Washoe Lake, Recreational lake in Washoe Valley, Nevada

Washoe Lake is a shallow lake between Reno and Carson City, just east of Lake Tahoe, reaching a maximum depth of 12 feet (3.7 m). Its surface area varies greatly from year to year, and the lake has dried up entirely in droughts, most recently in 1992, 1994 and 2004. Washoe Lake State Park sits on the southeastern shore, and two boat launches are on the eastern shore.

Washoe tribes lived around the lake for generations, relying on its resources before European settlement transformed the region. Colonization brought ranching and farming that reshaped how people used the landscape.

The lake's Washo name, ćóʔyaʔ dáʔaw, is recorded in the Washo language, and the Washoe Zephyr wind that sweeps the water in summer was described by Mark Twain, who wrote that it blows flimsy houses down and lifts shingle roofs. Windsurfers and kiteboarders now gather on the shallow water when the wind rises.

The lake has camping areas with facilities and boat ramps available for different water activities. Roads and paths around the shoreline let visitors explore different sections and find their preferred spot.

Mark Twain described the Washoe Zephyr in his writings, claiming it blew shingle roofs off and rolled tin ones up like sheet music. The same wind speeds today can overturn commercial vehicles on Interstate 580/U.S. 395, which runs along the lake's western shore.