Description:

Built in 2020 with funding from SNPLMA, the Prison Hill East Trail is an easy hike or ride along the east side of Prison Hill from the 5th Street Trailhead or Silver Saddle Ranch. Lovely Ranch views and connections to the Mexican Ditch Trail. 

Length:

1.5 miles. 

Difficulty:

With an IMBA rating of white, this trail has an average grade of 4% with a max grade of 7%.

Type of Trail:

This is a compacted dirt/gravel trail that is perfect for hiking/running, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Access can be found at the 5th Street Trailhead or Silver Saddle Ranch. 

Description: 

Built in 2025 with funding from the Southern Nevada Lands Management Act (SNPLMA), the Prison Hill Trail West is an easy hike or ride along the west side of Prison Hill. Beginning at the Koontz Lane Trailhead, this trail travels south to the Clearview Drive Trailhead, and terminates at the south end of Prison Hill near Golden Eagle Lane. Lovely views of Carson City and the Carson Range.

Length:

2.5 Miles.

Difficulty:

With an IMBA rating of WHITE, trail has an average grade of 3% and a maximum grade of 7%.

Type of Trail:

Compacted base, 10 ft. wide, perfect for hiking/running, bicycling (including aMTB's) and horseback riding. Access from Koontz Lane Trailhead or Clearview Drive Trailhead.

Description:

This is a paved path that allows for many connections to other paths or the trails at Prison Hill. 

Length:

1.0 mile. 

Difficulty:

With an IMBA rating of white, this trail has an average grade of 5%. 

Type of Trail:

This is a paved path that is great for walking, hiking/running, biking, and horseback riding. 

Description:

Built in 2019 with funding from RTP, the 5th Street Loop Trails include the Sagebrush, Rabbitbrush, and Bitterbrush loops that offer stunning views of Prison Hill, surrounding ranches, and Carson City itself!

Length:

1.7 miles to complete all three loops. 

Difficulty:

With an IMBA rating of green/blue, these trails have an average grade of 5% with a max grade of 12%. 

Type of Trail:

These trails are dirt single-track at 4' wide. Great for hiking/running, mountain biking, and horseback riding.

Description:

Built by BLM in the 1980s with improvements made by Muscle Powered in 2018-2020, the North Loop is a fun hike or ride with amazing views, and crossing rocky terrain. 

Length:

2.2 miles to complete the full loop. 

Difficulty:

With an IMBA rating of blue, this trail has an average grade of 6% with a max grade of 15%. CAUTION - the east side of this loop has VERY steep cross-slopes; experienced mountain bikers only on this side.

Type of Trail:

This is a dirt and rock single-track trail with a width of 24". Access to this trail are available at the Koontz and Clearview Trailheads. 

Description:

The Desert Peach Trail connects the 5th Street Loop Trails with the North Loop. It has beautiful views of Silver Saddle Ranch and Buzzy's Ranch.  Steep side slopes; horses not advised.

Length:

1.4 Miles 

Difficulty:

IMBA rating is Blue, average grade 6% with a max. grade of about 15%, and tread width average is 24" (min. 18").  

Type of Trail:

Native surface (dirt).  

Description:

Much of this trail is a remnant of an old road that provides a steep hike through a classic Great Basin desert canyon. Geologically interesting, Dead Truck Canyon marks the divide between the granitic south end of Prison Hill and the meta-volcanic north end of Prison Hill. Along the way you will encounter the canyon's name sake, an early 1950's Chevrolet Pick-up!  

Length:

1.6 miles. 

Difficulty:

This trail has an average grade of 8% with a max grades up to 30%. Some segments are rated Blue (More Difficult) while much of the trail is rated Black (Very Difficult) because of steep grades, large rocks and technical features or deep sand.

Type of Trail:

This is a dirt and rock single-track trail. Access can be found at Silver Saddle Ranch Trailhead. 

Description:

This loop combines 1/2 mile of easy dirt singletrack with 1/2 mile of 10'-wide compacted base (utilizes part of the Prison Hill Trail West)

Length:

One-mile (loop)

Difficulty: 

Easy. Typical grade is 4%, with max grade of 12%. Width is 3' - 10'.

Type of Trail:

Combination of dirt and complacted base. A little bit of sand in a few places.

Description:

Easy 0.8 mile loop accessed from the Clearview Trailhead.

Length:

0.8 miles

Difficulty:

IMBA Rating Green - Easy

Type of Trail:

Singletrack trail with dirt or sand tread

Description:

The Express Trail is the quickest way to the Prison Hill Saddle from either the Koontz Lane TH or the Clearview Drive TH. 

Length:

0.7 miles

Difficulty:

Rated Blue/Black because of steep grades and a few large rocks and technical features. Average grade is 10%, with max grades up to 25%.

Type of Trail:

Singletrack dirt and rock. This is an old social trail that has been realigned in two locations by Eagle Scout projects to make it more sustainable.

Description:

Odyssey: (noun), 'a long and adventurous journey'. This new singletrack trail makes a great connection from the Koontz Lane TH to the Prison Hill Saddle and the North Loop. Beyond the Saddle, the trail climbs south to the west end of Stegosaurus Ridge, where it overlooks the upper end of Dead Truck Canyon. A planned future extension will take this trail into Dead Truck Canyon, and beyond...

Length:

1.8 miles

Difficulty:

IMBA Rating BLUE. Average grade 6.5%

Trail Type:

Singletrack, average 2'-wide, dirt tread with a few rocks.

   Photo credit: Christy Chamberlain