Showing posts with label scenic walks reno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scenic walks reno. Show all posts

Thursday, November 5, 2020

Phillip Annie Callahan Park- A Close Getaway Within Arms Reach


15960 Callahan Road
Reno, NV 89511


Park Ranger Office: (775) 849-2511

Phillip Annie Callahan Park is a beautiful and secret park nestled in a forest next to Mt. Rose Highway.  I stumbled upon this park as I was looking for parks in the south to enjoy in the summer with my family.  I was shocked at how a beautiful park like this could be kept as a secret for so long.  In the 5 years I've been visiting, it's always been low-key and peaceful.  I'm guessing that people probably pass it by and head straight to the nearby, well known Galena Regional Park.  

Although the park is on the small side, with one pavilion, limited paved pathways, two play structures, a couple of pretty decent grass areas, and a sprinkling of picnic tables, it also serves as a great place for endless outdoor activities and adventures.  

There's a creek that lines the park that people of all ages enjoy, especially during hot summers (not a bad alternative to swimming, considering the pandemic).  There are multiple access points throughout the park, making social distancing easy to do. A favorite activity me and my kids love to do is to bring a floating toy (think rubber ducks and toy boats) and release it down the creek for the other to intercept.  During dry winters, the part of the creek next to the playground can dry up.  In this case, start walking on the trail to get to the bigger parts if you're interested in water play.  You can't miss them because they are very inviting, with loud sounds.

Shade is plentiful and there's a short loop trail within the park that beginner hikers can access, with the sounds of the creek playing in the background.  There really is nothing better than having both shade and  a beautiful creek accompanying you throughout a hike.  

To access the short loop, follow past the end of the path into the dirt area.  Keep going until you find a bridge. Turn right onto the bridge (before fence) that points back to Callahan Park.  The trail will end at the parking lot of the trailhead of Galena Creek Trail.  You then walk two min back to the parking lot.  Alternatively, you can branch off onto Galena Creek Trail that leads to even more trails of all levels.  The short loop is simple, short, and sweet.  Me, my two kids (4 &2 yrs old) did it today with no problems at all.

This sweet park is a go-to during hot summers, hiking, bike riding, picnics, and small events.  There are no restrooms next to the playgrounds, but a porta-potty can be found at the trailhead of Galena Creek Trail, which is about a two-min. walk back toward Mt. Rose on the left.  For adults this is not a problem but for kids, it could be a different story.  For this reason, I like to keep my portable toilet with liners in my car for when my little ones need relief.  This allows us to enjoy the park without having to worry about leaving for potty breaks.

Notes:
-Beautiful with golden foliage during fall
-Great shade during summers
-no restrooms on site but porta potty two min. away 
-Small play structure is shaded. Big one is partially shaded. Swings for both big and small children available
-wildflowers in spring
-birds and other wildlife 
-ideal for picnics
-ideal for photo shoots
-there's a short paved path that slopes downward that my kids love riding down on their plasma cars and bikes
-horse and dog friendly. Poop bags available.
-mountain biking paths
-horseshoe pits
-Pavilion is non-reservable . BBQ pit available.
-water fountain and benches 
-Brown's Creek Loop is a beautiful longer hike nearby
-download the All Trails app for detailed reviews, trail information, photos, directions. Look up Galena Creek Trail.  The app also navigates you so you don't get lost.
-great for photography 
-kids love throwing piles of leaves into the air. Educational opportunity to teach them about seasons and the water cycle.

Reccomended Gear
-Sunscreen (after trying so many options, this is my family's favorite)
-Water Bottle (definitely a must in Reno's dry climate)
-Portable potty Liners (priceless gadget that makes any hike with kids a breeze)

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.


Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Hidden Gem Alert-Crystal Peak Park, Verdi.


561 Crystal Park Road, Verdi, NV 89439

Park Ranger Office: (775) 828-6612
Website 

Crystal Peak Park Trail Map

One thing I love most about living in Reno is its proximity to endless beauty.  Crystal Peak Park is no exception.  Only ten miles from Reno, you will find a beautiful park surrounded by mountains and the Truckee River.  

What's to Love About This Park
*Large shade trees
*beautiful scenic 0.5 mile nature trail loop and the Truckee river alongside, 
*2 fishing ponds (permit required, stocked with Lahontan Cutthroat Trout)
*plenty of boulders and a bridge to climb
*Grassy picnic areas (including BBQ)
*restroom
*interpretive signs
*plenty of trails for hikers and cyclists nearby

Notes
-There is a paved parking lot with roads that lead down to the beginning of the trail.
-group areas are non-reservable

If you'd like to get a glimpse of Crystal Peak Park's beauty and learn a little history, check out this video, made by Outdoor Nevada.  


At Crystal Peak Park, you can step back into history and learn about Verdi Glen Resort (1923–1938), a place that served as a commuter stop, and discover remnants of an old saw mill, Verdi Lumber Company, which in 1860 Crystal Peak was home to.  Lumber from this mill was used to build Virginia City and railroad tracks.

The park was named after the peak right behind Crystal Peak Park, where you can have some fun looking around for quartz deposits (shovel recommended for enthusiasts).  

The peak is about 11 miles up a one-way dirt road (small patches of land to pull over provided).  

I tried to go up the path with my mini van with no success.  At the beginning of the last three miles, I was met with an uneven dirt road with lots of depressions that looked too deep to clear with my front bumper.  I immediately understood the need for an off-roading vehicle or SUV (which I saw plenty of on my way up).  Nevertheless, the view on the way up was highly enjoyable.  I felt like I was a hobbit on an adventure.  

On the way up, I noticed some trailheads and interpretive signs to the left, which you can explore.  If you were to make it all the way up to the peak, you will be rewarded with stunning views (as reviewed by Outdoor Nevada).

Recommended Gear
-Sunscreen (after trying so many options, this is my family's favorite)
-Water Bottle (definitely a must in Reno's dry climate)
-Portable Potty Liners (priceless gadget that makes any hike with kids a breeze)
-hiking backpack (great for kids, storage, nap-friendly, shade)
-carrier (more affordable, light weight, shade, storage for keys)

*As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.  Thank you to all that visit and support my website. 

Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Take a Scenic Stroll Back in Time and Walk the Lands of the Cowboys at Bartley Ranch, Nevada.



Click Here for map of trails

Location:
6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno, NV 89511

Park Ranger Office: (775) 828-6612
Reservations at (775) 823-6501

Bartley Ranch is a unique park with a western feel and is easily one of my favorite parks in Reno.  

It's a park filled with a variety of terrains laid out across 56 acres and is ideal for: picnics, a nice stroll, viewing wildlife, walking pets, holding special events (parties, concerts, weddings, exercise, and taking a step back in history.  

Old vintage tractors and wooden shacks lay across the land, making for a historic experience.  I could imagine how life was like back in the day, just by looking at all the historical machinery.  Horse tracks along the trails added to the experience.  

There's a beautiful Western Heritage Interpretive Center along with a vintage Huffaker School and amphitheater that you can rent out for special occasions.  There are pamphlets in front of the interpretive center where you can find more information about the park and its animals and plants.

Coming from the south, there's a lookout right before going down the hill and turning into the ranch, where you can find great views.  From high above you will see a white picket fence in the shape of Nevada, runners running along the slopes, people walking their dogs, and people sitting on the benches to soak it all in.

I love how within just 30 minutes, I could see lots of wildlife and experience different terrains.  During my short walk, I walked through a short and cute nature trail where I came across a little bridge, and up a short hill was met up with a wooden walkway against some cool mountainous hills and a downward zigzag trail looping back to the ranch.  

This park is charming and I can't wait to check out a concert at the amphitheater, explore the buildings inside, have a BBQ picnic, and finish the long trail that loops all around the ranch.

Reccomended Gear
-Sunscreen (after trying so many options, this is my family's favorite)
-Water Bottle (definitely a must in Reno's dry climate)
-Portable potty Liners (priceless gadget that makes any hike with kids a breeze)

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.

Activities: BBQ/Picnicking,  Come in from the Cold,  Horseback Riding,  Hiking/Walking,  Junior Ranger Program,  Photography,  Biking
 
Facilities: Flying B Pavilion,  Huffaker Pavilion,  Last Chance Pavilion,  Plaza Pavilion,  Huffaker School,  Western Heritage Interpretive Center,  Brick House,  Robert Z Hawkins Amphitheater,  Horse Arenas





Bartley Ranch in Fall


Park at Audrey Harris Park for lookout.


Photography
©Katherine Fung