State: Nevada
Address 1: 16799 Lahontan Dam
City: Fallon
Phone: (775) 577-2235
Open: Open all year
Number of Sites: 28
Camp URL: http://parks.nv.gov/lah.htm
Full Hook: Yes
Lahontan State Recreation Area is located on the Carson River, 18 miles west of Fallon and 45 miles northeast of Nevada’s Capital, Carson City, via U.S. Highway 50. The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area is slightly over one hour away by auto. You can access the park from two entrances: U.S. Highway 50 east of Silver Springs and U.S. Highway 95 south of Silver Springs. The reservoir is almost 17 miles long with 69 miles of shoreline. When full, it contains 10,000 surface acres of water.
Location and Climate:
Lahontan is located on the Carson River, 18 miles west of Fallon and 45 miles northeast of Nevada’s Capital, Carson City, via U.S. Highway 50. The Reno-Sparks metropolitan area is slightly over one hour away by auto. You can access the park from two entrances: U.S. Highway 50 east of Silver Springs and U.S. Highway 95 south of Silver Springs.
The reservoir is almost 17 miles long with 69 miles of shoreline. When full, it contains 10,000 surface acres of water.
This recreation area is open all year with maximum use during the late spring and through summer. Primary activities are boating, water skiing, fishing and camping. The climate is typical of the northern Nevada desert region. Rainfall is slight, averaging less than six inches annually. Sunny skies are the rule, with summer daytime temperatures near 90 degrees. However, nights may be very cool. The spread between day and night temperatures may exceed 50 degrees.
Entrance Fee: An entrance fee is charged to enter the park, with additional fees for camping and boat launching. Current fees are posted at the park entrance. Click here for all individual park fees by region.
Picnicking: There are two developed picnicking (day use) areas at Lahontan: One located directly across Lahontan Dam and one on Silver Springs Beach. Facilities include modern restrooms, tables, and grills. All new facilities will have an area which are easily accessible to handicapped visitors.
Camping: Silver Springs Beach #7 offers developed campground facilities, with modern restrooms, tables and grills, for those visitors who desire a less primitive-type camping experience. Primitive on-the-beach camping is permitted in all areas except for day use and boat ramp areas. Please note that the developed campground facilities are closed in the winter and early spring months due to freezing temperatures.
Sanitary Trailer Dump Stations: Sanitary dump station facilities are available near both entrances to the park.
Boat Launch Areas: Boaters with four wheel drive vehicles may launch off of beaches open to camping. Both sides of the park also provide paved boat launching and parking facilities. The Silver Springs boat launch is located near the day use area. The Churchill Beach boat launch, at the North Shore Marina, is located along U.S. Highway 50, one mile west of Lahontan Dam.
Fishing: Bank and boat fishing techniques are used to catch walleye, white bass, the hybrid wiper, catfish, trout and other game fish.
Firearms: Firearms are allowed only during established hunting seasons, in designated hunting zones, for the purpose of hunting according to the regulations of the Nevada Division of Wildlife and State Parks. Target shooting is not allowed. Refer to the Nevada Division of Wildlife regulations and the parks written descriptions and maps of approved hunting zones.