Nevada · Hiking

Steamboat Ditch Trail

Steamboat Ditch TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
3.1 mi
round trip
773 ft
climb
4,898 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Steamboat Ditch Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Carson Ranger District. It doesn't name Steamboat Ditch Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Carson Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Steamboat Ditch Trail is a 6.2-mile out-and-back hike in the Carson Ranger District of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada. The trail is rated moderate, with a total elevation gain of 21 feet, so it's a low-key walk rather than a climb. The route starts and ends at about 4,867 feet, with the high point at 4,898 feet, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.6 miles in, where the grade reaches 7%. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Reno show May highs around 72°F and October highs around 68°F, while July and August average in the low 90s. Alum Creek, a canoeing spot, is about a mile away, and the Tahoe-Pyramid Trail is about 1.2 miles off. Virginia Lake Loop, with both paved and dirt versions, is about 2.2 miles away. Climbers can head to the Chudo Area, about 3.1 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Mar–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Steamboat Ditch Trail

    Best months: March–June and September–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      46° / 27°

      7 wet

    2. Feb

      50° / 29°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      57° / 34°

      6 wet

    4. Apr

      63° / 38°

      5 wet

    5. May

      72° / 46°

      5 wet

    6. Jun

      83° / 54°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      93° / 61°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      91° / 60°

      2 wet

    9. Sep

      82° / 53°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      68° / 43°

      3 wet

    11. Nov

      54° / 33°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      45° / 27°

      7 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Reno Wfo, NV, 5.7 mi away at 4,987 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors