Located 70 miles north of Carson City via U.S.
395, Interstate 80, and State Route 445 is Pyramid Lake, one of the largest natural
lakes in Nevada. The lake, which covers about 125,000 acres, is the largest remnant
of ancient Lake Lahontan, a giant inland sea that once covered most of Nevada.
In 1844, explorer John C. Fremont came upon the desert lake and wrote that it “broke
upon our eyes like the ocean.” He named it Pyramid Lake, after a 500-foot
high pyramid-shaped island that juts from the waters near the lake’s southeastern
shore.
Pyramid Lake receives a regular flow of water from the Truckee River, which
begins at Lake Tahoe. The lake is the center of the 322,000-acre Pyramid Lake
Paiute Reservation.
The lake is popular with anglers, who fish for Lahontan cutthroat trout and
other species. Additionally, Pyramid is home to the rare cui-ui, a fish that
first appeared more than two million years ago. Today, the fish is an endangered
species protected by the U.S. government.
Pyramid Lake makes an enjoyable day trip. The lake is a fine spot for picnicking,
camping, boating, waterskiing, swimming, hiking, exploring, or just driving around.
The Pyramid Lake Museum and Visitor Center on the lake’s south end, near
Nixon, contains exhibits describing the tribe’s history and culture as
well as the lake’s natural history. Here, you can also purchase camping,
boating and fishing permits, which are required at the lake.
For more information about Pyramid Lake, contact the Pyramid Lake Museum and
Visitor Center at 775-574-1088.
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