03 Oxbow Nature Area and Dickerson Road art_02

This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

Visit the Oxbow Nature Study Area and Dickerson Road in Reno Tahoe

05.14.2025
A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike.

A woman walks the one-mile trail amid green trees at the Oxbow Nature Study Area in REno

A woman sits on the bench overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area

A modest one-mile trail here meanders among willows, cottonwoods, and grasslands, with riverside benches and a lovely overlook deck for a close-up of the Truckee. It's tempting to spend your entire time here just watching as ducks coast the fast flowing water (they’re pros, really). Mule deer and black-crowned night herons are common sightings too, along with—we’ll be damned—beaver!

A woman walks along a fallen tree log at Oxbow Nature Study Area

Oxbow isn’t showy, but it does show you how much beauty lies in the simple things, like bird-watching, and watching the sunbeams bounce off the river.

A duck on the water of the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Truckee

BONUS: After Oxbow, stop and visit the creative enclave of Dickerson Road. This vibrant hub of artisan shops has everything from ceramics and clothing, to succulents and cacti in almost every variety imaginable.

Two women working on pottery inside the Wedge Ceramic Studios along Reno's Dickerson Road

A man works some clay pottery at Wedge Ceramic Studios in Reno

Stroll and visit locally owned spaces and shops like The Wedge Ceramic Studios and Sierra Water Gardens, specializing in all variety of plants and florals, plus homeware and really cool clothes and gifts (their artisan coffee station, by Forged Coffee Co., is a renovated 1949 Scad-a-bout tear drop trailer).

Cacti garden variety on display at Reno's Sierra Water Gardens on Dickerson Road

Thrifters can’t miss the nearby shop, The Nest (201 Keystone Avenue, close to Dickerson), where vintage, boho, and granny chic merge for some good browsing and buying. (We liked the vintage typewriter.)

A woman types on a vintage typewriter at The Nest, a vintage store in Reno

A woman checks out an orange vintage dress in the store The Nest in Reno

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) standing in front of his wood-fire oven at the Sonoma Valley Farmers' Market

    NEW! Walkin' and Talkin': Break Bread, Go On a Panoramic Hike

    What’s a world-traveling, medal-winning baker’s favorite local hike? Weekend Sherpa co-founder Brad Day caught up with Mike Zakowski (aka Mike the Baker) at Sonoma’s Friday farmers' market, where his wood-fired loaves draw loyal crowds. Between bites of fresh-baked bread, they talk baking, travel, and why Sonoma's Overlook Trail is one of his favorite quick, panoramic hikes.

    View

  2. Hidden Botanical Garden

    Forget a dozen roses. Give your love a botanical garden. Hidden on the western slope of Sonoma Valley’s Mayacamas Mountains, Sonoma Botanical Garden has one of the Bay Area’s best displays of Asian flora—and it’s a brilliant place for a quiet picnic and some calming contemplations.

    View

  3. Sunnyvale and Salty

    For up-close bird watching, it’s hard to beat a walk along the San Francisco Bay. This 5-mile loop on the Sunnyvale coast is a favorite of local wildlife photographers.

    View
  4. A man takes a break at a temple spot on a hike at Dragon Mountain in Milptas

    Dragon Quest

    The newly reopened, 4-mile out-and-back hike at Dragon Mountain in Milpitas mixes the physical with the spiritual for a serene hiking experience.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Warm Up to Winter in Reno Tahoe

    2026 is just getting started, but there’s one place already rising to the top as the best for adventure and relaxation: Reno Tahoe. The awe—and ahhhs—begin as soon as you arrive. G

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. Right now there's a banner and bonus view of a rare lake formation that appears only after big rains.

    View

  3. It's a Waterfall Life

    Tahquitz Canyon’s crystalline stream and lush stands of desert lavender, honey mesquite, and leafy sycamores is home to an easy day hike with a big bonus: a 60-foot waterfall that runs with remarkable gusto after winter rains.

    View

  4. Oh Snow Nice

    Live in California long enough, and you’ll come to know the rite of passage called “going to the snow”–when we ditch our fair-weather cities and towns in search of winter weather. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks deliver a winter wonderland worth a visit if there’s been a good dose of snow.

    View