Lahontan State Recreation Area
Fallon, Nevada

18 miles west of Fallon and 45 miles east of Carson City, Lahontan State Recreation Area surrounds a reservoir almost 17 miles long with 69 miles of shoreline. However, because of the rapid drop in water levels over the last several years, the lake is much smaller now than previously. This drop in water levels has required that the Silver Springs and North Shore Marina docks be removed from the water (actually, the water level has dropped well below the bottoms of the boat ramps).

Lahontan Dam (162 feet high and 1,700 feet long at the top) was completed in 1915. The project diverts and stores water from the Carson and Truckee River basins to produce hydroelectric power and for use in irrigated fields near Fallon. That irrigation project then drains in the Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, a huge waterfowl refuge in west-central Nevada.

The reservoir and dam are named for the ancient Lake Lahontan, an 8,500-square-mile lake that covered this part of the Great Basin during the last Ice Age. The sandy shores of that ancient lake can still be seen high on the sides of the surrounding mountains.

The recreation area is open year-round but sees maximum use from late spring through summer. There is developed camping at Silver Springs Beach #7 with modern restrooms, cooking grills and picnic tables (but this campground is closed in the winter and early spring because of freezing temperatures). Primitive camping is allowed on the beach everywhere except in the day use and boat ramp areas. ATV use is not allowed anywhere in the park.