Lahontan Reservoir State Recreation Area

18 miles west of Fallon and 45 miles east of Carson City, Lahontan Reservoir State Recreation Area surrounds a reservoir almost 17 miles long with 69 miles of shoreline. When full, the lake offers almost 10,000 acres of water surface.

Lahontan Dam (162 feet high and 1,700 feet long at the top) was completed in 1915. The project diverts and stores water from the Carson and Truckee River basins to produce hydroelectric power and for use in irrigated fields near Fallon. That irrigation project then drains into the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area (which surrounds Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge).

The reservoir and dam are named for the ancient Lake Lahontan, an 8,500-square-mile lake that covered this part of the Great Basin during the last Ice Age. The sandy shores of that ancient lake can still be seen high on the sides of the surrounding mountains.

Lahontan Reservoir State Recreation Area is open year-round but sees maximum use from late spring through summer. There is developed camping at Silver Springs Beach #7 with modern restrooms, cooking grills and picnic tables (but this campground is closed in the winter and early spring because of freezing temperatures). Primitive camping is allowed on the beach everywhere except in the day use and boat ramp areas. ATV use is not allowed anywhere in the park. Horseback riding is most pleasant in the spring, as is wildlife viewing. Summers tend to be hot with cool nights. December and January are often below freezing.