Michael D Thompson Trailhead

A convenient and scenic trail on the edge of Reno and one of the few with a perennial stream. Unfortunately there are issues with overuse and irresponsible hikers. One of the worst aspects is along the first quarter mile where it seems every dog owner lets their pooch drop a load in or on the edge of the trail. These dog owners seem to think it is acceptable to leave the crap there because it’s not a city park. It makes this stretch of the trail stink pretty badly, particularly in the summer. Another drawback is a stretch of steep, non-​switchbacked trail in an area of loose soil as one enters the Hunter Creek canyon. It seems inevitable that some brave and generous souls will re-​route the trail, but for now this section offers some some pretty sketchy hiking (and very slippery in the winter/​spring) for a few hundred yards. This stretch alone makes this trail difficult with children that are too big for a backpack but too small to confidently ascend the rubble/​mud.

Decided to take on this trail after work in an effort to help train for the Ruby Mountain Relay. I had no idea what I was in for.
The site I read about this trail mentioned this was a 2.5 mile (5 mile round trip), week turns out its actually more like 3 miles each way (6 miles round trip). The trail is fairly easy to follow.
It is almost all uphill! Parts of the trail is rocky and care should be taken when going through these parts. I would say this trail is certainly challenging. Barely a quarter mile in and I was winded, guess I’m not in as good a shape as I thought. Lol.
Once you do reach the end you are rewarded with a beautiful waterfall. The cool breeze coming through and the soothing sounds of the crashing water. It’s great to take a moment to catch your breath and relax. Maybe even take a blanket and make a picnic of it.
Overall it took me about 2 hours to do the round trip. Though I was certainly pushing myself to go as fast add I could and nearly ran down the entire way back. For the leisurely hike I would allow about 4 hours to be on the safe side.
Not sure at this point if I would recommend this for kids as it is steep and a longer than most tails. But I did see several dogs on the trail and the pet’s seemed perfectly happy.
Enjoy the scenery and the workout :)

Just got back from this hike; it was incredible! Definitely one of my favorite trails. Took about 3 hours, with a few short breaks. Quite hot in the canyon, so make sure to bring plenty of water and even a snack. The terrain varied a lot which was pretty incredible, going from desert like to forested, all the while hearing the river. Most of all, the waterfall was completely worth it.
The trailhead was a little tricky to find; we were told «right at the gingerbread house then around the round about». We found the parking lot quickly, there was a very clean bathroom too! Again, wear sunscreen (ow! My shoulders!) and bring plenty of water. And dogs are allowed on leash! Enjoy this amazing escape from Reno!

I love this hike. I haven’t yet done any other hikes in Reno, but it’s been a beautiful hike every time I’ve done it.
The first time I hiked it was in April of 2010. It had snowed and was quite mucky to trek through in the morning, but in the afternoon on our way back the mud had dried and it was nice coming out.
The second time was in September of 2013 when the smoke was really bad here in Reno. The first part of the hike was rough because of all the smoke, but as we pushed back farther towards the waterfall, my buddy and I could breathe clean air.
The trail has never been overgrown, or littered with trash. It’s never been super busy or congested in the parking lot. This is definitely a tried and true hike and I love every step.
The first part of the trailhead is probably the worst part. It’s got the most hills to the hike. But once you make it to what seems to be the highest point, it flattens out after that and makes a wonderful and beautiful shaded walk to the waterfall.
Photos to follow. :)

I could have SWORN I already had a review for this trail! I thought that I wrote a review a couple of years ago to complain about the poor maintenance on the trail, and how dangerous it was, what with so many sections of trail washed out into the creek below. No? Well, that’s fine, because here I am to write an update on my non-​existent review to say, Hey! They fixed it!
It’s been a while since we hiked the Hunter Creek Trail, for the reasons I mentioned above. Poor trail conditions made it a poor choice for family hiking. But a few months back, a friend who was on the trail restoration crew told me that everything is fine now, they fixed all the sketchy sections, and that I should give it another go. And she was not exaggerating! They did a TERRIFIC job on the repairs to this trail. In fact, it’s difficult to notice where the washouts even used to be! It is much safer for families now, although I would still warn people that it’s probably not a great trail for younger kids unless they are experienced hikers.
In fact, this warning should apply to everyone. There are lots of easy trails around Reno, and this ain’t one of them. Although it is relatively short (about 6 miles round trip?), the elevation gain is at about 1200′, the terrain is challenging, and the conditions are brutal for a good chunk of the hike. You will spend much of this hike exposed to the blazing sun hiking over loose, sharp rocks. If you do not have strong treads on your shoes, you will tear up your shoes and your feet. About ²⁄₃ of the way in, the trail turns into the woods, and you spend the remainder of the hike to the falls in the shade, walking on soft forest duff. The sense of relief when you make it to this point is very real.
The falls are picturesque but not very large, with enough room for a few people and some dogs to wade around in. It’s set in a shady clearing, so there are lots of spots to claim for a restful picnic. If you are so inclined, the trail does continue – NOT the trail past the sign that clearly says AREA CLOSED. No, if you want to continue look for the narrow trail that climbs steeply uphill to the back left of the clearing as you enter. It is not signed, but that trail (not an easy one) will quickly lead you up over the hill and back down the other side into a lovely meadow. I haven’t followed the trail past the meadow, so I’m not sure where it goes, but one thing is sure… you leave the crowds behind if you venture this far.
One last thing to mention is that this trail gets CROWDED. When we went this weekend the parking lot was full, the overflow parking lot was full, and cars were parked along the side of the road for at least a quarter mile from the trailhead. If you are looking for peace and isolation, this is not the place to be. Also, there are many dogs, many off leash, so this is also not a good spot for people uncomfortable around pooches. While we were at the falls, it was basically a dog park there. Our dog had about seven others to play with. They were all well-​behaved, but I thought it worth mentioning, as we passed a child on the trail who was clearly terrified of dogs.
Of course, there are other trails you can take from this trailhead: The Steamboat Ditch or the ridge above Hunter Creek. The trailhead itself is great, with water (and a special dog water fountain), picnic tables, and a bathroom (currently under repairs as of this writing). It is one of Reno’s best and most popular trailheads.

Waterfall in reno!!! Just did this hike yesterday it was so beautiful, and a great workout! We went on a Wednesday and there were still lots of people on the single trek trail! Dog friendly. Our pup had so much fun. Make sure to bring water and snacks. It is a pretty good Upgrade to the top. I cannot believe it has taken me so long to visit this park, it is our hidden gem.

Such a beautiful place! Definitely worth a visit.

Just moved into town and decided to look up a good hike in the area. My husband and I were quite impressed with hunter creek trail. It’s a legitimate hiking trail that takes you from the desert into the pine forest within a few miles. At about the 3.2 miles in is a cool waterfall (partially frozen yesterday/​March 8^th).
I’m not sure where others got their mileage, but I used my tracker and it’s just over 6 miles out and back. It was a beautiful day, perfect weather and prettier than I expected!
Although I love seeing so mAny others enjoying the outdoors, the trail is narrow the entire time and a bit annoying (we passed around 100 people) where you have to stop or move around anyone you pass.
For being a close local spot I give this a 4.5. Of course there’s many more exquisite trails up in Tahoe, but I’m judging this on a great local easy to get to hike.
Ps– this is an easy/​moderate trail for those in shape, but an older or not in shape person would find this very difficult.

Just west of Reno, there is a flat crooked trail to a straight concrete arrow. Aiming toward the pointed ridge-​top symbol, we followed the historic and popular Steamboat Ditch Trail from the Michael D. Thompson trailhead.
The Steamboat Ditch was built by Chinese labor during the 1870s to carry irrigation water from the Truckee River to Reno farms and ranches. During the spring and summer months, clear water still rushes through the unlined channel.
From the air, the level ditch looks like a contour line on a topographic map. We veed into drainages and curved around ridges, as we plotted our course along the ditch maintenance road.
About 3.5 miles west of the trailhead, the ditch turns straight into a ridge, and flows through solid rock at the hole-​in-​the-​wall, a 1,250-foot long tunnel. To the right of the water tunnel, we ascended the steep trail to the top of the ridgeline, turned right, and walked north along the crest for about ¼-​mile to the mysterious concrete arrow.
It turns out that the 57-​foot long concrete pointer was poured in the early 1920s to help early pilots follow the first Transcontinental Air Mail Route. Aiming toward Reno’s former Air Mail Field (now Washoe Golf Course), the yellow-​painted arrow was once accompanied by a rotating gas-​powered beacon atop a 50-​foot tall steel tower.
The beacon and tower were scrapped during World War II, and the yellow paint has long since worn away, but the arrow remains, weathered and cracked by time. Still indicating the way to Reno, this unofficial monument to the original air mail pilots endures as a straight concrete arrow at the end of a flat crooked trail.

This trail is wonderful and flat. Or maybe it is wonderful because it’s flat? Either was it can be delightful. I find that there are a few access points. Sometimes I prefer to park at different places to get on the trail. That variety is nice. I have never made it to the alleged waterfall. But the stream in nice. Maybe at the top of the stream there is a fall.
I dong really care. The only reason I hike the trail is to spread the milkweed seeds. The milkweed plant is awesome. In the summer the monarch butterflies land on the milkweed and lay their eggs. If your on this trail I encourage you to be aware of the plants. Some beautiful desert dwelling flowers are all around you. But you have to look close because it’s pretty much a desert up there.

Excellent trail with an stunning waterfall reward at the end. The key is to go when the trail is not super muddy, bring water (not just a 12 oz. bottle if you are hiking), and to start early. It is an out and back trail and the round trip distance is about 6 miles with about 1800′ in elevation gain. You’ll encounter mainly dogs, runners, and hikers. (No bikes allowed.) The last time up and back it took me about 2 ½ hours.

I am so sad that I just got around to hiking the hunter creek trail — it’s almost perfect! The up hill is subtle enough that you can maintain a good pace, but still feel like you’re getting a work out. The changes from canyon to forrest are beautiful and you have the sound of the river the entire hike. The payoff with the water fall at the end is completely worth it.
I had read that this trail is suitable for horses, but I hiked it with someone who rides and she said there’s no way she would bring her horse as there are many bits that have you walking through shale. We started the trail at about 9 and only ran into a few people, and had the waterfall to ourselves, seems as the crowd started around 11 because we were constantly running into people on the way back.
This is a great morning hike, I can’t wait to try it this fall!

Since the weather had been so awesome I’ve been hitting this trail a few times a week for cardio to get out of the gym. It’s conveniently located near my house which is a plus. This isn’t a challenging trail but round trip to the waterfall is 6.2 miles with little shade, uneven footing and at times a very narrow trail. If you’re looking for novice hiking this may not be for you. The views are great and the waterfall really is worth the hike. If I’m with a girl friend chatting the whole way it takes about 3 hours, if I’m pushing it to keep my heart rate up I get it done in about 2 hours 10 minutes. If you’re going in the warmer months start early, it’s direct sun 4 out of 6 miles. Enjoy!

Great for a quick day hike with the dog. Takes a little over an hour each way to the falls at a decent pace. Once your in the canyon you feel like your away from the city but its only ten minutes from home. First two miles are totally exposed so if its a hot day get ready to bake. If your looking for exclusion you won’t find it. People pass by about every 5 to 10 minutes but that’s to be expected for a moderate hike so close to home. I will definitely be back a time or two.

Cool little trail for beginners. Just remember to bring enough water, sunscreen or shade.

Last weekend I happened upon this totally awesome hike. Maybe I have been totally out of touch, but both my husband and I were born and raised here and both of us were amazed by this hike and never realized Hunter Creek was there!
First of all, I must admit Mike Thompson (for whom the hike is named) was a friend of both of ours in high school. He was an intelligent and thoughtful person. Perhaps my fondness for his memory is clouding my review… but I don’t think so.
It is located at the top of Juniper Ridge… a little hard to find. There are bathrooms at the trailhead as well as a nice parking lot. Lots of people with dogs. We hiked with our 6 year old twins (not sure I would do that again). The trail is a little challenging and washed out in spots. It winds along Hunter Creek and up about two miles are the falls. Hunter Lake is quite a ways beyond that (didn’t go that far)
Totally amazed by this hike. It is perfect right now as the season has been a little wet and the landscape is lush. The creek is more like a little river and the sound is just awesome. There are little spots to venture down off the path and feel exactly how fresh and chilly this snow melt is.
I think I would go with a friend as rattlesnakes on occasion make their way onto the trail. (fellow hikers said they saw some… we did not) But again I have lived here all my life and played in this backyard wilderness. I ONCE saw a rattlesnake in Midas NV. I guess as a mom I am a little more wary now though… so there is my mom speech. … please know there are snakes out there.
I can not tell you how cool I think this hike is. I love it when little treasures pop up in Reno… especially when you think you have seen it all. Again this is why I love Reno, always some new little biz, hike, show, or restaurant popping up. I think this hike is worth the trip… hope you enjoy it.
Cheers-​Shannon

This trailhead allows access to both the Steamboat Ditch Trail, as well as Hunter Creek Falls. Note that for easier access to the Steamboat Ditch Trail, when you first turn onto Woodchuck Circle, park on the right (you’ll usually see a half-​dozen or so cars parked here). From here, you can head west along the trail (which runs behind the homes on Plateau, and along the irrigation ditch) — this trail will eventually take you along the Truckee, towards Mayberry Park /​Patagonia outlet, and you can continue on past there to Hole in the Wall and further…
If you go further up Woodchuck Circle, you’ll end up at the actual trailhead, which provides access to Hunter Creek. From the parking lot, you head down a slight hill towards a creek. Once you get there you can either go right /​north-​east up a hill, which runs back into the Steamboat Ditch trail.
On the other hand, if you head to the left /​south-​west, you’ll go along Hunter Creek towards the falls. I believe this is about a 3 mile hike to the falls. Wear solid shoes or boots, as some of this can be rocky /​shale covered canyon sides.
Note that this is a very exposed hike, with little cover from the sun. There’s a small glade at the end near the falls.
If you attempt this hike in the summer, plan accordingly. In the winter, be prepared to run into snow (in fact, the first time I did this hike, I would never have found the falls as the trail was covered with snow, except I was able to follow the tracks of previous hikers).
The hike is pretty incredible though, for being so accessible. ..