A Very Reno Winter

Winter Getaway Itinerary to Reno Tahoe in 2020

Reno Tahoe Winter Getaway 2020

You’ve never had a winter vacation like Reno Tahoe! The Biggest Little City in the World is also one of the best winter basecamps. The Truckee River flows right through its lively Riverwalk District, featuring Burning Man art. And there’s year-round access to all things outdoors: hiking, waterfalls, secret spots for sunset viewing, and of course, skiing and snowshoeing. Really heat things up by going on the hunt for hot springs (clues below), or wind down your day with a craft beer around a fire pit.

It’s a Waterfall Life

Reno’s location on the eastern side of the Sierra makes it ideal for winter hiking, including some to rushing waterfalls! The one-mile round-trip trail at Kings Canyon has a year-round waterfall. This short but rewarding hike leaves you with plenty of time afterwards to grab food, drinks, and relax around a fire pit. If you’re looking for a place with amazing views, including at sunset, head to Huffaker Hills. The 2-mile loop has panoramic vistas and beautiful sunset scenery, all within minutes of downtown.

Waterfalls, Sunsets, and Scenic Hikes or Reno Tahoe

Holiday Roll!

Literally, put your holidays on a roll by renting a bike and pedaling along the Truckee River. The Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is a beautiful ride with sections for all abilities. Pedal through downtown for an easygoing ride, with plenty of places to stop off for a hot coffee or a hot toddy!

Casual Bike Rides of Reno Tahoe

Burning Man + Murals

While the Black Rock Desert, home of Burning Man, is a few hours away, the event’s artistic influence can be felt, and seen, in Reno’s downtown. Fill your Instagram with creative selfies among Burning Man installations at City Plaza, including the Space Whale—a 50-foot-tall life-sized stained glass and steel sculpture of a humpback whale mother and calf. See more than 100 colorful mural masterpieces, painted by local and international artists, on a self-guided walk. And don’t miss the Sculpture Garden in Bicentennial Park, where you’ll walk among sculptures along the Truckee River.

Mural and Sculpture Walk Maps

Sink In and Soak!

Reno Hot Springs

Another reason to make Reno Tahoe your winter basecamp? The geothermal activity here is strong! Go on the hunt for wild and scenic hot springs where your reward is ahhh-mazing. If natural soaks at resorts are more your thing, find your bliss at places like Steamboat Hot Springs, Carson Hot Springs, or 1862 David Walley’s Resort.

Reno Tahoe's Hot Springs

Visit Nevada's Oldest Brewery

Add some Sparks to your holidays! Great Basin Brewery is located in Sparks, just east of Reno, at the landmark Victorian Square. Love IPAs? Order the famous “Icky” (also known as the Ichthyosaur IPA). Pair it with something from their wide-ranging menu, including beer-battered fish and chips. Pro Tip: Sparks is also home to Revision Brewing Company, named in USA TODAY’s list of great beer destinations. And while you’re in Sparks, check out the Outlets at Legends and the Sparks Galleria, an outdoor shopping mall with good deals on holiday shopping.

Sparks Breweries and Shopping

Scope the Slopes

Reno Tahoe has the highest concentration of world-class ski resorts in North America. Opening dates were recently announced (some before Thanksgiving!) so start planning! This year is unique in how the ski resorts will operate, including reservations required and passholders gaining priority access, so make sure you see what your favorite resort is doing to ensure health and safety this winter.

Ski Reno Tahoe in 2020-2021

Reno Holiday Gift Guide

Reno Tahoe Winter Getaway

The best gifts? Experiences that create lasting memories! Give the Gift of Reno Tahoe. From outdoor adventures like snowmobiling to panoramic views of Lake Tahoe, to hitting the trails—the beer trails(!)—for some cornhole competition and seasonal craft brews, check out this fun list to gift to friends or family this holiday season.

Gift Experiences

Know Before You Go

Reno Tahoe Winter Getaway

Find out the local health guidelines in Reno Tahoe and plan ahead. Enjoy your trip: With a little planning and a little patience, you’re sure to have a memorable winter vacation. Here’s more health and safety information for traveling in Reno Tahoe!

Know Before You Go

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  3. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View
  4. Roaring Good Time

    There’s nothing quite like the majestic beauty of California’s redwood forests. Now, imagine experiencing those towering giants aboard a historic 19th-century steam train. Roaring Camp Railroads in Felton is home to some of the oldest and most authentically preserved narrow-gauge steam engines in America.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  3. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View
  4. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View