Truckee River
The Truckee River, from the start of its journey in the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Pyramid Lake in Nevada, is famous for its whitewater rafting, river floating and extraordinary fishing.
- The Truckee River runs from near Lake Tahoe into Nevada and the Pyramid Lake
- The river is accessible all year round
- Find great fishing locations for trout around the town of Truckee
- Try floating the Truckee starting near Tahoe City for pleasant Class 1 and 2 rapids
Overview
The Truckee River CA has provided outdoor lovers with premier recreation for decades. Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, it flows from Lake Tahoe near Tahoe City (the lake’s only outlet), through Truckee, California and into Nevada, covering about 120 miles.
Location & Information
The Truckee River California has many access points. For whitewater rafting, you can find starting locations around Tahoe City on the west side of Lake Tahoe. For fishing, you can find a number of spots along Highway 267 near Truckee.
The Truckee River is accessible all year.
Contact information:
Tahoe National Forest
Truckee Ranger District
10811 Stockrest Springs Road
Truckee, CA 96161
530-587-3558
Website: http://www.r5.fs.fed.us/tahoe
Activities
- Fly-fishing
You will certainly find some trophy trout in the Truckee, but you have to use all your wits to outsmart those rainbows and browns. There are 12 miles of river that are excellent for fly-fishing below the town of Truckee, with a number of turnoffs where you can park. Towards Hirschdale you will find a bridge across the river where access to a few pools may just allow you to hook your catch of the day. - Whitewater Rafting and Floating
You will find many adventures by rafting on the Truckee! One of the most popular sections starts at Lake Tahoe’s outlet and runs for three to five miles. Class 1 and 2 rapids are fun to navigate for the whole family. In Reno, you’ll find a whitewater park in downtown for some Class 2 and 3 waters. If you begin your journey in the town of Truckee, you’ll find more challenging whitewater, of Class 3 .
Fun Facts
The first naming of this Sierra river was by Kit Carson. He called it the Salmon Trout River after the large cutthroat trout swimming upstream to spawn. Later, in 1844, a Paiute Indian Chief helped take an emigrant party across Donner Pass and out of gratitude, they named the river after him. According to legend, the Chief’s real name was Tru-ki-zo and it’s thought that “Truckee” comes from a distortion of this name.
