Hunter Creek Trail: Access, Parking, and Trail Conditions

Hunter Creek Trail runs 3.04 miles one way — about 6 miles there and back — from the Michael D. Thompson trailhead on Plateau Road, in the foothills on the western edge of Reno. The Forest Service rates it moderate and puts the climb at roughly 1,200 ft. There is parking, water and a toilet at the trailhead.

It ends at a waterfall of about 30 ft, which is why most people walk it.

Access and Parking

The primary access point is the Michael D. Thompson trailhead, off Plateau Road. Parking fills on summer weekends and on any clear Saturday in autumn.

If the lot is full, park just west of the Woodchuck Circle and Plateau Road intersection. That overflow adds about 2 miles to the round trip: it joins the Steamboat Ditch trail first and meets Hunter Creek at the first crossing. The connection point is marked by a large metal bridge on the left side of the trail.

Before heading to the trailhead, hikers should check the Road conditions hub for any regional closures, especially during winter months when local roads may be impacted by snow. If traveling to the area from further afield, check I-80 road conditions or SR-431 Mt Rose road conditions to ensure transit routes are clear.

Cameras on the drive near Reno.

Trail Conditions and Terrain

Moderate rather than difficult, but rocky enough in places to want real footwear and, for most people, poles. The route is inside the Mt Rose Wilderness, so no bicycles and no motorised vehicles. The route is ecologically diverse, beginning in a desert environment characterized by sage and rabbitbrush. In early summer, the landscape features yellow mule’s ear flowers.

As the trail proceeds into the canyon, the vegetation changes. About 2 miles in, it turns to low aspen, willow and cottonwood, then a pine grove. This section is shaded, which provides relief during summer months.

The waterfall is at 3.04 miles, essentially the end of the trail. To reach the best vantage point, hikers must cross to the east side of the creek. This crossing uses logs and can be slippery.

When to go

The trailhead is at about 5,000 ft, roughly 500 ft above downtown Reno and 15 minutes from it, so the valley forecast is close enough to use.

In July and August the lower 2 miles are exposed sage with no shade at all, and Reno routinely runs over 95°F. Start by 7 a.m. or don't start.

From about 3 miles in, the pine grove and the canyon walls hold the temperature down. The waterfall sits in shade most of the day and the water stays cold whatever the valley is doing, so take a layer even on a 100°F afternoon.

September to November is the better window: the crowds thin, the cottonwoods turn, and the creek crossings are at their lowest. In spring the same crossings run high with snowmelt and the log at the east-side crossing is slick.

Snow reaches the trailhead only in a real storm, but the last mile holds it into April. Check the Reno road conditions for what the foothills are doing before you drive up.