Hunter Creek Falls
One for the list
Is it plungeworthy?
A waterfall on Hunter Creek.
The details
- Watercourse
- Hunter Creek
- Coordinates
- 39.46461, -119.91777
About Hunter Creek Falls
Hunter Creek Falls is a waterfall in Nevada, on Hunter Creek.
Fed largely by snowmelt, it runs hardest in late spring and early summer and can thin to a trickle by late season.
Plungeworthy rates Hunter Creek Falls 3.5/10 — one for the list. The score weighs its scale, how confidently it's mapped, and its character.
What you'll find
A roughly 30-foot waterfall at the end of Reno's favorite canyon hike, with a natural swimming hole ringed by granite boulders at its base. The trail climbs from the city's western edge into the Mt. Rose Wilderness corridor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Expect company — the swimming hole makes this the busiest waterfall trail in northern Nevada on summer weekends.
Getting there
- Trailhead
- Hunter Creek Trailhead off Plateau Road and Woodchuck Circle on Reno's west side — paved lot, restrooms, water fountain
- Parking
- Free — the lot fills on summer weekends, go early
- Road
- Paved
- Hike
- 5.9 mi round trip, 1,200 ft of climb (Moderate — steady climb with multiple creek crossings)
When to go
March through October. May and June snowmelt puts the falls at full volume — and makes the creek crossings hardest.
Rules & fees
- Fee / pass
- None
- Dogs
- On leash
- Warnings
- Creek crossings run fast and cold during peak snowmelt.
Researched from US Forest Service — Hunter Creek Trail · Travel Nevada — Hunter Creek Trail. Conditions change — verify before you drive. Been to Hunter Creek Falls recently? Post a conditions report below.
Where it is
Planning a visit? We want your photo.
Hunter Creek Falls doesn't have a photo yet. If you make the trip, send one to hello@plungeworthy.com and we'll publish it here with credit to you.
Before you go
The pin marks the feature, not a trailhead or a legal route in. Some sit on private land or need a real hike, and conditions change with season and rain. Check local access, don't trespass, and never enter water — hot or cold — where it isn't safe.
Common questions
Where is Hunter Creek Falls?
Hunter Creek Falls is a waterfall in Nevada, at 39.46461, -119.91777.
Is Hunter Creek Falls worth visiting?
One for the list — Plungeworthy rates it 3.5/10.
Gear for the trip
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