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LakeQuality

Updated July 2026

Hunter Creek Falls

Washoe County, Nevada — about 30 ft, shorter than most.

Hunter Creek tumbles ~30-35 ft over granite into a pool in the Mount Rose Wilderness west of Reno, reached by a ~6 mi round-trip trail climbing along the creek. Best flow follows spring snowmelt.

Height
30 ft
Type
Horsetail
Access
Moderate Hike
Trail
6 mi out-and-back
Elevation gain
1,100 ft
Best season
Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun)
Land manager
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (USFS)
Watercourse
Hunter Creek

Before you go

Waterfalls are hazardous by nature — wet rock, cold water, and unstable edges — and flow varies enormously with season and recent rain. Trail figures here describe the route as documented, not conditions today. Check Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions, and confirm land status before setting out.

Graded lakes within 25 miles

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Frequently Asked Questions

Hunter Creek Falls drops about 30 feet. That makes it the 523rd-tallest documented waterfall in this inventory, taller than roughly 23% of the falls listed here. Height comes from published land-manager and survey records, not from our own measurement.

The Hunter Creek Trail (Michael D. Thompson Trailhead) reaches it about 6 miles (out-and-back) with roughly 1,100 feet of elevation gain, rated moderate. The nearest town is Reno. That describes the route as documented, not conditions on the day — check with Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest (USFS) for closures and current conditions.

Spring snowmelt (Apr-Jun). Waterfall flow swings enormously with snowmelt and recent rain, so a fall that roars in spring can be a trickle by late summer.

More Nevada waterfalls

Sources

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