Kings Canyon Waterfall Trail - Carson City

I often heard people talk about this little hike just outside of Carson City, but I hadn't been there yet. Finally, this last weekend we went for it. It was fun to get out of the house for a hike without having to drive more than a few minutes up the road from town. We really loved this hike, and thought it was an especially good trail for teaching beginning hikers to love this kind of experience. 

To get to the trail head for this hike, all you have to do is follow Kings Canyon Road about 3 miles from S Carson St until you get to the dirt parking lot. The trail head is very clearly marked, with a good sized parking area. There is no shade, and there are no amenities here.

Looking around online I've seen differing data on the length of this trail. Comparing what others have said, and measuring on Google Maps, it looks like it is approximately .7 miles long (round trip).The trail is fairly well maintained. It is an easy walk, though it is not wheelchair/stroller accessible and does make a pretty good climb in elevation. There are places where the path gets quite narrow, with a steep downhill slope on one side, so you'll want to keep an eye on your kiddos. The waterfall at the top is beautiful, and there are some great little pools to play in, but again there are some steep slopes nearby so watch your littles closely. 

 We really enjoyed this hike especially because we feel it is a great one for beginners who aren't so sure they like hiking yet. Our kids tend to drag their feet when we hike, because it is a lot of physical labor with often intangible rewards. This trail is steep enough to be somewhat challenging without being exhausting. It provides some really great rewards at the end (beautiful views over the valley, beautiful waterfalls, a chance to swim, etc) that even little kids can appreciate. It is really a great way to have a positive hiking experience with your kids to help them appreciate this type of activity and be more willing to try new hikes in the future.

 Essential Details:
Kings Canyon Waterfall Trail
Kings Canyon Rd, Carson City, NV 89703
Website (check out the Google Trekker feature linked on this site if you want to view the whole trail online before going in person)
Bring your own water
No bathroom facilities