Carson River Trail

The Carson River Trail is an out-and-back trail with a total length of about 0.8 miles along the river at Dayton State Park. While the trail is generally flat, a few warnings may be necessary. The path runs adjacent to the state park road, so it is hard to escape to the developed feeling of the surrounding area. On repeated visits, the trail has also been severely overgrown and hard to follow each time. Hikers may end up finding their hiking experience an exercise in pushing through brush to maintain on the route.

There are a couple of points where small old bridges offer the chance to leave the trail and head onto the paved park road. And while the trail itself merely parallels the river rather than accessing it, a small visible network of paths can allow hikers to leave the trail and head to the riverbank. At the trail's end, hikers can opt to turn around and follow their path or cross a bridge and head back on the asphalt of the park road.

There are no amenities anywhere along the trail, though hikers are never far the the park's central bathroom building and shade areas.