Walker River State Recreation Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Walker River State Recreation Area |
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![]() Map of Walker River
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Location | Lyon and Mineral Counties, Nevada, United States |
Nearest city | Yerington |
Area | 12,856 acres (52.03 km2) |
Established | 2018 |
Governing body | Nevada Division of State Parks |
Website | Walker River State Recreation Area |
The Walker River State Recreation Area is a huge park in Nevada. It covers about 12,856 acres, which is like 9,700 football fields! You can find it along the East Walker River, close to the city of Yerington.
It's one of Nevada's biggest and newest state parks. Governor Brian Sandoval officially opened it on September 18, 2018. The park is made up of four different areas, which used to be old ranches.
About the Park
The land for the park was given to the state in 2017 by a group called the Walker Basin Conservancy. This group is a non-profit, which means they don't work for money. Their main goal is to help restore Walker Lake. They also want to protect the environment, farming, and fun outdoor activities in the area.
The Walker Basin Conservancy bought the water rights and the land to help Walker Lake. They will continue to help take care of the land in the park.
Park Sections
The Walker River State Recreation Area is divided into four main parts. Each part used to be a ranch.
Unit Name | Size | What's There |
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Pitchfork Ranch | 2,320 acres | This section has the park's main office and a special pond for learning how to kayak. It's a great place to start your visit! |
Nine Mile Ranch | - | This area is also called "the Elbow." It's not developed yet, meaning it's still in its natural state without many buildings or paths. |
Rafter 7 Ranch | 3,223 acres | This part of the park is not open to the public yet. |
Flying M Ranch | 7,313 acres | This is the largest section, but it's also not open to the public yet. It is currently owned by a private group. |