About Carson Valley

Make Carson Valley your next retreat destination. With nature’s beauty, a hometown atmosphere, historic sightseeing, great outdoor recreation, and entertaining Nevada nightlife, Carson Valley will have you coming back for more.

MILES OF OPEN SPACE
Carson Valley stretches east from the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada’s Carson Range to the beautiful Pine Nut Mountains, and south from Carson City to Topaz Lake. Centrally located just 15 miles south of Nevada’s state capital and a 20-minute drive from Lake Tahoe, Carson Valley is recognized as the gem of Northern Nevada – a hidden jewel. Here you can still find miles of open space, expansive ranches and farms, and many historical sites and displays, along with a wealth of outdoor recreation activities still unspoiled by the rapid growth Northern Nevada is experiencing today. Carson Valley encompasses several communities including Genoa, Gardnerville, Minden, and Topaz Lake.

GETTING AROUND
As you travel any of the three main roads into Carson Valley (U.S. Highway 395, State Route 88, or U.S. Highway 50), you will enjoy magical views of the valley – surrounded on the east and west by mountains that are sometimes snowcapped year-round.
The weather is pleasant and the area enjoys four distinct seasons, with temperatures commonly in the 80's and 90's during the summer and, typically, several inches of snow falling over the course of the winter.

Topaz Lake, a 20-minute drive from Gardnerville and 30 minutes from Minden, is known for great fishing, boating, water-skiing, and wakeboarding. The lake (a reservoir) lies east of U.S. Highway 395 on the Nevada-California border. The scenic Pine Nut Mountains form a backdrop to the lake and nearby Topaz Lake Park. The south shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the world’s most famous alpine lakes, is just a 20-minute drive from Carson Valley.