Lake Tahoe, Reno & Beyond

"California's magnificent Sierra Nevada mountain range packs a punch when it comes to adventuring. Join local author Wilbur Morrison as he walks you along the Pacific Crest Trail and the John Muir Trail, through King's Canyon, up to the top of Mount Whitney, and swimming in Lake Tahoe. Offering tips on exploring this fantastic area alone, Morrison also lists local outfitters who can help you plan a horseback riding trip, a hike, a biking excursion or an overnight trek." - Amazon review. This guide, drawn from our complete guide to the Sierra Nevada, focuses on Tahoe, Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and their surroundings. Between Mt. Whitney and Lake Tahoe is the true Sierra Nevada, a land of granite, glacial ice and alpine lakes. Here you will find forests of giant sequoias, wildflowered meadows and steep V-shaped river canyons. You'll read about the local history and get basic travel information, from contact numbers and addresses for tourism bureaus and outfitters to airlines and rental cars. You'll discover the towns and attractions, including the best lodging and dining spots. The adventure sections are packed with detailed advice on how to explore the region on foot, on horseback, on water, on wheels and on snow. Carson City is Nevada's state capital. The city was named after the famous scout, Kit Carson, who explored much of this area. And then there is Virginia City, which has been restored to its former boomtown appearance, once the domain of Bret Harte and Mark Twain. By 1859, thousands of miners still sought gold in western areas where the metal could be retrieved from streams or hillsides. But the gold was playing out in most places and miners were desperate to find new sources. Miners had long complained about a troublesome blue sand that clogged their rockers and which they discarded. That worthless "blue stuff" turned out to be rich in silver and gold as well, and worth a fortune. Today the strike is known as the Comstock Lode. In the next 20 years Virginia City and Gold Hill poured forth silver as well as gold worth some 300 million. The silver mined at Virginia City was mainly responsible for the growth of San Francisco. Today's Virginia City is a busy tourist town. Lake Tahoe, one of the true gems of the Sierra Nevada, is only an hour and a quarter drive from Virginia City. The lake, with its surrounding mountains, is an unforgettable sight of astonishing beauty. Then there are the world-class hotel-casinos that provide excitement in Nevada's nightlife - MontBleu, Harrah's, Harveys and many more. Thousands of couples each year exchange their wedding vows here. Tahoe is a perfect setting because of its idyllic beauty, the ease of obtaining wedding licenses, and abundant chapels. Many vacationers, with no previous thought of getting married, are so charmed by the surroundings that they get married here. The perimeter of Lake Tahoe spans thousands of square miles of forest land, much of it open for hiking, backpacking and camping. There are hundreds of unforgettably beautiful parks and trails, many of them detailed in this guide. And then there is Reno, with its hotels, casinos and restaurants. All are detailed here. But there is much more to Reno than cardsharps, all-you-can-eat buffets and slot machines. Visitors will find abundant walking tours, fascinating museums and picturesque parks. This guide tells you about it all, with color photos throughout.