Kings Canyon Waterfall

Unlike in California, waterfalls are a rarity in Nevada. The few that are in this part of the state, like Hunter Creek Falls and Galena Falls along the Mount Rose Summit Trail, generally require a hike to reach. The 30-foot falls in Kings Canyon just west of Carson City does require a hike to access, but that hike is a relatively short 0.75-mile round-trip walk with about 175 feet in elevation gain on a clear trail. It's a popular jaunt for locals and a great reason to stop in Carson on your drive through. The current trail, which has a single wide switchback, was recently constructed to replace the previous scrambling route that was polluting Carson City's drinking water supply with rocky debris. It is part of a network of trails being built in the area. For those who want to pad the distance of their hike, you can continue climbing the trail past the falls and create a 2-mile loop back to the parking area. Otherwise, the hike to the falls is relatively short and manageable for most ability levels; however, there is no shade until you reach the falls, so the hike can get hot during summer afternoons. The months shortly after the spring snowmelt are the best time to visit, when the falls can have a pretty powerful flow. This flow slows to a relative trickle following the hot summer months. While there are a couple informational signs at the trailhead, no water or amenities are available.