This is my second visit here. Photos are from that previous visit…read more This is a bit off the beaten path, but is very much following the winding road to get to it. There is plenty of parking, bathrooms and paths and signage to help you find your way. There is a primary dirt path that makes a large mile long loop through the main park area. The history of the area is very interesting. During the week, you feel like you have the park to yourself. I imagine it gets quite busy during the summer and on weekends. A very nice park, free admission (your tax dollars at work) spectacular views of the mountains, and a great way to learn about the history of the area.

We saw on YouTube that you could come here and pick up a crystal that are supposed to be just…read morelaying on the ground. While it's a great park offering an easy stroll, there were no crystals. Meh. Today I learned you can't believe every documentary on YouTube. Otherwise, a sweet spot to stop and stretch your legs, bathroom stop and have a snack.

Independence Lake is a beautiful glacier-cut lake located less than an hour's drive from Truckee…read more Here, you can borrow one of the small fleet of kayaks and fishing boats ~after first filling out a registration waiver~. No outside watercraft are allowed! This is to protect and preserve the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that are native to this habitat. Outside watercraft are risky because they may unknowingly transport foreign mollusks that are detrimental to the health of the trout living there. If fishing waders are used, there is a wader scrubbing/washing station located at the registration area. There are Nature Conservancy staff people on site if you have further questions. I found them informative and helpful. The loaner kayaks are located to the left side of the lake. The ones on the right side are for staff members. Every other week, ~only~ the kayaks are allowed out. Call to check the calendar schedule to avoid disappointment if you want to use one of the motorized boats. They require a motorized boater's card {available online at https://www.boat-ed.com/california/) There are single person and tandem person sit-on-top kayaks available. after 8AM Thursdays through Sundays. Loaner PFDs are also available in standard sizes. I recommend getting there early morning after opening while the water is calm. I was told that later in the day, the wind can pick up. This makes paddling a kayak to get backk across a lot more difficult. You may fish using barbless hooks. Only artificial lures are permitted. All trout caught must be released. Kokanee salmon are an invasive species here. Fishermen are allowed to keep those. Limit 5 per day, or 10 per trip, total. No live bait. There is no overnight camping on the Conservancy's grounds. There are campgrounds at nearby Webber Lake and Lake of the Woods.

Independence Lake Preserve is an amazing place to enjoy the high Sierras. The best part is the free…read morekayaks that are available to anyone who signs a waiver. How cool and inclusive is that? You get to Independence Lake Preserve from highway 80 by heading north on 89 and then turning L at the "Little Truckee Summit OHV/Snowmobile" area, which is on a road labeled "07." It's the turn you'd take if you wanted to go to the Mt. Lola trailhead or Webber Lake Campground, which are also nearby. You'll need an offroad capable vehicle to make it over a water crossing and two miles of rocky road. There are lots of signs that explain that no watercraft are allowed, because Independence Lake is one of the two places in the world with a wild, self-sustaining lake population of Lahontan cutthroat trout. That's why they care so much about not letting folks put their own watercraft on the lake: they might unintentionally introduce invasive species. When we pulled up (with a canoe on our Jeep: we didn't know the rules beforehand), a ranger came out to verbally explain things to us and to let us know about the free kayaks to use. I was pleasantly surprised that there were not a lot of bugs out in July 2022. The last time we were in this area, which was maybe July three years ago, there were so, so, so many bugs. We came armed with bug spray but didn't need it! There are hiking trails around the preserve as well. The lake is large and beautiful, and the view of Mt. Lola is spectacular.

We had not been here in years and honestly, this was not my first choice for camping, but instead…read moreof heading to a campground and hoping to score a site, we decided instead to come to Pyramid Lake for a 2-night/3-day stay. Our previous camping experience many years ago was not the best, but we did come during the 4th of July weekend, so it was crowded, loud and all around not a good experience. This time however, it was wonderful!! We set-up camp where we wanted and had the area practically to ourselves, serious boondocking. The weather was also perfect, hot during the day and cool during the night. We also got to witness one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. My only gripe would be the mosquitos and even they weren't terrible. Although we didn't leave our campsite this time, we have previously visited many other parts of the lake as well as the Marina. The lake is huge and although not all of it is accessible, there are still many beaches and areas to visit and explore. I also like to stop at the Marina for ice cream. Another must stop is the Museum and Visitor Center, well worth the stop to learn more about the mysterious and rich history of the lake and the Paiute Tribe.

I live close to Pyramid Lake. It's a STUNNING oasis in the middle of the high desert. Hardly anyone…read moregoes there, it seems, so it's easy to find a quiet spot all to yourself. The boat launch ramp area is super easy to work with and plenty of room for several boats being dropped at the same time. The biggest benefit is the superior fishing. You cannot go wrong with a trip to Pyramid Lake! Your eyes will thank you, as it's some intense eye-candy out there! Bring your camera!!

This is a very barren campsite out in the middle of nowhere down an unpaved, rocky road with zero…read moreprivacy between campsites. So why the 4 stars? The campground is free. No fees whatsoever. It was clean. The campsites each have a firepit and a picnic table, both in good repair. There are 2 (that I could find!) pit toilet bathrooms with plenty of t.p. There is a hot spring on site (though it wasn't so hot the day we went in) that is crystal blue and beautiful and has a bench next to it for sitting. There is a shower house built adjacent to the spring that feeds water from the spring into a couple of shower heads for bathing. The shower house includes benches inside for sitting and a small library for reading. There is an information kiosk near the camp entrance with brochures about the surrounding area, and a camp billboard with your basic camp info on it. The camp host at the time obviously was interested in keeping the place nice. On top of all of this, the campground is smack in the middle of a wildlife refuge. Barren as the campsite is, the surrounding area is breathtaking and lush. During our day and a half there, we saw jackrabbits, interesting birds we've never seen before, wild horses, bats, a bunch of wild burros, and we heard coyotes at night. The sky at night will knock your socks off - you can see horizon to horizon without obstruction. I've never seen the Milky Way so clearly as I have from there. Truly amazing. :)

I've used been fly fishing Pyramid Lake with Lacey's Guide Service since Hans started there in…read more2021. All I can say is he does an amazing job putting you on those big Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. His 24' boat is really nice and is equipped with the newest fish finding electronics, 300 hp Mercury engine, and spot lock - which is a game changer for fly fishing at Pyramid Lake. He provides you with top of the line Orvis and Sage fly rods and reels, and his flies are absolutely deadly! Hans and Brett (his new guide) will definitely put you on fish - my son got a 20.2 lbs fish 3 weeks ago and we always have double digit days out there with Hans.

From the owner: Welcome to the ultimate Pyramid Lake fly fishing adventure. At Lacey’s Guide Service, we're not…read morejust fly fishing guides; we are United States Coast Guard Captains and your gateway to angling paradise. Immerse yourself in Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing and allow us to deliver you with the world famous Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. Whether you're a seasoned pro or newbie, we've got you covered with the best boats and equipment to help you land the fish of your dreams. When you book our Pyramid Lake Boat Charters, you will experience the majesty of Pyramid Lake in our Center Console boats that are equipped with state of the art electronics, top notch fly fishing tackle, and custom flies. We do our best to create an unforgettable Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing memories in you quest for the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. We live here at Pyramid Lake and guide it nearly every day during the fishing season. We have many years of experience fly fishing Pyramid Lake and know where the sweet spots are, Simply put, we are know how to put you on Pyramid Lake's amazing Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. Discover fly fishing Pyramid Lake like a pro – book your Pyramid Lake Fly Fishing adventure today and land your trophy Lahontan Cutthroat Trout.

I have so many fond memories of being here with my folks in my younger years. It was so nostalgic…read morevisiting last week. Water levels are lower than I remember, but it was nice to take a trip down memory lane. Every Summer, my parents drove their RV and I watched from the top bunk. My brothers and I could never stay in our seats. My parents never knew what we were up to. We always booked the same block of camping sites and we invited three other family's every year. The old tires swings on the cottonwood trees were always a hit with us kids and staying up late catching June bugs, telling scary stories around a campfire and roasting marshmallows for smores. It was cool showing my kids where my parents brought us camping.

Decided to take the teenagers to the lake after the wrestling tournament. Although it's a bit…read morechilly today, after a full day of wrestling somehow the kids found a way to get in the water. It's freezing for me so no thank you LOL. We have been camping at this lake for about 15 years now. There are many ways to camp here. There are tons of beaches that you could just Camp with tents or trailers/RV right on the beach or they have some improved camp sites with designated camping spaces. The price is around $8 a night. The first time we came here, it was completely flooded out. We stayed in the improved campgrounds, and over a few days the water came all the way up to our trailer and about a week later it was completely covering the trailer tires. After a year or two, the water level started to recede, and the lake seemed to be drying up. And after a few years we saw a pattern of flooding and then drying up. We tend to camp at this lake mostly when it is flooded. The water seems much cleaner, and there's so much more of it LOL.

PROS: This…read morecampground is great! The sites are very large and super close to the water (Lake Davis). It's a short drive into Portola if you forget anything while you are there. The campground is surrounded by trees and there weren't very many bugs at all! CONS: Wow, this years camp host was awful! She doesn't make sure the campground is cleared out for the next people arriving at 2pm so when we pulled up we had to wait, she is rude and not friendly and doesn't even stock the bathrooms with TP. You would think the multiple times a day she drives around she would check the restrooms? I hope next year they get a new host! The only downfall with the campsite itself is that there are no grills at the sites, just a small grate over the fire, so if you plan on grilling a lot, bring your own grill!

One of our favorite nearby campgrounds. Sites are placed so you are not right on top of eachother…read moreand the camphosts (Steve and Roeanne) work hard to keep sites prepped for next camper and bathrooms cleaned for those that need them. The hosts are what makes this campground special as they are friendly and available if you have any questions about the area. Lake Davis is low now so perfect for launching your kayak or SUP from shore. New concessionaires this year so prices have been raised- campsites/$30.00, wood bundles/$9.00 and rv dump/&15.00. Still a good deal in a beautiful wildlife area- bears in camp the last few nights but all well at our site because nothing left out for them to forage through. We will be back.

It's absolutely gorgeous! The Truckee River runs throughout it. there are Picnic tables. A…read moreBasketball court. Lots of grass and benches. Children and Adults pay in the river in the Summer time.

Make sure and go outside!…read more This particular park is just what you need to run and play outside. It's well kept and maintained. It's part of the larger system. We came across this park while we were on vacation. This was a great little place to pull off and see how much fun we can have together. Come out and enjoy the

I love Gold lake. Snow camping here is epic if your rig and winch can get you through the icy snow…read moreto camp by the lake! The best part is no one will be here in the cold! Snow hiking is awesome but you can easily get lost! Have fun!

10/21/2023 It's been…read morea very long time since our last visit.. Still have the fishing bug... trying to take advantage of the time and weather... Windy as heck, but the scenery takes it all !!! Next trip, hoping to catch some nice ones!

We hiked the Marlette Lake Trail from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake as a backpacking trip for my…read morefriend's bachelorette party! We added some extra distance at the end by hiking to the Marlette Peak Campground to stay for the night. From the parking lot to the campground was about 7 miles each way. The trail itself was well-maintained, moderate difficulty, and had everything you'd want in a good hike! Solid trail conditions. Beautiful mountain and lake views. Some sections of wildflowers. A good amount of sun but also some shaded parts. Gradual incline that never felt super steep, so the elevation gain felt manageable. We saw people hiking as well as mountain biking on this trail. There are several sections of aspen trees along this hike, so it's a great one to come back and do in the fall once the leaves turn yellow. The trailhead area has great facilities, the bathrooms were clean and there is ample parking. The park rangers I spoke to were friendly and helpful. There is a $10/car entry into this area but it's totally worth it, especially when you see how well they take care of it. I loved this hike and will continue to come back to Spooner for hikes in the future!

There are a few ways to reach Marlette Lake, all of them totally worth it, especially this time of…read moreyear. This trail takes you around Spooner Lake and up to Marlette. It's a 9 mile out and back with fairly gradual elevation gain, up through the trees, until you reach the lake. A great little workout. Marlette sits along the Flume Trail, so you're likely to see a lot of mountain bikers. Fun fact: The Flume Trail got its name because Marlette and the tributaries that feed it were part of a log flume system to carry logs used to build our region all the way down from as far as Virginia City! Marlette has a short fishing season, but people say it's grand if you make the trip. Of course you need to hike in to have that experience. This is definitely a trail worth checking out in our area!