We had not been here in years and honestly, this was not my first choice for camping, but instead of 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. read more

See all

I live close to Pyramid Lake. It's a STUNNING oasis in the middle of the high desert. Hardly anyone goes 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!! read more

See all

Pyramid Lake has been on my list for many years to visit. We finally had the opportunity last September. Winding down a very hot summer in the desert, my husband and I set out on an epic road trip. This was one of our first stops. We stayed overnight in Reno and after breakfast set out to find and see the lake. It is about a 45 minute drive from Reno to the lake. Arriving at the lake we got out and stretched our legs and had an epic view of the lake and the reservation. The lake is definitely the prettiest lake I have seen in the desert. The color is a sparkling blue with the mountains surrounding it. Various red hues dot the landscape along with brown smudges here and there. The lake is a remnant of the ancient Lake Lahontan which covered approximately 8,450 square miles. The Ice Age shows various caves and rock shelters along the shoreline which indicates that Numu (Paiute) people had been living here thousands of years. John C. Fremont came upon the lake on 1/10/1844 and named the lake for the Pyramid shaped island off of the east shore. The Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation was created in 1859. The lake currently covers 125,000 acres. The Eastern shore which is home to the Pyramid Formation, Stone Mother and Anaho Island are closed to all visitors. It is only accessible to the members of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. There are stunning views of all of these formations from the western shore. On Anaho Island, there is the largest natural breeding ground for the American White Pelicans. They are protected by both the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They say the spring is the best time to see many American White Pelicans, double crested Cormorants, California Gulls, and Great Blue Herons. Driving along the lake, we came upon the Pyramid Lake Museum and Visitors Center. We learned even more about the area while touring through the center. Great exhibits! There is no admission fee to visit Pyramid Lake but permits are required for camping, fishing, or using watercraft. I am not into fishing, but the reviews here indicate that there is some terrific fishing available. The trophy fish is the Lohanton Cutthroat Trout and they are a huge draw to fisherman from all over. We made the mistake of going down to the beach and a tribe member approached us to advise us we needed to purchase a valid tribal permit to swim. We were unaware and quickly gathered our things and headed out. We really just wanted to put our feet in the water, but I understand rules are rules. This area is filled with so much history of the Numu (Paiute) people. There are many tales of lore and lots of mystery. You can feel the history here as you move about. So glad we had the opportunity to check it out. read more

See all

I've lived in Northern Nevada for 15 years, and I've only been to Pyramid Lake a handful of times until recently. I've always heard of people visiting the lake to fish for the elusive Lohan cutthroat trout, which grow to massive sizes in this landlocked area, but I've never had the opportunity to chase them myself, but this year I was invited on a handful of trips with people who are experts in the area, and I finally figured out what the hype is all about! For starters these fish once lived in the ocean, but as our world evolved, they were cut off and left in this lake. This is why they exhibit so many similar behaviors to true pelagic fish and why the techniques used to catch them are similar too. Many anglers target these fish from boats, trolling the ledges and shallows for them with lures that resemble erratic baitfish. I've done this and it is fun, but it requires so much tackle it's hard to really feel the fight. The most recent trip was my favorite because we fished from water master rafts and launched from the shoreline, jigging for these monsters on a fly rod and pulling them up from the depths below. Fighting them on the lighter tackle is an absolute blast and something I know I'll be doing again. Pyramid lake is like no other place on earth. It's almost mystical, especially at sunrise, with the colorful sky, mountainous surroundings and aquamarine water. The entire area is steeped in Native American history, tradition, legend and lore, which adds to its allure. Many locals enjoy camping here, though it's not my thing. The shorelines are stark and lack shade altogether, but the cool and clear water you find most of the time is why people enjoy it, and I can't blame them. It's truly a sight to behold. Even if you're just passing through, spend some time soaking it in. read more

See all

OMG this is a safe heaven. If all Hannity would abude by the Paiute principles, we may have another chance. to live in harmony and respect with our MOTHER EARTH, our TRUE LIVING GOD. THE GROUND ON WHICH WE STAND IS SACRED. read more

See all

What's not to love about this place. The water is clear and Warms up nicely over the summer. The cutthroat trout are huge and if you're lucky enough to catch a couple of them, they are delicious. Camping is awesome, where you can put your tent / trailer right next to the water. Wake up in the morning and walk right out, jumping into the water. There are some supply places (ice, firewood, drinks, etc) fairly close depending on which beach you camp at. They also have a small Bar/casino with a small cafe and a pool table at Suttcliff. And a hotel/motel. The marina has some gas sometimes, but the price is prohibitive. There is also an RV campground with Full hook ups, but it looks a bit run down. The boat launch has been re-vamped and now has pavement and specific parking spots. It's a little sad, cause that used to be our favorite camping beach, were you would just pull your trailer onto the sand. Now it's blocked off. But it does look much nicer now. We have a nice 10 person ski boat, and some Jet ski's and a 26 ft toyhauler. A pre-cautionary tale and word of warning: In the evenings, right when the sun is going down, there's an exchange of warm and cold wind across the lake and quite often the winds pick up drastically. Once in a while, there is an immediate wind shift from the beach we stay at, pushing the wind out across the lake. It becomes dangerous quite quickly. Floating devices, balls anything not hooked down will be blown into the water and often across the water. We have lost 3 canopies over the years, some floaters and 2 inner tubes. One night the winds were so violent that we were forced out of the tent into the trailer. The next morning, our giant family size tent was about 100 yards out in the water. These items are not worth your life. Once the wind starts blowing items past the point of standing up, you have to let them go. We have seen many people swim out after a beach ball and then have to be rescued, because the wind blowing across the water also causes a huge current that is difficult to swim through. I am always camping around bodies of water and since my 5 children were born, they have been required to swim. All of my kids were underwater by six months old. The gym we belong to has a large swimming pool and my kids were required to swim 40-60 sets of laps before I allow would them to play. They always complain, however being a strong swimmer when out at lakes takes priority over kids complaints LOL Well one day this paid off. My oldest daughter,14 years old, decided to swim out to the orange buoy which is quite far. At about halfway back, the wind suddenly picked up (20-30 miles an hour) and started pushing across the water. Suddenly my daughter swimming normally was making no headway towards shore. Many people lined up calling out to her, and I told her to just put her head down and swim like she does in the gym. It took her 45 minutes to get about 200 ft. She also knew to cut sideways across the current, to reduce the direct current pushing her out to sea so to speak. everyone was cheering, and luckily she is in such great shape with all of her to do, wrestling and swimming that she was not traumatized. But she was completely spent. They have a healthy respect now for nature and the consequences of not being prepared. They no longer complain about the training lol. read more

See all

We stayed 2 night at Pyramid Lake on Paiute Tribe land. You need a permit that you can get online to stay there. Link is here: http://plpt.nsn.us/rangers/index.html There's No Running Water, No showers, no benches, just some pit toilets and sand, but only $9 per night car camping or bring your RV. You can sleep anywhere on any beach. We stayed at Windless Bay. We found out the hard way that Windless Bay doesn't mean there's no wind. My tent blew away even though it was staked into the sandy ground and blew into Pyramid Lake. Luckily the tent was retrieved by some campers/boaters, but it was also shredded up by a boat - someone later told us. The guys did get their stuff back though that was inside, just was soaking wet. There's a Museum that's small and worth checking out if in the area. We didn't go into the Nixon Store that's nearby. Go to the otherside of the lake and look for the Pyramid up close. It's really cool for photos. Also, the Stone Mother & Basket is really cool for photos. http://plpt.nsn.us/story.html http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/FSXAP7VyOCjxMEagDAfXIg?select=r3LUxYJcEO677iI_ptefTg Website here: http://plpt.nsn.us/index.html Recommended if you're in Reno! Worth the drive to see! read more

See all

A local told me about Pyramid Lake months ago. She said the fishing was good here so we decided to take a visit. It's about an hour drive from South Reno. The drive is pretty with views of the desert mountains. Once you get to Pyramid Lake be sure to purchase a permit from the Ranger Station. A day pass to picnic at the beach or kayak is $11. They accept cash or credit. There's a small general store near the ranger station where you can find food and some fishing items. Across the street from the ranger station is a gas station and another general store with hot food and more fishing supplies. I prefer this store. The Lake is big and pretty. The water is cold. We went to a couple of beaches. To get to the beach you drive a dirt road. Seems like a place full of locals rather than the tourists. Very beautiful getaway near Reno. read more

See all

We loved our days at Pyramid Lake. We stayed at a beach called Wino Beach. Drove around the area a bit and then picked an isolated stretch of beach where we could park just steps from the water and enjoy the sun and paddle. We were there in June and only 2 people during our 2 day stay - they were fishing nearby, but not too close. Our dog loved playing in the water and riding on the paddleboard. There are no services, no bathrooms, pack out what you bring in. Nothing beats a fire on the beach with your toes in the sand! read more

See all

Visiting Pyramid Lake is not just Pyramid Lake. The whole area is interesting and beautiful. Before visiting, I recommend you research the geology. The tufa towers are interesting, but the geology of the whole region is even more interesting. Google pluvial Lake Lahontan. I am not a fisherman, but I hear fishing in the lake is fantastic. As for the pyramid itself, I didn't get to that side of the lake but it was pretty interesting from across the lake. read more

Had another fine experience camping at the RV park at the Pyramid Lake Marina, near Sutcliffe. Barbara and her husband are super diligent about the equipment and cleanliness at the RV park, as well as being very kind and knowledgeable. Kudos, and we will certainly be return business in the future! read more

Love this place. Met my wife on the beach here 7 years ago. What a great place. Bring a trailer or shade. Go out end enjoy this beautiful place read more

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Lakes Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

If you actually take the time to explore this wonderful place instead of huddling in an RV by the lake you could discover wild horses playing, dramatic scenery, and an incredible peace and quiet calm. Had no issues with anyone or anything only makes me wonder why such a magical place is not better represented and shown off by the Paiute Tribe. Just stop at the office in Sutcliffe and pay your small permit fees and then get out there on the back roads with a 4x4 simply amazing place. read more

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Amazing place! - Lakes Near Me - Reno, Nevada

I wish so badly that I could give Pyramid Lake five stars. I LOVE the lake itself. The way this lake is taken care of is awful. The lake is beautiful. Bright blue water that is warm and some of the beaches are nice and sandy with very little rocks. The problem that I and many others have with this lake is that it is not taken care of at all. We went the weekend after Fourth of July and it looked like someone had unloaded a garbage dump from the heavens all over the place. It was awful. We camped out here one night and it was so fun and beautiful with the warm water and the summer air. 2:30 in the AM a large group of teenagers decided to pull up right next to us and party for two hours. They left a mess, shot off fireworks and played really loud music that was bass-filled. There was no ranger or anyone to come down and take care of this. We will do it again but it is a shame that this amazing lake is treated so poorly. I hope someday stricter rules are put in place and enforced to protect the beauty that this lake offers. read more

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Nice day at the lake with the dogs. - Lakes Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

Tried camping twice, gave up. First time arrived after dark on a Saturday night. First problem is the road along the lake is 65 MPH, and none of the unpaved roads leading to the lake are marked with signs, so high anxiety when you slow to look at any road with cars riding your ass. Then I found what looked to be a good sight, got out and found glass everywhere. Moved to a second site, same thing. Broken glass seems to be a common thing in boondocking sites in Nevada, but this place charges you 32 bucks a night, you would think it would be better. We gave up and went to Sparks Costco parking lot which we had planned to go the following day anyway, which is only 30 minutes away. Next day we decided to give Pyramid Lake a second d chance by daylight. So we head for the Marina at Sutcliffe to get the 32 dollar permit. They are open but sign says get the permit at the rangers office next door, but they are closed (5:30 pm on a Sunday). Check at the marina store says you have to buy the permit online if the Rangers office is closed. Both me and my wife tried but all their website did was put us into a neverending loop after getting our name, dob, address, phone #, and drivers lic #. So we left. Interesting that when I tried to Google Maps and Waze to direct me there, both said no route detected. Maybe someone trying to tell me something! read more

Please remember that a permit is required if you'd like to do anything more than drive along Pyramid Lake. It's only $6 a vehicle for a day use permit. Pick it up online or you can pop into one of the labeled shops to buy one once you're on tribal land. Worth it to see all of the incredible tufa rock formations that are featured at a few of the recreational spots. And of course purchasing one is respectful to the tribe that is letting us traipse about one of their most valuable assets. The most incredible tufa formations, pyramid rock and mother stone, are NO LONGER OPEN to the public as of 2011... I was sad to find. I notice that this lake's primary visitors are fishermen. Subsequently the tribal rangers seemed only interested in checking out permits for those guys. read more

See all

I've been camping here most of my life. The lake is beautiful. I'll always love it. But......the fees keep going up, and I can't figure out where the money is going. It doesn't seem to be going towards upkeep for any of the facilities. The bathrooms are totally gross, and you're lucky if there's any toilet paper. The large trash bins are usually overflowing, with excess garbage everywhere. The weeds and stickers at Pelicans are tough to navigate through as you try to get to the beach. It's such a shame they turned Pelicans into a parking lot. It used to be the best spot to put an RV. Unless you're a tribal member you cannot camp at what used to be some of the best spots on the east side of the lake, nearest to the Pyramid. It's sad. I miss the old Pyramid Lake. read more

Sick and tired of being harrassed by tribal fish and game. 4 times checking licenses, checking catch. We have a legal clean boat, proper identification, everything is IN CHECK, and this isn't the first trip. EVERY trip. This time they went to check our licenses and WALKED OFF WITH THEM. They're only day licenses, but the principle is the same. Too much law, local BS and wasted money over there. Coast Guard was out in full force doing some "drill training" which apparently requires a 32ft luxo cruiser and fishing poles. I wonder what this trip cost the taxpayers. Overall the facilities are less than wonderful. A few outhouses at the launch. I don't care but for the law enforcement to out-number the population of recreators on the lake is a bit outlandish. It's a pain in the ass, it's not very well kept, the law harrasses us every trip needlessly (yet to be even told we were doing something slightly wrong, let alone them even thinking about writing something up. Maybe it's the california license plates, but these guys are just being jerks and ruining the trips. So, we will NOT BE BACK! You can suck your slimey salt water on your own. read more

Cultural Center has many beaded treasures. Support Native Business!!!! then jump in the lake!!!!! So refreshing read more

See all

One of Mother Nature's finest. Sure it's in the middle of the desert, on the huge Paiute Tribe Reservation but an oasis nonetheless. They offer many lake amenities such as a small marina, miles and miles of beaches, fishing (with the right permit) and great free picnic areas. While our intention was to have a picnic here, we decided to just drive up and take in some of it's natural beauty. I spotted many lake-goers so I could only assume it's a welcome respite from the hot desert sun. Aside from other Yelpers and their brushes with the Tribal Police, I was not talked to by one of them even with my erratic parking practice and somewhat lost mannerisms. I plan on picnicking next time to take more of it in. read more

Awesome spot to camp or for a day use. Can access a permit online. No showers. And a hole in the ground toilet. But still was not bad!

It's a cool place to check out once, but after staring at it and walking for 15 minutes, we were ready to leave. My dad and I just parked our car to look at it and take a walk around the lake. There were a few people there in their campers. We experienced a real angry camper who was hostile with us. I didn't know you couldn't walk in front of someone's camper? We were just walking along the lake and in an angry voice this trashy guy with nipple rings said to us "Can I help you with something?" We just said we were walking and he said "You mind not walking on my camp?" WTF? It's not yours!! The guy was mad because we were walking and took away his view for less than a minute!! Just watch out for the occasional angry camper!! Anyway, I agree with Shawn. It looks better from the distance anyway. Didn't meet ANYONE in the tribal police period but we weren't there more than 20 minutes. read more

Pyramid Lake is beautiful from a distance and that's the way it's best viewed. If you dare to get close much less touch the water be prepared to deal with hyper aggressive, rude, hateful, and downright unprofessional Tribal Police who will harass you even if you have taken the time to purchase all proper permits and to do your part to support the Tribe with your cold hard cash. The best way to experience Pyramid Lake is from Nevada Highway 447. Take only pictures, leave only footprints, and make sure those footprints are no more than 10 feet off the side of Hwy 447 and are on State of Nevada right of way. The beautiful views warrant 5 stars, but the Tribal Police are so full of themselves and so ultra hyper aggressive that I have to dock 3 stars for the harassment. read more

This place is so awesome. There's actually water in Nevada! HAHA! The local residents were VERY NICE...surprise huh...It's a bit of a drive up north but WELL WORTH IT! If you want to ride into the next town (Sparks, NV) it's 30min away and of course there's a Wal-Mart and other shops. When I was there, it looked like a typical suburban area. At the lake, it was pretty windy, rainy and SNOW! whoa. A local resident wanted us to stay there, I told him that the city calls...and I had to go...(((SAD FACE))) read more

See all

Awesome place to unwind, very mysterious makes you feel like you're on the moon. Be careful with the afternoon wind. Which can cause havoc. read more

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe - Hot springs - Lakes Near Me - Reno, Nevada

See all

What a horrible experience. Police all over the place, searching cars right along the beach. Lake Tahoe is an incredible experience. Beautiful everything. Pyramid looks like a mars lander photo. The people in the so-called-stores are very rude and could careless. I will never go again. read more

Stopped at the Marina at Sutcliffe, Nevada on the Pyramid Lake Tribe and had a nice Indian Taco lunch, everything was very inexpensive, some jewelry for sale, restrooms, boat launch, beautiful views, if you want to fish you have to buy a tribal permit for $11/day but the lake is well stocked with trout. We went on the other side of the lake to Nixon to see the fish hatchery which was great too. read more

Lakes always get 4 stars. It's the people that visit them that can ruin it. The outdoors, scenery and water is so refreshing from city life. If everyone would just enjoy it and treat it with respect, maybe it won't end up as a "used to be" lake. read more

See all

Just went for a day trip.nice drive out of sparks in February better than heading to Nixon and 80 back to reno. The views are awesome I thought well worth the trip for the day. What I can say is that you need to get a permit if you want to go next to the water. check all the regulations the cops are a 5 to 1 ratio the cops being 5. Stop by the store at the marina its well stocked. Doesn't look good from the outside real nice on the inside. read more

I have been coming to Pyramid Lake for 56years my parents brought me here and now I have my kids bringing their kids. We have treated this lake with upmost respect and care always cleaning up after ourselves and mainly other people that haven't respected this environment. I came out for a relaxing day off with my dog and paid the most I have ever paid $12.00 up from $6 last year. For a measly 2 hour stay. The most angering part of this is that you can not even get close to the waters edge now. They want you to park 100 yards from shore. May I ask why???? It's softer dirt there harder to get in and out and doesn't make sense. Well I can honestly say I will not be spending $12.00 again and this was probably my last trip out here. My kids and their kids and their friends all feel the same way. Even if you are already set up for camping they make you move. Good luck Tribe I hope this works out for you and doesn't hurt you. Greed is a killer Pam V Reno NV read more

So much fun, lake was very warm and my lab loved it! WIll definately be camoing here again