) viewing of the Truckee River flowing by. Trail wends through the mature trees, leading to other areas with benches and picnic tables. The soothing sound of the river can be heard from most of the trail, and you'll also hear several species of birds. Informational plaques are located throughout the park, describing various aspects of the land, flora, and fauna. Overall, a peaceful park that will get you away from the hustle and bustle.

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    Oxbow Nature Study Area - Look out closed (1/2026)

    Look out closed (1/2026)

    Oxbow Nature Study Area
    Oxbow Nature Study Area

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    Hidden Valley Regional Park - Trail

    Hidden Valley Regional Park

    4.4(32 reviews)
    6.5 mi

    I've been exploring this park lately and I can't say enough about how much I like it. It's a great…read moreopen space to come explore, walk the dogs and do various types of recreation. You'll be happy to know there is also a bathroom on site. There are various hiking trails you can explore, but most of it is not shaded. The Perimeter Loop Trail was fun with scenic views of downtown and the currently snow-capped mountain range to the West. I also did the Hidden Valley Backcountry Loop. It has a 1,033 Elevation gain and approximately 3.7 miles to complete the loop. It's a bit slippery going up, but I took my time and had no issues. As you can imagine, the views and the landscape only got more beautiful.

    Wear your hiking shoes, dress appropriately and bring water!…read more This was a hard graded trail and yes it was. It got really step the higher we hiked up. It was also very windy in December. So happy we didn't get any rain and was able to go for a hike! We hiked for a good hour. Loved the nature and view of the city from the top. There was a lot of gravel towards the top and a few of us did slip going down hill, even with hiking shoes. Even a trail runner said he fell and slipped a few times. There's a few trails so do some research to see which trail meets your needs. Lots of parking and the bathroom is next to the tennis and pickle ball courts. Lucky I had my pickle ball set in the trunk and even got in a few games. Location was only about 15 minutes from downtown Reno, very close! I'd come back next time to hike another trail!

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    Hidden Valley Regional Park
    Hidden Valley Regional Park
    Hidden Valley Regional Park

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    Rancho San Rafael Regional Park - Hot air balloon races

    Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

    4.5(147 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    Beautiful Sunday morning to walk around the park and arboretum. Our annual Dragon Lights Festival…read moreis here and we got to see the decorations unlit, but Beautiful. Peaceful with less crowds. Beautiful naturescapes.

    I love Rancho San Rafael! It's home to a lot of events hosted in Reno that are dear to my family. I…read morehave several fond memories over the years of family photos, baby showers, birthdays and graduation parties here. Inquire within Reno city office to rent parts of the park for your events. I frequently brought my oldest to this park and the Wilbur D May museum over the years for certain exhibitions. It was convenient since we were in NW Reno area. Tea parties and picnics by the playground and hikes up to the "N" during warmer spring and summer months. The playground is currently under construction and might be our favorite. I look forward to bringing my little when it's reopened. This past weekend my kids and I attended the great Reno balloon races and this event never disappoints. It's an annual tradition that I'm glad my oldest still partakes in for now. This was the largest turnout I've seen in all my years of attendance and living in Reno. The staff that organized/worked this event were well prepared and it was organized; thank you for your hard work and for all of the participants. Next year this event will run 4 days! I'm already looking forward to coming back. I look forward to returning when the playground is completed and visiting when I'm in old NW Reno.

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    Rancho San Rafael Regional Park - Happy Halloween 2022!

    Happy Halloween 2022!

    Rancho San Rafael Regional Park - Outdoor Fitness Court

    Outdoor Fitness Court

    Rancho San Rafael Regional Park - Dog park lake

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    Dog park lake

    Ballardini Ranch Trailhead - hiking - Updated May 2026

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