Location: Runs from the city of Sparks to the Pyramid Lake Indian Reservation in Northwestern Nevada Length: 37 miles (59 km) Time To Allow: 2 hours – Full Day Description/Highlights/Points of Interest The Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway is the only byway in the nation sponsored by Native Americans and traverses one of the largest desert lakes in the world. Pyramid Lake is landlocked on the barren desert floor, and its colors change from green to turquoise to deep blue. The lake’s most striking feature is a great rock in the shape of an Egyptian pyramid that rises 400 feet (122 m) above the surface. Pyramid Lake is also a resting place for a variety of migrating waterfowl. A visitor center provides the opportunity to discover Native American culture of the Great Basin region. Suggested Itinerary Start your trip by taking I-40 to West Wadsworth. Follow Route 427 into town, and then drive north along Route 447, following the course of the Truckee River. Stop at the Numana Hatchery Visitor Center to find out about the area's natural history and the tribe's fisheries program, or take a walk along the wetlands nature trail where you'll experience the unique habitats of the river valley. As you continue to drive north, you will come over a rise and see the lake spread out before you. Just ahead is the Scenic Byway Visitor Center and Tribal Museum. From here, you can take a side trip north on Route 447 into the town of Nixon, site of the Tribal Headquarters, and beyond to Marble Bluff and Lake Winnemucca. You can also head west on Route 446 toward Sutcliffe. Route 446 follows the west shore of Pyramid Lake, with plenty of beaches where you can stop for swimming, fishing or enjoying a picnic lunch. In Sutcliffe, you'll find the Pyramid Lake Marina, with a visitor center and museum, as well as stores and visitor services. North of Sutcliffe are more beaches, especially at Pelican Point and Warrior Point. Returning south from Sutcliffe, take Route 445 south toward Sparks. As you drive up toward Mullen Pass, you can stop at the turnout on the left for a scenic vista of the lake. If you get a chance to visit here as the sun sets, the Pyramid, Anaho Island and the slopes of the Lake Range may be bathed in a red glow, offering a dramatic counterpoint to the urban glitter awaiting you as you return to Reno. These organizations also offer itineraries along the Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway: Worldwide Country Tours, Inc. Explore the unparalleled natural wonders in Red-Rock Country — from the awesome Grand Canyon to Utah's incredible national parks. The unspoiled beauty is beyond compare! Traveling America The Pyramid Lake Scenic Byway allows you to explore museums that tell the mining story, ghost towns where the miners once lived, scenic drives and spectacular natural environments experienced nowhere else in the United States.