Lake Hopping in Reno

Not too long ago we explored the history of how Reno got its name, and we chatted about how the original community here was known as Lake’s Crossing. You may remember that the Lake in question wasn’t a body of water but was instead called that for the owner of a toll bridge over the Truckee River, a fellow by the name of Myron Lake. And when it does come to talking about bodies of water in this part of the world, all eyes naturally turn to Lake Tahoe. Whatever attention is left over usually goes to Donner Lake up the hill to the west or Pyramid Lake on into the state’s interior or maybe even Topaz Lake down south of Carson Valley at the state line. So you may be surprised to learn that there are actually a number of other real, live, honest-to-goodness lakes right here in the Truckee Meadows. Photo at left: Pixabay.

One of my favorites is Virginia Lake, located not too far from what is being called the Midtown District these days. It’s got an interesting history because it’s not a natural water feature at all. Nope, it was constructed in the late 1930s through the Works Progress Administration and served as a fish hatchery for decades. These days, it’s a city park, notable for being a great place to watch waterfowl and a nice place to walk. Other features include a dog park and playground. Photo at right: Wikimedia Commons, Exorcisio Te.

Then there’s Alexander Lake over by where South Meadows Parkway intersects with Veteran’s Parkway, near Huffaker Hills. This one’s a reservoir and when you see it, it gives off that feeling of being a body of water in a place where you wouldn’t expect one to be. It’s tucked out of the way, and I have to admit that I’m not too familiar with it, but if you backtrack it, this is where the water from Thomas Creek ends up. I’ve seen conflicting info on Alexander Lake, so if anyone has definitive answers as to whether it is open to public access and/or fishing, please feel free to pipe up.

Another Reno lake that didn’t exist before people started getting creative with the waterways is Manzanita Lake. It’s up on the campus of UNR and dates back to 1911, when an irrigation ditch was dammed up to expand the existing Evans Pond, which itself had been constructed back in 1878 on what was then the Evans Ranch. Manzanita Lake really is a beautiful feature to the university setting and is also a favorite site for watching ducks, geese and even swans. Photo at left: Wikimedia Commons, Geographer.

Speaking of private lakes, there’s also Lake Stanley, located within the Lakeridge Shores gated community. And lest we break the streak, this one is *also* an artificially created lake. But between the golf course, the boating and fishing, I don’t think the residents worry too much about its origin.

And of course there’s Sparks Marina, catching the eye of anyone traveling Interstate 80. In a nutshell, this site was a gravel pit, was being developed as a pond and recreational area and then the January flooding of 1997 filled it up with water from the Truckee River. At a hundred feet deep and 77 acres of surface area, it’s got a wide variety of fish. The surrounding park is a great draw for walking, pet exercise and other outdoor activities. Photo at right: Wikimedia Commons, Famartin.

And finally, I’ve just got to mention the water feature outside the Grand Sierra Resort. No, it’s not technically a lake, I guess. Instead, it’s the Grand Bay Driving Range, a big (I’m talking BIG) ol’ concrete bowl filled with water and a handful of island greens scattered across the surface. It’s a lot of fun, but be aware that in the age of COVID, the regulations are a bit different than they have been in the past. In addition to wearing maks, these days you’ll need to bring your own clubs along too.

This is far from being a complete list of Reno-area lakes, so don’t be shy about sharing your favorites with us in the comments below.