Historic Virginia Truckee Rail To Trail

Reviving Nevada’s Legendary Rail Corridor:

Carson City NV, – Regarding conservation efforts in the Sierra Nevada, trail enthusiasts rejoice in Carson City! We’ve got some fantastic news for all you walking and biking aficionados in Nevada. A dream of connecting five counties and countless years of Nevada history is taking tangible steps forward as organizers, planners and trail experts continue to push forward a dream of a Bikeable, Walkable Trail future in Northern Nevada.
Picture this: you’re about to embark on a 60 plus-mile trail journey like no other—a trail that traces the footsteps of Nevada’s rich railroad history. The V&T Trail, also known as the Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail, takes you along one of the most famous railroads in the state, promising an unforgettable experience for both present and future trail enthusiasts.

If you will, Flashback to 1868 when the Virginia and Truckee Railroad came into existence, built by the Bank of California to transport ore from the Comstock silver mines of Virginia City to the processing mills along the Carson River. Over time, the railroad expanded its tracks, connecting various regions and creating a unique three-legged configuration for its 66-mile route.

But, like many good things, the railroad’s glory days ended in 1950, and the corridor was handed back to its previous owners, which included private, city, and county entities, as well as the Bureau of Land Management.
Fast forward to 2015 when passionate advocates started pushing for a transformation of the corridor into a rail-trail. After tremendous effort and support from local leaders, momentum started building. In 2017, they submitted their first grant application to the National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to kickstart trail development.

The summer of ’19 marked a game-changer for trails in the state with the signing of Assembly Bill 84 by Governor Steve Sisolak. Hold on to your handlebars because this bill allocates a whopping $217 million in bonds for conservation and wildlife management, paving the way for some incredible projects, including the much-anticipated Historic Virginia and Truckee Trail (V&T Trail).

Thanks to Assembly Bill 84, things are taking off big time! This bill opens up incredible funding opportunities, paving the way for 50–60 miles of paved and compressed-dirt nonmotorized paths in the V&T footprint. Imagine a trail connecting five counties, five cities, and six museums, preserving northern Nevada’s high desert’s historical significance and natural beauty.

Some portions of the Trail are already up and running. Carson City, the state capital, has several miles of the V&T Trail on the ground. And believe it or not, you might have already ridden along parts of the old route through Washoe and Pleasant Valleys in Washoe County without even realizing it. This fall, they will celebrate the Trail’s early adoption by holding the first-ever Truckee to Carson Trail Day, where riders will have the opportunity to ride from the Truckee River in Reno to the Carson River in Carson City. The Trail is now fully marked and ready to ride for adventure travelers.

I had the opportunity to sit with the Trail’s original dreamer and current project leader and Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail non-profit association, Donna Inversin, in May of 2023. “Imagine a time in the near future where visitors and locals can take off on a bike packing trip from Reno and stage a multiple-day bike trip that includes Douglas County, Tahoe, Virginia City etc.” the V&T trail will be the connector trail of communities and adventure enthusiasts will have a new way to see the scenic region by foot or bike” says Donna. Donna’s passion for this project and her work as the President of the Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail non-in Carson City has helped secure funding and make plans for excellent new editions to the community. But there is more to accomplish.
The completed rail-trail will also link up with other significant trails like the 1,800-mile Pony Express Trail, the 6,800-mile-plus American Discovery Trail, and the 114-mile Tahoe Pyramid Trail. And that’s not all—travelers will have access to the 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail and the epic 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail through connections to Carson City and Douglas and Washoe counties.

In Douglas County, officials are reviewing the idea of adding a trail bridge over the Carson River near Sunridge Golf Course connecting with Heybourne Road and into Douglas County, where the train initially stopped.
In the future, riders could be in Lake Tahoe or Virginia City and then head out on a trail to ride or hike back into Carson City or Reno. Hikers and bikers could take the train to Virginia City and then return to Carson City on foot or two wheels.

There are so many possibilities with this Trail and the vision for its future. As a recreation community, we must volunteer our time, resources, and voice to this great new community asset to see it come to its completion.

Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail, a 501-c non profit citizen group advocating for this five county connection trail, couldn’t be more excited about the already completed sections of the new V&T trail. It has much work still to accomplish. However, it’s vital to preserve this priceless corridor. So much has been lost since the railway closed 73 years ago, and we must do everything possible to protect what remains!

Head to the Historic Virginia & Truckee Trail Facebook page for more information on this fantastic project. Happy trails!

A dream of Bike Tour businesses drawn out by leadership of V&T trail.

Donna shared with us a vision for a regional bike tour industry that could be developed with the completion of the Virginia Truckee trail, especially with the invention and expansion of electric bikes. Here is a quick review of what a bike tour using the Virginia Truckee Might look like in northern Nevada. With the understanding that a business like this requires considerable resources to get started, at least 2 vans, electric bicycles that can work on paved surfaces and handle minor soft trails just to get started.

Most such outfits usually have between 8 and 12 participants and many of the days will include two options for activities Proposed Itinerary
This itinerary is based on traveler flying into Reno. If you are already local skip to Day 2.