Pyramid Lake

lake in Nevada, United States

Pyramid Lake is a lake in Nevada, United States. Enclosed entirely within the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe reservation, it is the end point for the Truckee River which begins at Lake Tahoe.

Understand

A large lake (188 sq mi/487 km²) in Western Nevada, the terminus of the Truckee River rising in the Sierra Nevada and flowing out of Lake Tahoe. Since the lake has no outlet, salt and other soluble minerals accumulate making the water about 1/6 as salty as sea water.

Pyramid Lake is of great significance to the area's natives, the Paiute people who have lived in the area for centuries.

History

This is the largest remnant of Lake Lahontan that formed during ice ages, reaching an area of square 8,500 mi (13,700 km).

Landscape

Flora and fauna

  • Cui-Ui (Chasmistes cujus), a type of sucker, found nowhere else and classified as endangered.
  • Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi), native to the Lahontan-Humboldt sub-basin of the Great Basin, but decimated by water withdrawals, pollution, dams, competition with introduced fish species and interbreeding with introduced Rainbow Trout and classified as threatened. Pyramid Lake originally had a relatively long-lived strain of this species that was adapted to the lake environment and grew large enough to prey on adult tui chub.
  • Tui Chub (Gila bicolor), up to 18" (45 cm), but averaging about 10" (25 cm.)

Climate

The large lake that does not freeze in winter has a moderating effect that reduces seasonal and diurnal variations. Due to the open water, temperatures tend to remain above freezing when it is significantly colder away from the lake. Likewise the water moderates summer heat.

Get in

By car

From Reno

Take the NV 445 north.

By plane

The nearest airport is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) in Reno.

Fees and permits

Get around

See

Rock formations

  • The Great Mother. A rock symbolising the creation of Pyramid Lake according to the Paiute people. (updated May 2018)
  • Pyramid. A pyramid rock formation is on the on east side of lake. (updated May 2018)
  • 🌍 Monument Rock. (updated May 2018)

Do

  • Fish for Lahontan Cutthroats. You will need a tribal permit (a Nevada fishing license is not needed). Fishing is mostly by trolling or flycasting from stepladders. Fishing season is October 1 to June 30.
  • Visit hatcheries for Lahontan Cutthroats and Cui-Ui

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Lodging

Camping

Backcountry

Stay safe

Go next


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