Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake is an endorheic salt lake in Washoe County in northwestern Nevada. The water surface stretches roughly 43 kilometers in length and nearly 18 kilometers in width, with depths reaching up to 108 meters in some areas.

The body of water formed as a remnant of a prehistoric lake that once covered much of the Great Basin. John C. Frémont reached the shoreline in the 1840s and documented the prominent rock formations on his expedition maps.

The name comes from tower-like limestone formations rising along the shores, visible from a distance. The waters are managed by the resident tribe, who oversee fishing spots and grant access to visitors.

Permits for fishing, camping, and boating can be obtained through the tribal administration office. Roads around the shoreline are often sandy and dusty in windy conditions, so sturdy footwear helps.

Anaho Island, a rocky outcrop in the middle of the water, hosts one of the largest breeding colonies of American white pelicans outside the Yellowstone region. The endemic Cui-ui sucker fish lives only in this body of water and has survived here for thousands of years.

Location: Washoe County

Elevation above the sea: 1,155 m

Website: https://pyramidlake.us

GPS coordinates: 40.03333,-119.56667

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:46