It’s summer! That means extra time to spend with the fam, enjoying Northern Nevada’s parks and open spaces. We’ve pulled together a list of our 14 favorite outdoor spaces to help you plan out your summer. Whether they’re publicly or privately owned, each of these spots is a great place to have an adventure.

Animal Ark

Lions, tigers, bears, and eagles! Animal Ark has it all. This wildlife refuge north of Reno offers 38-acres of home to injured, abandoned and otherwise non-releasable wildlife. The park is open for visits and tours 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday and admission is free for children 2 or younger.

  • Address: 1265 Deerlodge Road, Reno
  • Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
  • Phone: 775-970-3111

Bartley Ranch Regional Park

With 56 acres of beautiful pasture, walking trails, a regulation size horse arena, the Western Heritage Interpretive Center and the restored Historic Huffaker School, this park offers an activity for every member of the family.

  • Address: 6000 Bartley Ranch Road, Reno
  • Phone: 775-828-6612

The Eddy

Downtown Reno’s newest hotspot is perfect for kids of all ages! This container park has a beer garden for adults, games for children, food trucks and live music. For an up-to-date list of activities and events, visit facebook.com/TheEddyReno.

  • Address: 16 S. Sierra St., Reno
  • Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–11:30 p.m., Friday-Saturday
  • Phone: 775-316-8969

Galena Creek Recreation Center & Regional Park

Located at the base of Mt. Rose, the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest surrounds this recreational haven on three sides. Whether you are looking for a stroll through the aspens, a challenging day hike, or a scenic picnic, this park has it all.

  • Address: Six miles up Mt. Rose Highway from south Reno
  • Hours: 8 a.m.–7 p.m., every day
  • Phone: 775-849-4948

Golden Eagle Regional Park

With 1.4 million square feet of turf, Golden Eagle Regional Park is the largest single installation artificial turf project in North America. It hosts numerous regional and national events for organizations such as USA Softball, Senior Softball USA and Triple Crown Sports. It’s a great place to practice, compete or watch a game.

  • Address: 6400 Vista Blvd., Sparks, NV 89436
  • Phone: 775-353-7836

Hidden Valley Park

A favorite for two- and four-legged family members, Hidden Valley Park features tennis courts, a volleyball court, two children’s playground areas, the Link PIazzo Dog Park and multi-purpose trails for hikers, bikers, and equestrians.

  • Address: 4740 Parkway Drive, Reno
  • Phone: 775-828-6612

Mayberry Park

Spend the day bird-watching, hiking, bike riding, river tubing and picnicking at this riverside park, four miles west of Reno. It has various individual picnic sites, a group picnic area, a paved bike path, hiking trails and Truckee River fishing access.

  • Address: 101 Woodland Ave., Reno
  • Phone: 775-828-6612

Pah Rah Mountain Park

A great place to spend a sunny day, this park located near Vista Boulevard offers multiple play areas and plenty of shady spots to relax.

  • Address: 1750 Shadow Lane, Sparks
  • Phone: 775-353-2376

Rancho San Rafael

Arguably Reno’s quintessential park, Rancho San Rafael offers a variety of activities including biking, bird watching, fishing, hiking and more. This park is also home to the Wilbur D. May Museum and Arboretum.

  • Address: 1595 N. Sierra St., Reno
  • Phone: 775-785-4512 

Sand Harbor

Visit this east shore beach for swimming, kayaking or scuba diving and see rock formations through the crystal-clear waters. Boaters, water skiers, and fisherman can easily launch from one of the park’s two ramps. For terrestrial activities, snag one of the many picnic sites equipped with barbecues and tables.

  • Address: East shore of Lake Tahoe
  • Hours: 8 a.m. to 1 hour after sunset
  • Phone: 775-831-0494

Sparks Marina

With walking paths, trees and sandy beaches surrounding a 77-acre lake, the Sparks Marina Park is a fun place for a family outing. The park also features a dog park, volleyball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas and special events.

  • Address: 300 Howard Drive, Sparks
  • Hours: 6 a.m.–10 p.m.
  • Phone: 775-691-9130

Virginia Lake Park

At Virginia Lake Park you can walk or jog around the 25-acre lake, have a picnic, fish or take Fido to the off-leash park. It’s also a great place to observe the wide variety of waterfowl that gather there.

  • Address: 1980 Lakeside Drive, Reno

Wild Island

If you listen to the radio enough, you know this is the place where a kid can be a kid. But, it’s also a place where adults can have fun too! Check out this adventure park in Sparks for water sports, bowling, golfing, pool, movies, go karts and more.

  • Address: 250 Wild Island Court, Sparks
  • Hours: Vary by day
  • Phone: 775-359-2927

Wingfield Park

At the heart of downtown Reno is Wingfield park, a recreational and cultural oasis. For outdoor activities, try kayaking, fishing, rafting, swimming, sunbathing, people watching, or picnicking. During July, this park becomes the hub of Artown, and various plays and concerts take place at the amphitheater.

  • Address: 2 S. Arlington Ave., Reno