Wild Horse Reservoir State Recreation Area
Guide

Talk about a great way to beat the summer heat. It could be close to 110 in Las Vegas and barely above freezing at Wild Horse State Recreation Area. There are two designated swimming beaches. One is near the boat launch; the other one is near the aptly-named Beach Trail. The latter beach is a little closer to a parking area and, since it’s far away from the boat launch, a little more remote. Lots of people enjoy swimming to the other side of the shore, because Wild Horse Lake is not very wide here. Thick winter ice makes the lake a great place for outdoor ice skating and perhaps a pickup ice hockey game.

In the summer, most anglers catch lots of perch, catfish, bass, and wipers. Most of these fish are pretty large. They average about 18 to 24 inches in length. During the summer, most people use lures and troll fish. Shore fishing is usually pretty successful as well. Fly fishing is popular in the fall and spring. During the winter, which is about seven or eight months out of the year, ice fishers usually catch lots of trout. Use salmon eggs, nightcrawlers, or corn. Keep an eye on the weather in winter. It gets really, really cold here. A fish cleaning station is located near the RV campground.

Although it’s one of the largest lakes in northern Nevada, Wild Horse Lake is still fairly small. So, this body of water is designed for paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, and other non-powered watercraft. There is a five mph speed limit, as well as a flat wake requirement. Various signs and buoys let boaters know about designated areas. The boat launch, which is next to the swimming beach, is designed for canoes and other such craft. It’s a concrete launch, but it does not have a very large parking area behind it. Many people enjoy paddling up to the northern part of the lake and going under the scenic highway bridge.

During the long, chilly, clear winter nights, the sky really does come alive. That’s especially true on a moonless night. Many people take their telescopes to the swimming beach, since there are several picnic tables there. With a drugstore model, you can see amazing features on nearby celestial bodies. With a stronger telescope, you can clearly see the rings of Saturn and some other one-of-a-kind sights. Have several wishes in mind before you head out, because you will probably see lots of shooting stars.

A number of animals thrive in the cold desert environment so don't forget to pack your binoculars in your campervan or camping trailer. On land, look for large mammals, like elk. There are also lots of whitetail deer in this park. In the winter, it’s fun to do a little detective work. Look for tracks in the snow and then follow them. Parts of Wild Horse Lake are rather marshy. So, there are lots of ducks and other waterfowl around, especially during the fall. Hunting is prohibited here, but lots of hunters use the RV camp as an operational base.

Don't be afraid to step out of the camper and onto the trail. Wild Horse State Recreation Area has three trails for three different types of hikers. First, there’s the aforementioned Beach Trail. It’s more like an outdoor walking track. However, there are some rather steep steps. Next, there’s the longer Wild Horse Loop Trail. It’s designed for hikers in warm weather and snowshoers in cold weather. As the name implies, this trail loops around the campgrounds, so hikers get a good view of the High Desert landscape. There’s a very nice scenic overlook that has a great view of the lake and mountains. Finally, the OHV Trail is for horseback riders and off-road vehicles during the summer and snowmobiles during the winter.