Bring the Dog: A Reno Weekend at Whitney Peak

A weekend in Reno can leave plenty of room for long walks and unhurried afternoons outside. Whitney Peak puts you beside the Reno Arch, two blocks from the Truckee Riverwalk, with pet-friendly rooms to come back to. Start close to the hotel, then pick a park for the part of the day when everyone needs to stretch their legs.

Before you arrive

Whitney Peak welcomes pets, and the welcome includes a goodie bag with a water dish. Bring the familiar things that help your dog settle in, too: their usual food and a favorite bed or blanket.

Review the current pet policy before reserving, and contact the front desk if you have questions about your dog’s stay.

Follow the river

For your first outing, keep it simple. The Truckee Riverwalk is close enough to make a walk part of settling into downtown. Clip on the leash, take your time, and let the route be as short or as long as your dog is comfortable with.

For a longer outing away from the downtown streets, put Mayberry Park on your list. At the end of Woodland Avenue in west Reno, this riverside park has walking trails, a paved bike path and picnic areas. Bring lunch and spend a little time beside the Truckee before heading back.

Keep your dog leashed and leave room for people passing on bikes. Washoe County requires leashes no longer than six feet in its parks outside designated off-leash areas. Carry water and cleanup bags, and check the park’s current information before setting out.

A little room to run

Rancho San Rafael Regional Park’s west-side multi-use pasture is a designated off-leash area, but it’s worth knowing what to expect. This is a working pasture. Its fencing does not reliably contain dogs, and irrigation can leave the ground muddy or uneven. Choose it only if you can keep your dog under control within the boundaries. A towel for the ride back is a sensible addition to the bag.

Keep the leash on elsewhere in the park, and skip the Wilbur D. May Arboretum with your pet; pets aren’t permitted there, with an exception for service dogs.

If a fenced setting is a better fit, look at Link Piazzo Dog Park in Hidden Valley Regional Park. It has separate enclosed areas for larger dogs and dogs weighing 30 pounds or less. Read the county’s dog-park rules before visiting and follow posted notices when you arrive.

Leave some space in the day

Pick one bigger outing and let the rest of the day stay loose. A dog who enjoys a busy sidewalk may happily join a downtown stroll; one who needs more space may prefer the park and an earlier return.

Plan meals around where your dog can join you or who will stay with them. Check each restaurant’s pet policy before arriving, and confirm the hotel’s rules before leaving a pet in the room.

Explore Whitney Peak’s rooms, check the pet details with the front desk, and book a Reno weekend with a little more time outside.

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