Lahontan State Recreation Area is a public recreation area surrounding Lake Lahontan, a 17-mile-long (27 km) impoundment of the Carson River,[4] located approximately 18 miles (29 km) west of Fallon, Nevada.

Wooded areas of native cottonwoods and willow trees can be found along the shore of the lake.

[5] A corridor known as Carson River Ranches connects Lahontan with Fort Churchill State Historic Park.

The reservoir was named after ancient Lake Lahontan which covered much of Nevada during the last ice age.

Originally operated by Churchill and Lyon counties, Lahontan became a state-operated recreation area in 1971.