Long Valley Creek Trail, Virginia Range, Nevada

Long Valley Creek is a north-south trending valley through the Virginia Range east of Reno & Sparks. This valley begins east of  Virginia City and leads down to the Truckee River at Lockwood. About half way, the Lagomarsino Canyon branches off to the east. Lagomarsino is a remote petroglyph site, which is accessible via a five- to six-mile-long hike, one way, through Long Valley from Lockwood. Cutting through a desert landscape with canyon-like stretches, Long Valley Creek seems like a never-ending oasis snaking through areas with sand and gravel mounds as well as rock outcrops and basalt cliffs. Cotton wood trees and lush vegetation flank the flowing riverlet. Green water plants, frogs and fish are found plentiful. A few locations feature various structures remaining from times when people were settling, farming and prospecting the neighborhood.

Getting there
From Interstate 80 take Exit 22 and slowly drive on Canyon Road through the community of Lockwood. Follow this road for about three miles along the creek until you see a parking area to your left. There are no facilities and no trail signs. Follow the creek and trail in eastward direction. Soon the creek bends south. The trail continues to follow the creek, which it crosses—you have to cross—several times to get to the Lagomarsino site.