Lahontan State Recreation Area
| Lahontan State Recreation Area | |
|---|---|
Lahontan Dam on the Carson River | |
| Location | Lyon and Churchill counties, Nevada, United States |
| Nearest city | Fallon, Nevada |
| Coordinates | 39°22′37″N 119°10′3″W / 39.37694°N 119.16750°W |
| Area | 28,892.3 acres (11,692.3 ha) |
| Elevation | 4,157 ft (1,267 m) |
| Established | 1971 |
| Administered by | Nevada Division of State Parks |
| Visitors | 58,838 vehicles (in 2017) |
| Designation | Nevada state park |
| Website | Official website |
Lahontan State Recreation Area is a public recreation area surrounding Lake Lahontan, a 17-mile-long (27 km) impoundment of the Carson River, located approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of Fallon, Nevada. The reservoir features 69 miles (111 km) of shoreline and 11,200 acres (4,500 ha) of water when full. Much of the park lies below 4,000 feet (1,200 m) in elevation and is dominated by high desert sagebrush. Wooded areas of native cottonwoods and willow trees can be found along the shore of the lake. Primary access points to the park are along U.S. Route 50 near the Lahontan Dam and off U.S. Route 95 in the town of Silver Springs. A corridor known as Carson River Ranches connects Lahontan with Fort Churchill State Historic Park.