The change of the season is upon us in Nevada. Visit 3  fall foliage locations between now and November 30th to get your leaf peeper badge!

Ash Canyon - Kings Canyon Trail System

This is the print view for this trail. View the full trail posting.

A beautiful hike through alpine forests and stunning views of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Trail Uses
Hiking Mountain biking E-biking Horseback riding
Location
Carson City
Length
25.00 miles (Network)
Difficulty
Easy, Moderate, Difficult
Town
Carson City
Surface
Dirt, Rock/Ledge
Pets
Permitted on Leash
Fees
No
Other Activities
UTV/Jeep Driving ATV Riding

Description

These trails are typically available spring, summer, and fall, but are normally snow-covered in the winter. The views are incredible, spring creeks and wildflowers are amazing, and some shade is available.

Some favorites:

  • The award-winning Ash-to-Kings Trail was established by Muscle Powered in 2015. It is 7.5 miles one-way but can be enjoyed as a 14.5-mile loop by utilizing the Lincoln Bypass Trail (4.2 miles), Longview Drive Bike Path (0.8 miles), and Ash Canyon Road (2.0 miles).
  • Lincoln Bypass Trail, just finished in 2022 by Muscle Powered, provides a 4.2-mile single-track alternative to Kings Canyon Road when making a loop with the Ash-to-Kings Trail.
  • The V&T Multi-Use Pathway is a one-mile paved path between Ash Canyon Road and Coombs Canyon Road which follows a segment of the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad.

Ecological Fun Fact!

In 2004, a rogue campfire started a fire that burned much of the area around the Ash and Kings Canyon Trails. Today, there are not as many large pines in the lower portions of the trail as there once were, but you can see nature recovering in real time through a process called “ecological succession”. Ecological succession is a cycle of plant growth after disturbances, like fire, where first primary succession species like mosses and grasses fill in the barren area within a few years of the fire, followed by shrubs, and eventually trees. Although some fire is natural, do your part to be fire safe: follow the local fire rules, never leave a campfire unattended, report any uncontrolled fires, and never park on flammable material like dry grass.

Other Information

Use caution when using the trails; there are lots of rocks and the trails can become narrow at time. Use extra caution on King's Canyon Road, on which motorized vehicles are allowed.

Learn more about Carson City on their website.

View the complete Carson City West side trail system here.

Motor vehicles with high-clearance and 4x4 are permitted on the Ash Canyon Road and the historic Kings Canyon Road. Caution – these are narrow roads with few turnouts and steep drop-offs. Ash Canyon Road is closed one mile above the water tanks in winter.

This trail system was established with the help of Muscle Powered and The Great Basin Institute

Note – Horses, dogs, and bicycles are not permitted on the Waterfall Trail or the North Kings Loop for safety and for protection of Carson City’s drinking water.

Trail Manager

For additional information, visit the Carson City Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces website, or contact: 

Carson City Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces
3303 Butti Way Building #9
Carson City, Nevada 89701
Phone: 775-887-2262
View website
Muscle Powered
View website
US Forest Service - Carson Ranger District
1536 South Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701
Phone: (775) 882-2766
View website

Trail Tips

Leave What You Find
Avoid the introduction or transport of non-native species. Clean, drain, and dry water equipment when moving between water bodies.

Trailhead Information

This trail can be accessed several ways: 

Kings Canyon area:

  1. Kings Canyon Trailhead. Located at the end of the paved portion of Kings Canyon Road, this trailhead offers paved parking for 25 vehicles, plus two ADA spaces, two trailer spaces, and a vault toilet.
  2. Kingsview TH (on Kings Canyon Road at Longview Drive) – parking for 4-5 vehicles, provides access to the Lincoln Bypass Trail.

Ash Canyon area:

  1. Ash Canyon Square Pond – designated parking area by the water tanks - follow the signs – no facilities.
  2. Ash-to-Kings trailhead kiosk – three parking spaces are available one-mile above the water tanks – no facilities.
  3. Foothill Drive (X-S Winnie Lane) – several parking spaces provide access to all Ash Canyon trails – no facilities.
  4. Murphy Drive (X-S Coombs Canyon Road, just west of Western Nevada College) – a few parking spaces provide access to the V&T Multi-Use Pathway and other Ash Canyon trails. No facilities.

 

Legend
Hide All
Facebook Instagram Twitter YouTube
Join In on the Fun!
Log in or create an account below to unlock all the great features of Nevada Trail Finder: keep track of trails you want to do, preserve memories of trails you’ve done, earn badges, and more!
Your log in attempt was not successful. Please try again.
    Lost your password? Reset your password
    Don't yet have an account?
    There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.
      * Indicates required field
      Already have an account? Login here
      Enter your username, and we will send you a new, randomly generated password to your email account.
      There was an issue with your submission. Please try again.

        Success! A new password has been emailed to you.

        Log in now

        Please wait…