Ophir Creek                                                        
  1. DIFFICULTY:   moderate (stream crossings)
  2. ESTIMATE DISTANCE TO CLIMB (feet):   1200 (Trail Cross Section)
  3. DISTANCE FROM I80/395 INTERCHANGE (miles):   20.2
  4. START LAT/LONG:   N39 deg 18.22', W119 deg 50.03'
  5. END LAT/LONG:       N39 deg 17.67', W119 deg 51.83'
  6. ROUTE TO TRAIL BEGINNING (first number is distance in miles):
    0.0 Take US395 south from interchange
    9.8 Exit 57B to Carson (Stay on US 395)
    19.5 Turn right on Nevada Route 429, 8.4 mi after Mt Rose turn off.
    20.0 After 0.4 mi turn right into Davis Creek Campground.
    20.2 park in parking lot.
  7. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP QUADRANGLE:   Washoe City A small trail map which loads rapidly and a large printable trail map which takes several minutes to load into a separate window.
  8. TRAIL SYNOPSIS:   Well groomed trail to a lake (photograph). Travels from a camp ground with a mixture of desert shubbery and pine into an alpine area. As the trail travels up the side of the valley, views of the Washoe Lake and surrounding valley. Higher up views of Ophir Creek travelling through a gorge. Finding the correct stream crossing for Ophir Creek is difficult. Do not cross too early. The correct stream crossing can be found using a gps receiver and setting up the stream crossing coordinates.
  9. TRAIL DESCRIPTION (first number is distance in miles):    
    0.0 park next to bathroom and hike up steep slope to hill
    0.6 trail forks. Note sign indicating ‘Ophir Creek Trail' and make right turn.
    2.0 note maker pointing up hill to Rock Lake. Do not cross stream here
    2.3 cross stream
    3.0 Rock Lake
  10. Key Waypoint:    
  11. GEOLOGY:   granite. Slides (from Slide Mountain) and stream out flow
  12. PLANTS:   Jeffrey Pine on granite slopes, Quaking Aspen and (lower down) Arroyo or Mackenzie? Willow on streams, sage down low and manazita higher
  13. ANIMALS:   deer, squirrels, and chipmunks
Trail Map     Trail Cross Section     Photograph