Picnic facilities are available at Davis Creek and Bowers Mansion. Davis Creek and Washoe Lake State Park  provides overnight camping. Bower’s Mansion provides swimming, children’s playground and group picnic facilities. Davis Creek has a small pond, camping and nature trails including an access trail to the Sierra. Washoe Lake State Park is a launching site for wind-sailing and boating it is also a popular waterfowl hunting location. Birdwatchers are frequent visitors to the lake and the parks. Equestrians and many types of recreational vehicles traverse the Virginia Range’s many roads left from mineral exploration during the Comstock boom.

Bicycling is popular along old Highway 395 and Franktown Road. The 25 mile trip around  Washoe Lake State Park is another favorite route and is part of several race routes. In 2013 the scenic nature of the valley was recognized by the designation of its roads as an official Scenic Byway.