Find Your New Favorite Truckee River Park!
Looking for a new way to enjoy the Truckee River? Exploring a new park is one of our favorite ways to make the most of a warm winter afternoon. While many of us already have our favorite spots to recreate and relax along the Truckee, there’s nothing like finding a new strip of riverbank and appreciating our river from a fresh angle.
From picnic areas to playgrounds, walking paths to fishing holes, we’re fortunate to have such a huge variety of shoreline parks right here in town! These parks are great to enjoy on their own, as well as to use as jumping off points for longer walking, running, and biking journeys along the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail – the path connecting all three of the parks below.
Keep reading to get to know 3 new places to venture along the Truckee River this winter!
Crystal Peak Park (Washoe County)
For many of us – Crystal Peak Park feels just a little out of the way, which makes it the perfect destination for your next weekend adventure. Crystal Peak is popular with its local neighborhood residents, as well as visitors from throughout our Northern Nevada area. In the summer, it’s best known for its fishing ponds and grill-equipped picnic areas.
However, Crystal Peak Park’s 56 acres offer plenty to enjoy year-round. One of the great things about the park is how much space it offers for exploring beyond the parking area. You could easily spend a full afternoon walking along the river, enjoying the nearby meadows, and keeping an eye out for wildlife. Stay on the main trail to follow a set of informational signs to learn more about the area’s history as you follow it’s nearly 2 miles of trails – or set out for a longer exploration beyond the park’s border on the Tahoe Pyramid Trail. Then, choose between returning to the picnic area right off the parking lot for a snack or finding a cozy private spot for just your crew, right along the Truckee River. From many locations throughout Crystal Peak Park, you’ll enjoy the snow-capped mountain views that lend their name to this nature-filled getaway.
Cottonwood Park (Sparks)
Tucked behind a nondescript warehouse office park, Cottonwood Park isn't a place that many of us have ventured towards. However, you absolutely should. Cottonwood’s 6 acres present a scenic and quiet destination for walking, biking, duck watching, fishing and enjoying the tranquility of our local waterway.
The park features several picnic tables, both shaded and uncovered, and makes a great hang out for a family gathering. Its amenities include a bike path, and access to the Tahoe Pyramid Trail. You’re likely to spend much of your time at Cottonwood Park meandering along its paved pathway, stopping to appreciate the ducks in the river below. It’s a great way to spend a warm winter day and worthy to consider a year-round destination.
Chrissie Caughlin Park (Reno)
If you love Idlewild, you'll likely enjoy Chrissie Caughlin Park just as much. Located about a mile upriver from Idlewild, Chrissie Caughlin features a variety of trees, a small playground, picnic tables, and more. Compared to its busier neighbors, it has a calming, natural feel. You could easily spend your Truckee River outing within the park’s boundaries, watching the birds, enjoying a picnic by the river, even going for a swim once it gets a bit warmer. It’s a popular place to hang out for kids and dog walkers alike.
Alternatively, make Chrissie Caughlin Park your starting point to explore this neighborhood-y and tree-lined stretch of the Truckee River. Beginning in Chrissie Caughlin, you’ll have walking and biking access to several nearby parks when you follow the river path to Ambrose, Dorostkar, Idlewild, Mayberry, and beyond.