North Loop Hiking Trail

The North Loop Trail is one of three trails along the eastern shore of Washoe Lake inside Washoe Lake State Park. The loop is open to equestrians, who tend to make popular use of this park. Many of the homes along the northern end of this hike also have horses and will bring them into the trail system. Trails are open to mountain bikers too, though the park is less popular for this purpose. Leaving the parking area, the trail quickly splits into a series of unsigned sandy trails. Though there are a few trail maps posted at intersections along the route, there are many confusing unsigned forks, and it is a good idea to plan for this ahead of time. Washoe Lake State Park lies between the scenic Sierra and western Nevada's arid Virginia Range, so the flat trail falls between views of either range skirting the basin. The trail itself is sandy and flat, and therefore it is a slow walk. There is also no shade along this hike, so in the warm season, consider hitting this one in the morning or evening hours. The bottom edge of this trail overlaps with the upper edge of the South Loop Hiking Trail, and for a lengthier trudge, consider adding that loop to your hike. Though the trail does trace sand dunes, sage brush planes, and grassy areas. There trailhead has outhouses, a horse wash trough, and trash cans. Hikers are also subject to the park's entry fees, payable at the self-pay station adjacent to the parking area.