Chase Fall Colors & Family Fun in Reno Tahoe

Family Fall Getaway to Reno Tahoe

08.27.2025

Ready to Reno? We’re so with you! Reno Tahoe is the ultimate urban basecamp for gathering family and friends for all kinds of fall fun and festivities.

Color-Fall Trail Mix

The desert-to-mountain landscape in Reno Tahoe naturally shows off autumn in its best light, with golden tones bathing the terrain from the low-hammocked sun. Whether you are mountain biking amid the shrublands of Keystone Canyon or hiking up to a high point at Tom Cooke Trail, watching autumn’s glow across Reno’s skyline and the surrounding Sierra is sublime.

Thanks to good green planning, Reno Tahoe is golden for fall colors at its numerous local parks. Located right along the Truckee River, Mayberry Park has a paved path that’s ideal for a casual stroll or roll. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park—famous for hosting the Great Reno Balloon Race—is a haven of vibrant fall foliage thanks to its abundant trees (bonus: within the park is the Wilbur D. May Arboretum & Botanical Garden).

If your wheelhouse is more epic Western backdrop—like wild horses in meadows and a brilliant trio of mountain ranges mirrored on a lake, head to Washoe Lake State Park. Located smack between Reno and Carson City, the park is a nice place to picnic or go for a waterside stroll.

Just walking downtown in Reno will be an eye-max of amber and maple hues as you stroll one of “America’s Top 10 Riverwalks.” The Reno Riverwalk District not only follows alongside the Truckee River, it passes through enclaves of art, live music, murals, sculptures, shopping spots, and dining stops. Take a seat at one of the many patio restaurants and soak in the sun while watching kayakers paddle by.

FIND RENO TAHOE’S BEST FALL COLORS

Fall for Festivities + Halloween Themed Fun

Pair corn mazes and u-pick pumpkin patches for a most memorable farmily day. Many farms in the Reno Tahoe area go all out in autumn, with festivities ranging from pick-it-yourself sunflowers and Zombie Paintball to hayrides and farm animal feedings. Andelin Family Farms, Ferrari Farms, and Lattin Farms are just a few of the places to check out.

Wolves, cheetahs, foxes, and other furry friends also get in on Halloween treats thanks to Animal Ark. The nonprofit hosts its Harvest Festival, where everyone can watch the animals indulge in pumpkins filled with their favorite snacks.

For those who really get into the Halloween spirit (or spirits), nearby Virginia City has 13 haunted spots to check out…ghost there if you dare!

RENO TAHOE’S HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES AND FUN FALL EVENTS

Reno For All

Trade the screen-time for some sunshine. Head to Sand Harbor on the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. Some of you might want to go for a short walk along the adjacent, car-free East Shore Trail. Others might want to take a seat on one of the boulders and watch loved ones stand-up paddle or kayak in the turquoise coves of Lake Tahoe.

Tranquil spaces like Oxbow Nature Center are stroller friendly and easygoing, with a large deck overlooking the Truckee River. TIP: Oxbow is located at the end of Dickerson Road, an artist enclave featuring pottery, plants, and all sorts of Reno-esque provisions.

Reno Tahoe’s casino resorts bring more than bling and jackpots. Kid-friendly play-zones like Grand Sierra Resort’s Fun Quest have bumper cars, arcade games, and laser tag. Resort pools offer swim and splash fun, and cabanas for kicking back to read, nap, relax. Everyone can warm up and trade stories around relaxing fire pits, plus order dinner and drinks.

TIP: Check out Reno Tahoe’s guide to family-friendly eating and drinking.

RENO TAHOE’S 12 BEST PLACES FOR A MULTIGENERATIONAL TRIP

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