The great thing about the Jones Whites Creek Loop hike isn’t that it features fantastic views, or that it has some of the best topographic variety imaginable, or that it has great creeks with rushing water, or that it has some of the more interesting switchbacks of any local climb.

No, the entire allure of the Jones Whites Creek Loop is that it has all of this. And that it’s difficult to pin it down as a hike with only one clear, definable feature.

“It’s got everything you could ask of a trail,” says Lon Monroe, 60, of Reno. Monroe, a seven-time finisher of the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run, knows a thing or two about trails. “The variety is just incredible. You start out in the trees of Galena Creek Park, climb above them into a more high desert type of setting, then go back into the trees again. It’s truly a gem.”

As Monroe said, Jones Whites Creek starts among the Jeffrey pine trees of Galena Creek Park and quickly ascends to aspen-dominated streams that are fed from runoff from nearby Mount Rose. The 9.2-mile loop features some pretty stiff climbing after the first half-mile from the Galena Creek parking lot, as users gain about 1,800 feet in elevation, most of it coming during a taxing stretch of more than a dozen switchbacks.

The hills soon are dominated by Manzanita, as you can look down and see the intersection between Jones Creek and Whites Canyon down below (make sure you cross the creek after a half-mile in order to get the switchbacks done early in the hike, while you’re still fresh and feeling adventurous – hikers who sometimes do the loop in reverse can find the descent down the switchbacks a rather quad-jarring and painful experience).

After conquering the switchbacks, you have a choice of diverting the loop and adding another mile (half-mile out and half-mile back) by visiting Church’s Pond. The wildflowers, particularly later in the summer, are usually in full bloom and make the trip to Church’s (named after the legendary James Church, the University of Nevada professor who in the early 1900s single-handedly created the discipline of snow sampling for water content by tromping through the same area on his way to the top of Mount Rose) well worth it. Church’s Pond is a favorite for picnics or rests, and offers exquisite views of Mount Rose. Be forewarned that Church’s Pond is seasonal, and dries up as the summer goes along.

Heading back to the trail, users are greeted with one of the true highlights of the day. A number of excellent vantage points provide unfettered views of Reno, the Truckee Meadows, Washoe Lake and the surrounding Sierra. Not long after you will duck back into the trees again. The aspens provide exceptional color both in the summer and fall as you begin the descent into the canyon. Mountain runoff in Whites Creek early in the hiking season can be a challenge, so make sure as you cross streams that you do so carefully and with caution.

Although the Jones Whites Creek Loop is a favorite of locals and is easily accessed – it’s not uncommon to see young families on the lower reaches of the trail, and to see equestrians or hard-core trail runners near the top – it’s good to travel with a companion. Parts of the trail are remote, and wildlife sightings are not uncommon. Dogs, obviously, are great companions if a less furry prospect isn’t available. Galena Creek Park’s regulations make it clear that dogs must be leashed within the park’s boundaries, and as you go higher on the trail, it’s probably a good idea to keep your canine close to you, particularly as a courtesy to other users.

To find out about the trail’s features, it’s best to consult an excellent information board that is available near the parking lot. To get to Galena Creek Park, take U.S. 395, and drive about six miles west on Mount Rose Highway (Nevada 431). The park entrance is on your right. Hikers, dogs and equestrians are welcome on all of the trail. Bikes are only allowed on the portions of the trail that are located outside of the Mount Rose Wilderness.

For more information, call (775) 849-2511.
This week's Mutt is John Trent. John's been partaking in the trails of the Sierra since he was 11 years old, when he got lost on the road leading from southwest Reno to Hunter Lake near the Mountain Rose Wilderness (yes, eventually he did find his way home, but not after getting really sunburned and running out of water). Since then, he's run the Western States 100-mile Endurance Run from Squaw Valley, Calif., to Auburn, Calif., eight times -- seven of them in under 24 hours. He's a former Outdoor/Recreation editor for the Reno Gazette-Journal who still regularly writes and reports on outdoor recreation. He lives in Reno with his wife and two daughters.