Support Great Basin Institute in Serving Public Lands in the West

Wooden bridge leading to a trail through trees at Galena Creek
Galena Creek Visitor Center Logo

WELCOME TO GALENA CREEK

Welcome to the Galena Creek Recreation Area. We invite you to explore the park where the high desert ends and the forest lands begin. You will find yourself at the base of Mt. Rose nestled in mixed conifer forest, mountain streams, and rocky canyons of the Eastern Sierra Nevada. Explore! Hiking and biking trails wind through the forested hills, several leading to scenic ridges that provide panoramic views of the valleys below. The Center also offers outdoor educational programs for children and teens (residential and day), guided nature hikes, and presentations on a variety of Galena Creek related topics most weekends throughout the year. 

2023 Summer camps now available!

The Great Basin Naturalists at Galena Creek are excited to announce the return of day and overnight STEAM camps, for children ages 8 – 15. Registration is open to all, however fully paid scholarships are avialable for students who attend a Washoe County Title I school. To learn more about camp offerings and to reserve online, check out our summer camp portal below!

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SITE INFORMATION

The Galena Creek Visitor Center aims to increase public understanding, appreciation and wise enjoyment of the many natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources of the Galena Canyon area and the Mount Rose Scenic Byway.

Summer Visitor Center Hours
TUESDAY-SUNDAY • 9am-5pm

Winter Visitor Center Hours
FRIDAY-SUNDAY • 9am-4pm

Summer Park Hours • 8am-7pm

Winter Park Hours • 8am-5pm

PHONE: 775-849-4948

ADDRESS:
18250 Mt Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511

SOCIAL MEDIA

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PARTNERSHIPS

The Galena Creek Visitor Center is managed by Washoe County Regional Parks & Open Space under a special use permit from the US Forest Service. Great Basin Institute is the interpretive association that operates the Visitor Center, providing staff and volunteers who greet the public, provide travel information, and offer a wide variety of nature-based programming for all ages.

The Great Basin Institute
Washoe County
Regional Parks
& Open Space
Humboldt-Toiyabe
National Forest
AmeriCorps
Other Programs
Supporters
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Staff & Volunteers

Volunteers are a vital part of the sustainability of the Galena Creek Visitor Center and the programs offered for the community. Without you, the visitor center would not be able to continue connecting our community with nature.

Greeting local community members and tourists starts with a friendly welcome. Your own experience, supported with local area maps, trail maps, and a retail store, provides the public with information that guides their outdoor experience.

Volunteer Naturalists provide leadership on guided community hikes, sharing knowledge in one or more of the following local categories: trees/plants, geology, history, culture.

Submit a volunteer inquiry below, and we will contact you!

GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER CONTACTS

Galena Creek Visitor Center
  • Physical Address: 18250 Mt. Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511
  • Mailing Address: 16750 Mt. Rose Hwy, Reno, NV 89511 Attn: Galena Creek Visitor Center
  • Phone: 775-849-4948
  • Fax: 775-674-5499
  • Email: visitorcenter@thegreatbasininstitute.org
Visitor Services

Washoe County Regional Parks and Open Space

Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest

  • Brian Hansen, USDA Forest Service, Forest Service Recreation Officer brian.c.hansen@usda.gov
  • Carson Ranger District, 775-884-8140

PARK RESOURCES

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE IN GALENA CREEK PARK

The Galena Creek Visitor Center is uniquely situated in  Galena Creek Recreation Area, which adjoins Galena Creek Regional Park, surrounded on three sides by the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest. Located at the juncture of two ecosystems, high desert and alpine, the location provides opportunity for recreation for all levels in both desert and mountain habitats. Whether you are looking for a stroll through the aspens, a challenging day hike, or a snowshoe adventure through pristine forests, you will find all possibilities here in Galena!

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GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT BASIN INSTITUTE

Great Basin Institute (GBI) is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and conservation throughout the West, with the goal of increasing ecological literacy through educational outreach and direct service programs.
​Interested in supporting GBI’s programs at the Galena Creek Visitor Center? Make a tax-deductible contribution. Please be sure to indicate you are supporting Visitor Center programs so that we may appropriately delegate your donation.

WASHOE COUNTY REGIONAL PARKS & OPEN SPACE PARTNERSHIP WITH GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER

The mission of the Washoe County Department of Regional Parks and Open Space is to provide exceptional parks, open space, and recreational opportunities while preserving our natural, historical and cultural resources.

HUMBOLDT-TOIYABE NATIONAL FOREST PARTNERSHIP WITH GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER

The Humboldt-Toiyabe’s spectacular 6.3 million acres makes it the largest national forest in the lower 48 states. Located in Nevada and a small portion of Eastern California, the Forest offers year-round recreation of all types.

AMERICORPS PARTNERSHIP WITH GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER

AmeriCorps, as administered by Nevada Volunteers and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), has been a consistent partner for Great Basin Institute for 10 years, contributing $3.3 million to the Nevada Conservation Corps program and facilitating the recruitment of over 650 AmeriCorps Members. These members have contributed substantially to developing and implementing Great Basin Naturalists programming at the Galena Creek Visitor Center.

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH GALENA CREEK VISITOR CENTER

The Galena Creek Recreation Area and Visitor Center was cooperatively funded by the US Forest Service, Washoe County, the US Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration and the citizens of Washoe County. Funding was made available through these programs:

  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
  • National Scenic Byways Program
  • Recreational Trails Program
  • Forest Highways Program
  • TEA-21 -Transportation Equity Act the 21st Century
  • WC-1 Regional, Parks, Trails, Open Space and Libraries Bond of 2000

PAST & PRESENT SUPPORTERS

A huge thank you to the individuals, families and organizations supporting outdoor education for kids and ​Community Connection with Nature
DONORS

Anonymous; Armstrong Family; Arnone, Lynn; Blomquist, Cari; Burnham, Mary; Calderon-Saldana, Juan; Capello, Michael & Trisha; Ceniceroz, David; Clays, Kelly;  De Kay, Jody; DelPapa, Frankie-Sue; Duncan, Christine; Durrer, Laura & Daniel; Eberle, Rachael & Tom; Forster, Courtney & Shane; Garaventa, Ryan; Gunderson, Lucinda & Mark; Gunderson, Norma; Gunther, Richard & Suzanne; Hanlon, Kate; Hiller, Bob; Juhl, Greg; Keillor, Richard; Kladney, Debbie & Dave; Lasko, Katrina; Lerud, Alicia; Lipscomb, Christine; Longoria-Howard, Diane; Marsh, Jack & Becky; McAndrew, Trish; Molt, Dotty; Moltzen-Wade, Linda; Morris, David & Caren; Noneman, Kathleen; Oest, Marianne; Pappas, Christy; Schmidt, Casey; Sullivan, Tom & Chris; Toscana, Vickie

COMPANY SUPPORT

Alpine Insurance; Carson Tahoe Health; Coldwell Banker – Mt. Rose Hwy; Dolan Auto Group; Great Basin Institute; Gunderson Law Firm; J.S. Redpath; Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe RideFox; Silver Sage Sports and Fitness Lab; St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center

FOUNDATIONS & GRANTS

Environmental Protection Agency; Neil J. Redfield Foundation; Pennington Foundation; Truckee River Foundation; United Way of Northern Nevada

IN KIND SUPPORT

Griger, Carol; Ramsdell, Dorothy; Mason, Sandy; Shepherd, Scott; Voegel, George; Washoe County; UPS at Wedge Parkway; U.S. Forest Service