Dead Truck Canyon Trail, Prison Hill, Nevada

Hello again!

Dead Truck Canyon Trail connects the Silver Saddle Ranch east of Carson City with the upper trails in the Prison Hill Recreation Area. The 1.7-mile-long trail ascends from the Carson River valley through an east-west canyon on the east side of the highest point at 5,724 ft (1,745 m) in the Prison Hill complex.

Dead Truck Canyon rock

The single-track Dead Truck Canyon Trail is a hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trail with 800 ft (244 m) of elevation gain. The sandy trail winds through sagebrush and gets rockier while you climb uphill with interesting rock formations on both sides of the canyon trail. About half-way you will find the eponymous truck—or what is left of it. How did it get there? Obviously, this is an exciting place to take a break and have some fun. Even your dog will appreciate the shade under the roof of this stranded car. 

A coyote curiously watching who is coming up the trail

Dead Truck Canyon Trail coincidences with part of the Escape From Prison Hill Trail, along which a half marathon is now organized each year. This race of 13.1 miles includes and continues beyond the narrow canyon, rocky terrain, and steep hills you experience and pass on your way up on Dead Truck.  

Marking the end of the first mile of the half marathon

Getting there

From the 5th Street Trailhead at the northern tip of the Prison Hill Recreation Area, which is located next to the intersection of E 5th St. and Carson River Rd. in the eastern part of Carson City, continue on in south-east direction towards the Silver Saddle Ranch at 2648 Carson River Rd. Turn right at the ranch entrance sign. After about a quarter mile, where the one-way road bends right (east), there are a few parking lots for at-the-spot access of the Dead Truck Canyon Trail and the Valley View Loop. Alternatively, you may want to consider starting out from the main parking area next to the ranch buildings—less than a quarter mile away.

Dead Truck Canyon trail network 

PDF Map

Prison Hill Recreation Area and Silver Saddle Ranch:

https://www.beneficialdesigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Prison-Hill_reduced_2019-04-24.pdf.

More to explore

Kyler Klix. Prison Hill: Several trails with varying difficulty. Nevada Appeal, April 10, 2021. URL: https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2021/apr/10/prison-hill-several-trails-varying-difficulty/.

Escape From Prison Hill Half Marathon, 10K & 5K. Halfmarathons.net. URL: https://www.halfmarathons.net/nevada-escape-from-prison-hill-half-marathon-10k/.