Truckee River

The Truckee River glistens along a 140-mile route from Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, offering plenty of opportunity to whitewater raft, kayak, and fish monster-sized trout along the way.

When it comes to kayaking and rafting, the length of your journey will vary depending on launch site but typical runs range anywhere from 8-15 miles with options for all skill levels, Class I, II, and III. The Truckee River runs parallel to I-80 and contains many different launch spots. Some of the more popular put-ins are: 18 miles west of Reno at the Farad exit, 10 miles west of Reno in Verdi and various locations to the east.

The western section of the Truckee runs from Lake Tahoe to Reno and its locale in the Sierra makes it fast and cold until it gets to the urban area. From there, the eastern portion of the river spreads out among cottonwoods and sagebrush, depositing into Pyramid Lake – a popular fishing destination for those in search of trout.