LAHONTAN RESERVOIR

LAHONTAN IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE LOCAL SITES BECAUSE NEARLY EVERY TIME WE RIDE, WE ARE ON OUR SMALLEST GEAR.  FRONTAL WINDS IN THE MOUNTAINS CAN BE PRETTY WILD AND WHEN WASHOE IS “BLOWN OUT”, LAHONTAN IS THE CALL.  ABOUT AN HOUR FROM RENO, LAHONTAN IS USUALLY 10 DEGREES WARMER (AIR TEMP) THAN WASHOE IN THE FALL, WINTER AND SPRING. IN THE SUMMER, BOTH LAKES ARE WARM AND SINCE WINDS ARE THERMAL, WASHOE IS THE MORE COMMON SPOT.  WE RIDE BEACH 22 ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE RESERVOIR, BUT BEACH 11 ON THE NORTH SIDE IS ALSO AN OPTION.  TO GET TO BEACH 22, DRIVE PAST THE LAKE ON HIGHWAY 50 AND TAKE A RIGHT INTO THE PARK. ONCE PAST THE PAY STATION, BEACH 22 IS THE SECOND RIGHT (SEE PHOTOS).  WINDS ARE ONSHORE SO YOU WILL NEED TO PADDLE OUT A BIT AND GET UP QUICKLY (BEACH 11 HAS SIDE SHORE CONDITIONS).  WATER LEVELS FLUCTUATE AS IS THE CASE IN MOST DESERT LAKES SO CHECK THE BLOG FOR A SUMMARY OF CONDITIONS FROM THE LAST SESSION ON THIS DESERT BEAUTY.