Hiking

HIKING

 

Cascade Creek Fall Trail

West Shore / Emerald Bay

Distance: 1 mile (one-way)

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 25 miles, go around Emerald Bay to the Bayview Campground which is located across from Inspiration Point. Parking is located at the far end of the campground. View Cascade Lake and the 200-foot high falls.

Glacier Meadows Loop

Truckee

Distance: .5 miles (one-way)

Details: This is a short, self-guided nature trail that begins and ends at the eastbound I-80 rest stop at Donner Summit. At Donner Summit Rest Area, follow signs to Tahoe National Forest Trailhead/Donner Summit/Pacific Crest Trail.

Page Meadows

West Shore

Distance: varying

Details: Take Hwy 89, two miles south of Tahoe City, turn right on Pineland Drive. Go up the road approximately 2 miles and look right for Forest Service Road 15N60 or 16N48 to get to the area. Page Meadows is located approx. 1 mile up the dirt road. There are no designated trails in the meadow.

Prey Meadow/Skunk Harbor

East Shore

Distance: .5 miles (one-way)

Details: Take Hwy 28, east of Incline Village. Look for an iron pipe gate on the west side of the highway. Park in one of the turnouts along the highway. Sights include mixed conifer trees, filtered lake views and the remains of an old railroad grade that was part of the1870s network to supply timber to Virginia City. At the fork in the road: the left fork leads to Prey Meadows which has a variety of wildflowers in spring; the right fork leads you to Skunk Harbor, a small cove with summer swimming and sunbathing.

Stateline Lookout

Incline Village

Distance: .5 miles (one-way)

Details: From Hwy 28 on the north shore, turn north on Reservoir Drive, just east of the Tahoe Biltmore Casino in Crystal Bay. Turn right on Lakeshore Avenue and left on Forest Service Road 1601, by the iron pipe gate. Parking lot is located just below the lookout. Free telescopes offer great views of the lake. Take a short self-guided nature trail, located by the lookout, and learn about the history of the north shore of Lake Tahoe.

Sugar Pine Point State Park Nature Trails

West Shore / Tahoma

Distance: varying

From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 11 miles. Turn left into the park. The park charges a parking fee for day use. Contact state park rangers to obtain maps of the many trails located here. While you’re there don’t miss a tour of the historic Ehrman mansion. Call (530) 525-7982 for more information

Vikingsholm Castle

West Shore / Emerald Bay

Distance: 1 mile (one-way)

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 25 miles to Emerald Bay, there will be a parking lot on the left. View an authentic replica of a Viking castle. Daily tours from mid-June through Labor Day for a nominal fee. View Emerald Bay and Fannette Island from the shoreline of Emerald Bay State Park. Hike the short trail to Lower Eagle Falls which begins directly across from the castle. No pets allowed.

 

High Camp Trails

Squaw Valley

Distance: 1.5 miles (one-way)

Details: Squaw's High Camp is a gateway to an extensive network of hand-groomed trails that rim each of Squaw Valley's six peaks. Sights include ancient rock formations, meandering streams and waterfalls that tumble to the valley floor below. Hikers have access to all trails including Shirley Canyon, the Western States Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. For more information call 800/545-4350, 888/766-9331 or visit www.squaw.com.

Five Lakes

Alpine Meadows

Distance: 5 miles (one-way)

Details: Hwy 89 northwest of Tahoe City, turn on Alpine Meadows Road. Trailhead is about 2 miles ahead with parking on shoulder of road.

Marlette Lake

East Shore

Distance: 5 miles (one-way) or 13 miles to Tunnel Creek

Details: Park at the Spooner Lake Trailhead, located in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, just north / west of the U.S. HWY 50 & SR 28 junction. Fee for parking. Dogs allowed on a leash. This moderate five mile uphill hike leads you through the aspen lined North Canyon to Marlette Lake. This road provides access to the Flume Trail, a popular mountain biking trail, which starts at Marlette Lake Dam. There is no fishing at Marlette Lake.

Martis Creek/Tompkins Memorial

Northstar

Distance: varying

Meeks Bay Trail

West Shore / Meeks Bay

Distance: varying

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 12 miles to the Meeks Bay Resort. Parking is across the highway from the resort at a small dirt parking lot. A Wilderness permit is required. This moderate hike takes you along the northernmost part of the unofficial Tahoe-Yosemite Trail. After following a road for approximately 1.3 miles, the trail passes a small spring, parallels Meeks Creek and continues upward into a forested valley. View Alpine lakes before the trail ascends 1,000 feet up a series of switchbacks leading to Phipps Pass. Trails: 4.5 miles to Genevieve, 5 miles to Craig, 5.7 miles to Hidden, 5.9 to Shadow, 6.3 miles to Stony Ridge, 8 miles to Rubicon.

Northstar-at-Tahoe

Distance: varying

Difficulty: varying

Details: Hwy 267 at Northstar Drive in Truckee. Call 530/562-1010 or visit www.northstarattahoe.com.

Rubicon Trail

West Shore / D. L. Bliss State Park

Distance: varying

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 22 miles to D.L. Bliss State Park. Fee for day use parking. Dipping up and down along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe, this trail offers some of the most scenic views of the Lake. Bring a swimsuit, towel and picnic lunch to enjoy a sunny day at one of the many quiet coves along the way. No pets allowed.

 

Shirley Canyon

Squaw Valley

Distance: 4 miles (one-way)

Details: trailhead is located at the end of Squaw Peak Road in Squaw Valley USA. After the hike you can ride the cable car back down.

Tahoe Rim Trail

Distance: varying

Difficulty: varying

Details: Trailheads include Tahoe City, Brockway Summit, Tahoe Meadows and Spooner Summit. For full details on Tahoe Rim Trail hikes visit www.tahoerimtrail.org or get information at the Visitor’s Center in Tahoe City.

 

Bayview Trail

West Shore / Emerald Bay

Distance: varying

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 25 miles, go around Emerald Bay to the Bayview Campground across from Inspiration Point. Parking is located at the far end of the campground. View Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe along this steep trail that leads you up the side of Maggie’s Peal into Desolation Wilderness. Sights include Granite Lake. Corral and watering facilities for horses are available at the trailhead. A Wilderness permit is required. Trails: 1 mile to Granite, 4 miles to Azure, 5 miles to Dicks.

Eagle Falls Trail

West Shore / Emerald Bay

Distance: varying

Details: From Tahoe City take Hwy 89 south 25 miles to Emerald Bay, to the Eagle Falls Picnic Area is on the right. This is a popular and congested area. A Wilderness permit is required. This steep trail leads into the heart of Desolation Wilderness. Eagle Lake is a popular short hike. Longer hikes include the three Velmas, Dicks and Fontanillis lakes. Trails: 4.5 miles to Dicks and Upper & Middle Velmas, 5 miles to Fontanillis.

Mt. Rose

Incline Village

Distance: 6 miles (one-way)

Details: Take Hwy 431 (Mt. Rose Hwy) north of Incline Village. The trailhead and parking area are located one mile south of the summit. Mt. Rose (10,778') is one of the highest peaks near Lake Tahoe. Views include the lake, the city of Reno and the surrounding areas. The first 3 miles takes you along a dirt road through a lodgepole cloaked forest with mule ears and sagebrush. In the spring, a lush meadow at the halfway point is filled with lupine, paintbrush and larkspur. The last two miles lead you along switchbacks to the ridge line. Don’t forget to sign the log book at the summit.

Western States Trail

West Shore

Distance: 10 miles (one-way)

Strenuous

Moderate

Easy