Outdoors

Best place to swim

Donner Lake

In terms of desert cities close to fantastic watering holes, we’ve got it good around here. Lake Tahoe really is worth all the hype. Pyramid Lake is a tranquil spot to fish or camp, or a rowdy spot to set off fireworks, depending on the day. But Donner Lake has a major advantage over both—it’s only a 35-minute drive from downtown Reno. So, when it’s 95 degrees at dinnertime and you want nothing more in the world more than to plunge into a cool mountain lake, proceed directly to the public docks on Donner Pass Road, just past Donner Memorial State Park. You can get there, parallel park on the street, swim or kayak without an admission fee—maybe stop in Truckee for an ice cream on the way home—and be back by bedtime.

Best spot to hike

Jumbo Grade

In the old days, ore shipments were taken from the Comstock up and over Sun Mountain (Mount Davidson), then down the Jumbo Grade to Washoe Valley, across the causeway (bridge) over Washoe Lake to the Ophir Mill. Jumbo Grade is still there and makes for a nice hike or, for those with less fortitude, a drive. It isn’t easy, but the grade still runs from Virginia City to Washoe Lake. The drive takes about an hour. The hike depends on your own speed. Incidentally, the grade itself had its own boom at one point, with a town called Jumbo on the site, but little remains of that flash of excitement.

Readers’ choices

Best bicycle-ride destination

1. Truckee River

2. Lake Tahoe

3. Idlewild Park

2055 Idlewild Drive, 334-2270

Best golf course

1. Lakeridge Golf Course

1218 Golf Club Drive, 825-2200

2. Red Hawk Golf and Resort

6600 N. Wingfield Parkway, Sparks, 626-6000

3. Wildcreek Golf Course

3500 Sullivan Lane, Sparks, 673-3100

Best hiking trail

1. Tahoe Rim Trail

2. Hunter Creek Trail

3. Mt. Rose Summit Trail

Best local hot springs

1. David Walley’s Hot Springs Resort and Spa

2001 Foothill Road, Genoa, 782-8155

2. Sierra Hot Springs

521 Campbell Hot Springs Road, Sierraville, California, (530) 994-3773

3. Carson Hot Springs Resort

1500 Old Hot Springs Road, Carson City, 885-8844

Best picnic spot

1. Rancho San Rafael Regional Park

1595 N. Sierra St., 784-4512

2. Mayberry Park

101 Woodland Ave., 828-6612

3. Davis Creek Campground

25 Davis Creek Road, Washoe Valley, 849-0684

Best place to ride a personal watercraft

1. Lake Tahoe

3. Boca Reservoir

2. Pyramid Lake

Best place to swim

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Pyramid Lake

3. Wild Island

250 Wild Island Court, Sparks, 359-2927

Best ski resort

1. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 849-0704

2. Squaw Valley Resort

1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, California, (800) 403-0206

3. Northstar California Resort

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, California, (800) 466-6784

Best snowboarding

1. Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe

22222 Mt. Rose Highway, 849-0704

2. Northstar California Resort

5001 Northstar Drive, Truckee, California, (800) 466-6784

3. Squaw Valley Resort

1960 Squaw Valley Road, Olympic Valley, California, (800) 403-0206

Best spot to hike

1. Tahoe Rim Trail

2. Galena Creek Regional Park

3. Hunter Creek Trail

Best spot to run around naked

1. Home

2. Burning Man

3. Lake Tahoe

Best spot to smooch under the stars

1. Lake Tahoe

2. Windy Hill

3. Pyramid Lake