Sun Valley Regional Park
5905 Sidehill Drive, Sun Valley, NV 89433 (For directions, view the Google map)
North on Sun Valley Blvd.; left on 7th Ave.; right on Sidehill to park entrance.
Park Ranger Office: (775) 424-1866
This 343-acre park serves as a gateway to hundred of acres of public open space widely known for its abundant wildlife, unusual rock outcroppings and unforgettable views of the Truckee Meadows. The park was acquired from the Bureau of Land Management at no cost to the County through a Recreation and Public Purpose Lease. The park includes a Disc Golf Course, trails for hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and equestrian use, as well as interpretive information, restrooms and picnic areas.
For plant & animal species found here, be sure to check out the iNaturalist observations within the park.
Trails
The multi-use Sun Valley Regional Park trails are featured in the Truckee Meadows Trails Guide. Look on pages 42 & 43.
Park History
Several farmers came to the area in the early 1900’s to raise hogs, goats, chicken and sheep for the growing population of the Truckee Meadows. Sun Valley was owned by just a couple families who did fairly well on their farms. The trail into the Sun Valley area came up from Wedekind Road, an old flume path before it became a dirt road and then a paved road years later. A couple small narrow gauge railroad lines traversed this area as well, connecting with the Northern Pacific tracks that meandered through the northern valleys to the main Central Pacific roundhouse at the end of Valley Road.
Reno started growing from the building of military installations during World War II. Lemmon Valley (once the town of Peavine) was the housing overflow of maintenance workers at Stead AFB. Traffic increased and pavement was laid along Military Road to old highway 395 (North Virginia Street).
When the war ended, the men and families of the armed forces housed in the region remained and started to look for homes and civilian jobs to start a new life in the Truckee Meadows. Within ten years, from 1946 to 1956, the City of Reno doubled in size. For many years, folks would regularly go to Sun Valley to hunt Sage Hen, Chucker, Quail and Cottontail. Before long, Sun Valley became extremely busy with the placement of a new type of house called the mobile home. Within ten years, Sun Valley was the largest congregation of mobile homes in the country.
Bike Park
The Sun Valley Regional Park Bike Park is a transformative project designed to provide a high-quality, sustainable, and safe recreational space for cyclists of all skill levels. While the park’s development has been a long-term goal, outlined in the Washoe County Sun Valley Regional Parks Master Plan since 2019, we recognize and appreciate the grassroots efforts that brought the need for a bike park to the forefront.
Before the official bike park project began, local riders took the initiative to create their own trails and jumps in the area. Their passion for biking and community building did not go unnoticed. Their efforts demonstrated the demand for a dedicated bike park and contributed to the momentum that made this project possible. When planning the bike park, Washoe County engaged the broader community through meetings, including a neighborhood meeting on April 24, 2024, to gather input on the park’s design. While some early builders of the informal trails may not have felt fully included, we want to emphasize that this bike park is for everyone—from those who built the original jumps to families discovering the sport for the first time.
Washoe County understands that the original jumps were built with passion and skill by riders who know the terrain and the sport. That dedication is exactly why this project exists—to create a long-term, sustainable bike park that meets the needs of riders today and into the future. The new jumps are being built by Sierra Trail Works, a professional trail-building company with experience designing high-quality bike parks. Their work ensures that the features will be durable, safe, and progressive, meaning they’ll cater to riders of different skill levels while minimizing erosion and maintenance issues.
Washoe County values rider input and want this park to reflect what the community wants. Once the park is open, we encourage feedback and involvement to fine-tune features and make adjustments where possible. Our goal is to create a park that not only honors the original vision but also stands the test of time for all riders to enjoy. As we move forward, we encourage those who helped shape the park’s early days to stay involved. Your passion has been instrumental, and we hope to see you riding, mentoring, and helping to grow the biking community at Sun Valley Regional Park Bike Park.
Collaboratively developed design (Coming Spring 2025).
Media
Activities
Bird Watching, Hiking/Walking/Equestrian Trails, Junior Ranger Program, Picnic Areas, Playgrounds, Disc Golf, Photography