Pyramid Travel Guide

In May (in nearby Fallon, Nevada) the Spring Wings Festival offers a wide array of bird-watching tours around the Fallon area. During the festival, you can take a tour to see nesting white pelicans at Anaho Island on Pyramid Lake, one of the largest breeding sites for white pelicans in North America.

The drive to Pyramid Lake from Reno takes about an hour. You can head east on I-80 and take the Pyramid Way exit 18 in Sparks, Nevada and drive up Route 445 and end up on the west side of the lake at Route 446 around Sutcliffe, Nevada.

The other option is to follow I-80 as the interstate follows the Truckee River for about 30 miles and take the Wadsworth exit. There you can follow Route 447 to Nixon. At Nixon 446 can be taken along the southern shore of Pyramid Lake.

Looking at a map, these highways form the basic shape of a pyramid. Quite a lot of the Pyramid Lake Reservation is open range, so be careful while driving. Route 447 continues north of Nixon, and allows visitors access to the eastern shore of Pyramid Lake via a 5-6 mile long dirt road to the Stone Mother and cove where Pyramid Island is located.

You don't see any locals out boating around in 100 degree heat! But hey, we were having fun. These cows were also perfectly content to lie still and wait for the cool temperatures that sundown would bring.

Much of the Pyramid Lake Reservation is open range, so you will more than likely see cattle roaming free.

This particular shot came after riding around for awhile and I'd chosen to dunk into the lake to cool down. But there were a couple times I didn't choose to take a dunk and ended up getting a mouthful of icky lake water. I am not a strong swimmer, but even if you are please wear a life vest to keep you afloat while tubing or water skiing. I saw some people who weren't.

Wearing sunscreen would be highly advisable as well! This particular day it was in excess of 100 degrees Farenheit. Pyramid Lake is also at a high elevation, over 4000 feet above sea level, and here in Nevada the sun's rays are intense.

I might only be part Eskimo, but when it comes to 100 degree heat I am 100% Alaskan Native!

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Do not forget your beach toys! If you are traveling with children (young or old), they will thank you for remembering.

I bought this sea monster that Griffin is riding on years ago in Penticton, British Columbia. There is a monster named Ogopogo that lives in the Okanagen.