Lower Galena Creek Trail: a trail of many bridges

The Lower Galena Creek Trail follows Galena Creek (who would have thought) along Callahan Park and through parts of the Montreûx Golf & Country Club and small sections of riparian habitat. For this relatively short trail, the number of bridges is surprising: some you underpass and others you use to cross the snowmelt runoff, currently still wild and rapid. The bridges are good looking and well designed, blending in with the surrounding grandeur.

The trail leads to Joy Lake Road bridge, which you may underpass, depending on the water level (otherwise cross the elevated road). The trail continues further upcreek and ends after about half a mile at the left side of the creek. No more bridges and no connection to the upper Galena Creek and the Galena Creek Regional Park (not yet, are announced plans making any progress?), which is just a few steps away.  

Getting to the trailhead at Callahan Park
From State Route 431 (Mount Rose Highway) south of Reno, about half-way between U.S 395 and the Galena Creek Visitor Center, go south on Callahan Ranch Road. Pass Chatelaine Circle and Brookmeadow Lane on your right and find the trailhead parking on the right side just at the northeast corner of Callahan Park. There is a post at the beginning of the trail, telling you that the 1.7 mi (2.7 km) long trail (one way) between Callahan Rd. and Joy Lake Rd. is open for hikers, bikers and  equestrians (lead horses across the bridges!). The elevation gain is 615 ft (187 m) with a typical grade of 7.2 %.

References and more
[1] “Lower Galena Creek Trail” on pages 344 and 345 in Mike White's hiking guide Afoot & Afield • Reno-Tahoe • A comprehensive hiking guide. Wilderness Press, Berkeley, California, 2nd printing November 2008.
[2] Map: http://www.nvtrailmaps.com/pdfs/maps/lower_galena_creek_trail.pdf