Tuesday December 12, 2017 Paint-Out South End of Little Washoe Lake

Let's Paint the South End of Little Washoe Lake!

Date:  TUESDAY, December 12, 2017
Time:  10:00 am
Location:  Little Washoe Lake - go past the pay hut, go straight down hill, keep going straight on dirt road at the end of the parking lot for the beach, continue around Little Washoe Lake taking the bends to the right.  Pull off where you want to paint or go the end where the dirt parking is and the bathroom (it is open)

Directions to Little Washoe Lake:  From Virginia Street/Mount Rose Highway intersection, take 395 south about 6 miles.  After you pass through Pleasant Valley you will go up a hill (Washoe Hill).  At the top, turn left on East Lake Boulevard.  Almost immediately you will cross a cattle guard and then turn right into the park entrance.  There is an entrance fee year-round, but you can take your chances.  See above for how to go to the south end.   

It is slightly muddy-slick in some areas near the water.  Today I visited (Dec 6) and took these pictures.  A large herd of wild horses came down to drink at the lake.

Monday, Oct. 30, 2017 - Little Washoe Lake Paint-Out

Monday, October 30, 2017 - Little Washoe Lake Paint-Out

Date:  Monday, October 30, 2017
Time:  10:00 am
Place:  Little Washoe Lake State Park
Directions from Reno:  Take old 395 (Virginia Street) through Pleasant Valley.  When you get to the top of Washoe Hill, get in left turning lane and turn left onto East Lake Boulevard.  After crossing cattle guard, make your first right into park.  There is a booth and a self-pay thing, then make your first right on an old paved road that is rough.  This old road will take you to the north side of Little Washoe Lake where all these photos were taken.

Amenities:  Bathroom (I don't know if it is open in off-season) at the beach parking if you were to go straight ahead.

If you choose to turn right on the old road, go to the end and then turn left.  Turn around at the end and park along the edge.  There are two areas where there are steps down to the beach and a couple of picnic tables.  These might be used by people with dogs fetching in the water - a popular place for locals, and I noticed they did not pay the entry fee of $5.00. 

If you choose to park in the parking lot at the beach where the bathroom is - it might be a good idea to pay the fee. 

Another option is to continue past the beach parking on the dirt road that loops around the lake and deadends in a parking lot.  There is a pit toilet there and the views are mostly willows and wetlands if you like that sort of subject.

November 25, 2013 (Monday) Paint-Out at Little Washoe Lake

This was taken during the spring from the overlook dirt pull-out

Weather permitting, we will be going to Little Washoe Lake.  We will meet in the dirt pull-out before the park.  There everyone can decide if they want to paint the view from there, or go down the driveway to the fee parking lot.  It is part of the Nevada State Park, and there are envelopes to self-pay (or take your chance the ranger doesn't come by....)

Date:          November 25, 2013 (Monday)
Time:          10:00 am
Meeting Place:     The dirt pull-out before going into Little Washoe Lake
Amenities:    toilets, picnic benches, paved parking lot
Fee:          $7.00 per car if out of state, $5.00 per car if Nevada license plate.  You can even carpool the few hundred feet into the park to share the fee if you want to.  Leaving your car in the turn-out is relatively safe.
Dogs:        Allowed.  Beware of coyotes or dog walkers with unfriendly loose dogs.

Directions:  From Virginia Street/Mount Rose Highway intersection, take 395 south about 6 miles.  After you pass through Pleasant Valley you will go up a hill (Washoe Hill).  At the top, turn left on East Lake Boulevard.  Almost immediately on your right is a large dirt turn-out.  We will meet there.

The park entrance is a few feet further up East Lake Boulevard.  This is a quiet park and only a few people visit it.  Be sure to scope it out:  drive into the parking lot and then continue straight on the dirt road.  Take the bend in the road to the right and follow around the lake to the end where there is a pit toilet.  All along the dirt road, it is generally wide enough to park on the side and paint.  There are marshes, reeds, willows and snow capped mountains and wider portions of lake.  This time of year the water level is lower.  All these pictures were taken in the spring of last year.  But after our snowfall last night and today, it will probably still be there on the mountain tops come Monday.

This is another view looking more south

This was taken from the beach area

This was taken from the dirt road that follows the edge of the lake to the other side.  This is actually looking away from Little Washoe Lake and looking more south

This was taken from the dirt road about half way to the end