Tahoe Trail Guide

Your Online Resource for Hiking, Backpacking, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe

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Category: Blog

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing at Washoe Meadows State Park

November 12, 2019
| 1 Comment
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Washoe Meadows State Park is a fantastic location for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing when Lake Tahoe experiences a big snow winter. The park is only a couple of miles from the “Y” (HWY 50/SR 89 intersection) in South Lake Tahoe, and features a great mix between meadow and forest. Also, the majority of terrain in…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, meyers, south tahoe 1 Comment

Planning Your Backcountry Trip (Part 8): Returning Home and Post-Backcountry Trip Analysis

November 12, 2019
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Sunset at Lake Tahoe viewed from Logan Shoals Vista Point

In this final installment of my 8-part series of articles about planning your next backcountry trip, I’ll share with you my thoughts on returning home from a backcountry adventure. Undoubtedly, the first thing you’ll want to do is jump in the shower to wash off that trail grime. Then, you’ll probably want to eat a…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trip planning Leave a comment

Hiking Captain Pomin Rock (via SR 28 at Spooner Summit in East Tahoe)

November 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

You’ll be hard-pressed to find the trail to Captain Pomin Rock on any maps of Lake Tahoe. It’s not that the location is inaccessible or covers difficult terrain, it’s simply not that popular of a hiking trail. That said, hiking to Captain Pomin Rock is totally worth the relatively minimal effort required to reach it….

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Posted in Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged day hike, east tahoe, spooner summit 2 Comments

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing at Luther Pass (Grass Lake)

November 11, 2019
| 1 Comment
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

On the south shore of Lake Tahoe, Grass Lake at Luther Pass is a great location for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, or just some fun snow play. Since Grass Lake and the immediately surrounding terrain is flat, this location is perfect for beginner cross-country skiers. Although the terrain is technically “off-track,” there’s usually opportunities to practice…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, luther pass, snowplay, south tahoe 1 Comment

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing at Echo Summit (Echo Lakes into Desolation Wilderness)

November 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2017 Jared Manninen

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing to Echo Lakes (and further into Desolation Wilderness via this route) is a favorite winter tour for Tahoe locals and visitors to the Lake Tahoe Basin. There is dedicated parking (unlike many Tahoe backcountry locations) at Echo Lake Sno-Park, the route is easy to navigate, and there is little elevation to…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, desolation wilderness, intermediate, snowplay, south tahoe 2 Comments

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing at Carson Pass (Three-Lake Loop to Woods Lake, Winnemucca Lake, and Frog Lake)

November 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Cross-country skiing to Woods Lake, Winnemucca Lake, and Frog Lake in a loop is one of my favorite cross-country ski tours at Carson Pass. Although the route is only 6-7 miles, it features over 1,000 feet of elevation gain and it’s all in backcountry terrain above 8,000 feet. The higher elevation also makes Carson Pass…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, Winter Trails Tagged advanced, carson pass, intermediate 2 Comments

Companionship in Desolation Wilderness (6-Page Comic)

November 11, 2019
| 2 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Copyright © 2012 Jared Manninen

Presented here is a short black and white comic I created about an overnight backpacking trip I took into Desolation Wilderness with a former girlfriend back in 2012. Although our relationship did not last and the backpacking trip was only two days, the experience was rewarding. One of the reasons I enjoyed the trip was…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, West Lake Tahoe Hiking Tagged desolation wilderness, trail journal, trip documenting, west tahoe 2 Comments

Unexpected Refuge: A Lesson in Humor and Humility (8-Page Zine about Backpacking)

November 11, 2019
| No Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2015 Jared Manninen

A humorous lesson in humility presented to you in a comic book format. I created this zine based on a backpacking trip I took in October of 2015 along the Tahoe Yosemite Trail. Needless to say, the trip was cut short due to heavy rains (and me not being prepared to deal with it!). A full…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged trail journal, trip documenting Leave a comment

“Hiking with the Dude” or “A Lesson Learned in Takin’ ‘Er Easy”

November 11, 2019
| 4 Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog
Copyright © 2011 Jared Manninen

In 2011, one of my Lake Tahoe friends and I resupplied two of his friends who were thru-hiking the John Muir Trail (JMT). They needed one last food drop to get them through the Whitney Portal, which is the southern terminus of the JMT. Our plan was simple, but our execution of it was not….

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog Tagged trail journal, trip documenting 4 Comments

Hiking Cold Creek Trail (via Pioneer Trail in South Tahoe)

November 11, 2019
| 6 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Bridge at Cold Creek Trail

Cold Creek Trail is a multi-use trail that accommodates hikers and mountain bikers and connects with other trails further up the draw. The Cold Creek Trail doesn’t offer spectacular views but it’s flanked on either side by mountainous walls creating one of the best things about this trail, which is that within a minute of…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged day hike, short hike, south tahoe 6 Comments
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The mission of Tahoe Trail Guide is to provide information, education, and inspiration to all people seeking to recreate outdoors.

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Copyright © 2016 Jared Manninen
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Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

Making an 8-Page Zine From a Single Sheet of Paper
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Overview of Off-Track and Backcountry Cross-Country Ski Gear
FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 4): Can I Use One Set of XC Ski Boots for All of My Cross-Country Skiing Needs?
Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis: Step-By-Step Tutorial
Donner Party History: Series Introduction
Hiking Frog Lake (via Carson Pass in South Tahoe)

Backcountry Skills Articles

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  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • My First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 3): Experience, Results, and Concluding Thoughts about My Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 2): My Goals and Methods of a Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 1): My History of Dabbling in Endurance Sports
  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis

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Self-portrait of Jared Manninen
Jared Manninen has been a Tahoe local since 2005. He began building Tahoe Trail Guide (c. 2017) in order to inspire people to embrace the outdoors as a place in which to learn and play.
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Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • My First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 3): Experience, Results, and Concluding Thoughts about My Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 2): My Goals and Methods of a Trail Running Summer
  • First Experience with Low Heart Rate Training (Part 1): My History of Dabbling in Endurance Sports
  • Cross-Country Skiing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • FAQs about Waxing Your Waxless Cross-Country Skis
  • Overview of Off-Track and Backcountry Cross-Country Ski Gear
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used

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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.