Recommended Articles
Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek (via SR 89 in South Tahoe)
Don’t get me wrong. I have absolutely no problem with Lake Tahoe’s scenery during the fall. The views are as idyllic as any mountainous locale in the world. Really, I’m not complaining. It’s just that I have this one… Read More
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
The Rubicon Trail is a picturesque hiking trail located on the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe. It contours the shoreline from Emerald Bay to D.L. Bliss State Park and boasts long, continuous panoramic views of Lake Tahoe.
From aspects… Read More
Best Day Hikes of Lake Tahoe
Hiking and Lake Tahoe go together like summer and sunshine. And, for good reason. Lake Tahoe is rimmed by beautiful and easily accessible mountains and forests. Countless miles of open space are located within the Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as the… Read More
Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Freel Peak is the highest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin, standing at 10,881 feet. It sits on the border between the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. As such, Freel Peak offers unparalleled 360 degree views of the entire… Read More
Hiking Freel Peak, Jobs Sister, and Jobs Peak in a Day (via FS Rd 051, near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Hiking Freel Peak, Jobs Sister, and Jobs Peak in one shot is a goal shared by many Tahoe locals and weekend visitors. It’s an arduous but relatively safe route. It’s mostly above treeline, so it offers 360 degree views for miles in… Read More
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Many people who come to Lake Tahoe plan on hiking bigger and more iconic trails such as Mount Tallac, Freel Peak, or Mount Rose. However, those hikes are all-day affairs. And sometimes you just don’t have the time or… Read More
Tahoe Trails Overview
Lake Tahoe, on a global scale, is considered a single location. However, we locals refer to places around Lake Tahoe as being on one of the four shores (north, south, east, or west). Believe it or not, you can spend between 3-4 hours driving around the 72-mile circumference of Lake Tahoe depending on traffic, weather, construction, and special events.
I’ve categorized all of the hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing trails as being located in one of those four cardinal categories.
Summer Tahoe Trails
Summers at Lake Tahoe are about as good as it gets. You can expect warm, sunny days and cool, clear nights. The hiking trails at Lake Tahoe are just as ideal. Along them you can travel near Lake Tahoe, across open meadows, through alpine forests, and well above treeline.
As you would expect, most trails featured on Tahoe Trail Guide are along established and maintained hiking trails. They range from short family fun hikes to all-day hikes. In some cases, you’ll find multi-day hikes (i.e. for backpacking). There are also some trails featured on the website that are less of an actual trail and more of a route. Those that fall into this latter category are suggested only for the ambitious and experienced hikers who possess land navigation skills.
No matter the geography and regardless of the classification of summer Tahoe hiking trail you choose, you’re sure to have an excellent outdoor adventure with exceptional views.
Because Lake Tahoe is essentially considered four different locations by Tahoe locals (think the four cardinal points – north, south, east, west), for easy navigation choose the location of hiking trail in your neck of the woods.
Update: Coronavirus
Please note that in the current Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic environment, traveling into the backcountry is risky. Backcountry travel has the potential to place great and unnecessary strains on emergency medical services. Thru-hikers and other backcountry travelers who happen to be carriers of COVID-19 could pass along the virus to smaller, trail towns that have limited medical services. Also note that most Lake Tahoe businesses and recreation locations are operating under modified conditions (mask wearing requirements, social distancing, take-out only restaurants…). Know before you go (i.e. search online or call) to determine whether or not your intended destination is closed or operating under alternative procedures.
Winter Tahoe Trails
Winters at Lake Tahoe are a dream. In-between long stretches of bluebird days, you’ll experience epic snowstorms that can yield multiple feet of fresh, powdery snow (like pictured here!). During a normal winter at Lake Tahoe, you can count on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing from December to April. In above average winters, you may find yourself cross-country skiing and snowshoeing well into May, or even June! Therefore, if you want to visit the Lake Tahoe backcountry during the winter (and spring) months, plan to do it on skis or snowshoes.
Because so much snow falls across the Lake Tahoe region, think of the winter trails featured here on Tahoe Trail Guide more as routes. Many of these winter “trails” do follow established hiking trails. However, when the ground is covered in snow there’s no point in strictly sticking to those trails. For winter travel at Lake Tahoe, give yourself permission to color outside the lines. That said, definitely read carefully the parking and travel directions here on Tahoe Trail Guide (they generally differ than during the summer), as well as study any and all relevant maps for the area in which you’ll be adventuring.
Lake Tahoe locals generally consider Lake Tahoe to be four different locations (think the four cardinal points – north, south, east, west), so navigate below to the location of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in your desired location.
Tahoe Trails Overview
Lake Tahoe, on a global scale, is considered a single location. However, we locals refer to places around Lake Tahoe as being on one of the four shores (north, south, east, or west). Believe it or not, you can spend between 3-4 hours driving around the 72-mile circumference of Lake Tahoe depending on traffic, weather, construction, and special events.
So, I’ve categorized all of the hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing trails as being located in one of those four cardinal categories. See the map on the official Tahoe Trails Overview page for how I’ve defined those areas, as well as how I’ve categorized and tagged the trails featured on this site.
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Tahoe Trails
The multi-day hikes featured on Tahoe Trail Guide will generally be longer than 12 miles. Most people can cover more ground in a day, but 12 miles in one day is usually plenty for the average hiker and backpacker. Therefore, anything longer than 12 miles will be considered part of a multi-day hike.
These day hikes are between 5-12 miles long. The average hiker doesn’t usually plan to hike more than a dozen miles in one day. Depending on circumstances such as elevation gain, weather, and snow pack some of the longer family fun hikes could be considered day hikes as well. Since the Tahoe region is located in the...
“Where’s a good place to go hiking?” was the most common question Jared was asked while working for a few years at a backpacking store in South Lake Tahoe. This isn’t surprising, but it could be a challenge to answer when the person asking was standing beside their eight year old son and 80 year old mother. For...
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Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek (via SR 89 in South Tahoe)
Don’t get me wrong. I have absolutely no problem with Lake Tahoe’s scenery during the fall. The views are as idyllic as any mountainous locale in the world. Really, I’m not complaining. It’s just that I have this one… Read More
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
The Rubicon Trail is a picturesque hiking trail located on the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe. It contours the shoreline from Emerald Bay to D.L. Bliss State Park and boasts long, continuous panoramic views of Lake Tahoe.
From aspects… Read More
Best Day Hikes of Lake Tahoe
Hiking and Lake Tahoe go together like summer and sunshine. And, for good reason. Lake Tahoe is rimmed by beautiful and easily accessible mountains and forests. Countless miles of open space are located within the Lake Tahoe Basin, as well as the… Read More
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About
Tahoe Trail Guide’s mission is to provide information, education, and inspiration for all people seeking to recreate outdoors
Tahoe Trail Guide is an information hub that’ll inspire and assist you when planning hikes, backpacking trips, cross-country ski tours, and snowshoe excursions at Lake Tahoe and in the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Unique aspects of Tahoe Trail Guide include:
• Detailed trail data for the Lake Tahoe Region
• Trip planning recommendations and tips on documenting your adventure
• Universal lessons, knowledge, and etiquette about backcountry travel
• Articles about the natural and local history of the Lake Tahoe Region
• Stories from the backcountry and tales from the trail
• Inspiring and unique imagery of the Lake Tahoe Region
Click the Tahoe Trails Overview link to see a map of how I organize the Lake Tahoe region (north, south, east, west), as well as how I’ve categorized and tagged the trails featured on Tahoe Trail Guide.
Tahoe Trail Guide launched in 2017, and was created by Tahoe local and avid outdoorsman, Jared “Schoolboy” Manninen. In addition to being an artist and author, I’m an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker (1999) and Tahoe Rim Trail thru-hiker (2014). I’m also a Wilderness First Responder (2019), PSIA Cross Country Ski Instructor (2020), Leave No Trace Trainer (2020), and CA Naturalist (2020).
Although I encourage you to venture out of your comfort zone, you need to know your limits and when to turn back. Tahoe Trail Guide and its contributors are not liable for property loss or damage, personal injury, or death. Always consult multiple sources when venturing into the backcountry. Always be prepared for the worst case scenario. Your safety is your responsibility. Tahoe Trail Guide copyright © 2016-2023 by Jared Manninen. All rights reserved. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Per the Associates Program Operating Agreement I must disclose the following statement: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases” when you buy something via an Amazon.com advertisement.