Fall in Reno is a blissful time of year where the weather gets cooler during the day, but not so cool you need a sweater. The leaves turn colors, the days are more comfortable, and the outdoors starts whispering “come play.” There is simply no better time to go hiking in Reno than during the fall.
To help you explore Reno during this beautiful time of year, we have prepared a fall hiking guide for you. We’ve included a few trails, rated for beginners, within easy driving distance of St. James Village. Start out easy and then look up Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation to see a full range of trails in Reno, from easy to difficult, you can hike this Fall.
Swan Lake Nature Study Area
Enjoy 1.5 miles of easy, dog-friendly, kid-friendly, ADA accessible trail. This easy out-and-back trail is great for those who are new to hiking in Reno. It will take you anywhere from 45 minutes to one hour to hike. The fall season, through November, is a great time for hiking this trail. It is a conservancy area and a known stop over for more than 130 species of birds who are flying south for the winter. Interpretive signs teach you and your family about the ecology of this beautiful Reno trail.
Oxbow Nature Study Area Nature Trail
Enjoy 1 mile of easy, kid-friendly, ADA accessible trail. This easy out-and-back trail is great for those who want a year-round hiking option close to the city activities of downtown Reno. It’s especially beautiful during the fall, as it follows the course of the river. All of the snow melt from the previous year will show the Truckee river at its highest during the fall. You’ll experience cool breezes as you stroll through Reno and enjoy interpretive signage, observation decks, and picnic tables along the way.
Rancho San Rafael Park Nature Trail
Enjoy a short 0.75 mile semi-loop trail which is dog-friendly and kid-friendly. This Reno gem is the closest of our three suggestions to St. James Village and is quite a treat. Hiking this trail during the Fall season is very pleasant. The wetlands you will see are fed by snow melt from Evans Creek and irrigation from the Highland ditch. Look for falcons and cottontail rabbits. After you hike the trail, enjoy the Wilber D. May Arboretum and Botanical Garden.
Of course, if you don’t want to go more than a mile from your front door, be sure to hike the trail that is part of the St. James Village gated community. It’s a beautiful walk and an easy test to check your stamina for Fall hiking in Reno. For directions to all of the trails in Reno and Washoe county, visit washoecounty.us/parks