Truckee River Whitewater Park

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The Whitewater Park features

Easy access from all directions
Large size – 11 drop-pools; total of 2,600 feet in length, or one-half mile. Five drop pools in the north channel; six in the south channel for kayaking maneuvers that decrease slightly in elevation with each successive pool, to keep them supplied with fresh water
7,000 tons of smooth flat-top rocks and boulders installed along the river banks and in-stream for easy public access, spectators, and kayaking maneuvers
Deep pools with continual fresh water provide good habitat for fish, particularly Lahontan cutthroat trout
Surrounds grassy park with amphitheater and facilities for concerts, festivals, picnics, outdoor sports and recreation
Kayakers can start anywhere upstream and enjoy a great experience
Pedestrian walkway beneath Arlington Avenue for convenient mobility between east and west ends of Wingfield Park
Water temperature ranges between 50 and 70 degrees. It doesn't freeze
All users need to wear helmets and flotation jackets for protection and safety
Kayakers, at all levels, including beginners, can enjoy the whitewater park

Technical Details:

Length: 2,600 feet, including 1,400 feet in the north channel and 1,200 feet in the south channel or one-half mile.

Difficulty: Class 2 to 3 course. (on a scale of 1 to 6; one being a lake, six being a waterfall)

Users: kayaks, canoes and rafts, inner tubes

Maneuvers: freestyle including front and side surfing, cartwheeling, throwing ends, blunt moves, spoofing and splatting, flat spinning, loops, front flips, slalom racing. Random boulders in channels.

Formal Name: Truckee River Whitewater Park at Wingfield
Owner: City of Reno (call 775-334-2270 for information)
Management of River Bottom and Banks: State of Nevada
Architect: Gary Lacy: Recreation Engineering & Planning, Boulder, CO
Design team: Kennedy Jenks Consultants, Reno Resource Concepts, Inc., Carson City
Contractor: Cruz Excavating, Inc., Incline Village
Cost: $1.5 million from voter-passed statewide bond

Requirements for watercraft to combat invasive aquatic species

The Nevada aquatic invasive species (AIS) decal requirement became effective January 1, 2013 through approval from the Nevada State Legislature in 2011. The AIS decal requirement was established to prevent the spread of harmful aquatic species threatening Nevada’s waterways. Many aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels, have been transferred from one body of water to another through contaminated watercraft. Remember to always clean, drain and dry.

The decal requirement includes in and out-of-state motorized watercraft as well as most paddle-craft, such as canoes and kayaks. Watercraft that are capable of retaining water are required to display the decal. Paddle-craft, such as stand-up paddle boards and float tubes are exempt from the decal requirement.

For more information, please visit ndowlicensing.com to purchase your decal online.

Additional Information

For information on rafting trips, kayak rentals, instruction or other ways to enjoy the Whitewater Park, contact these concessionaires and operators that hold permits to operate issued by the city:

Sierra Adventures, 775-323-8928, 866-323-8928

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