Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: Natural History

Kokanee Salmon at Taylor Creek (via SR 89 in South Tahoe

October 1, 2020
| 2 Comments
| Blog, Local History, Natural History, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2014 Jared Manninen

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 minor, teeny-weeny, itsy-bitsy gripe. And this is coming from an artist, mind you, so take it…

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Posted in Blog, Local History, Natural History, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged short hike, south tahoe 2 Comments

Birds of Lake Tahoe: Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

August 26, 2020
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Pileated Woodpecker perched on the side of a tree looking for insects

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of my absolute most favorite birds. It’s not necessarily rare or endangered. However, it’s an elusive bird nonetheless. And it’s impossible not to feel wonder and awe when you see one in the wild thanks to its large black body contrasted by a striped face and red-capped head. Twelve species…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged Birds of Lake Tahoe Leave a comment

How Woodpeckers Contribute to Healthy Forests at Lake Tahoe (and other fun facts about woodpeckers)

July 20, 2020
| 6 Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Hairy Woodpecker takes a break from pecking on an old, dead tree

For many people, woodpeckers conjure up imagery ranging from the annoying. Those pesky birds that perforate the sides of homes new and old. To the absurd. Woody Woodpecker up to his usual hijinks. To the industrious. Woodpeckers are considered by many as the lumberjacks of the bird world, after all. There’s no question that they…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged Birds of Lake Tahoe 6 Comments

Wildfires and Smoke at Lake Tahoe (Considerations for Traveling in the Tahoe Backcountry during Summer)

June 7, 2020
| No Comments
| Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

Living at Lake Tahoe and being surrounded by the Sierra Nevada Mountains is like living in a dream. There’s plenty of powdery snow in the winter and sunshine in the summer. The finest outdoor recreation is literally outside your front door. And, despite the massive influx of visitors that come to Lake Tahoe during the…

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Posted in Backcountry Skills, Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Local History, Natural History, North Lake Tahoe Hiking, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Hiking Tagged backcountry travel considerations, east tahoe, north tahoe, south tahoe, west tahoe Leave a comment

Finding Lake Tahoe Wildflowers

February 12, 2020
| 1 Comment
| Blog, Natural History
Columbian Monkshood

Looking for wildflowers at Lake Tahoe is much like going on a treasure hunt. But the beauty of searching for Lake Tahoe wildflowers is that you’re almost always guaranteed to find some in bloom. This is assuming that you’re looking during the warmer months, of course. Just be forewarned, though, if you do decide to…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers 1 Comment

Discovering Something Sinister Afoot While Searching for Sierra Nevada Wildflowers at Lake Tahoe

December 14, 2019
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Copyright © 2015 Jared Manninen

I always stop to appreciate Sierra Nevada wildflowers while hiking. However, my love of specifically hunting for them comes and goes like the seasons. Some years I’m simply more active in my search for the small treasures. Other years, I’m more interested in logging miles. But one of those active years of searching for wildflowers was…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers Leave a comment

Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi)

November 11, 2019
| No Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Copyright © 2005 Jared Manninen

Although Jeffrey Pine trees are the most common trees found in the Lake Tahoe Basin, that fact doesn’t diminish their regal beauty and dignified stature. One reason for their abundance is their resilient nature in the face of adversity. These coniferous evergreens can live for 400-500 years and are tolerant of many stressors such as…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Leave a comment

Two Factors that Determine Peak Bloom Times for Sierra Nevada Wildflowers at Lake Tahoe

November 10, 2019
| 8 Comments
| Blog, Natural History
Copyright © 2014 Jared Manninen

Although the United States is composed of multiple climates, and spring weather manifests at various times around the country, generally speaking the month of May is when most Americans expect to see flowers in bloom. This is evidenced by our repeated use of the old English proverb April showers bring May flowers. However, in the…

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Posted in Blog, Natural History Tagged lake tahoe wildflowers 8 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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2020 Frank Wells Last Best Place Award - Jared Manninen

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Top Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

Hiking the Historic Donner Pass Train Tunnels in Truckee, CA
Short and Easy Hikes in South Lake Tahoe
Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
Best Day Hikes of Lake Tahoe
Hiking Emerald Point (via north side of Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Cascade Falls (via Bayview Trailhead near Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Meeks Creek Falls (via SR 89 at Meeks Creek in West Tahoe)
Vikingsholm: A Brief History (Nordic Castle at Emerald Bay)
Birds of Lake Tahoe: Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Backcountry Skills Articles

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    • Trip Documenting
    • XC Skiing Explained
    • Snowshoeing Basics
    • Gear Maintenance
  • History
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  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Hiking Round Lake (via Big Meadow Trailhead near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
  • Hiking Dardanelles Lake (via South Upper Truckee RD at Christmas Valley in South Tahoe)
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 2): How Much Gear to Acquire, Evaluating Your Commitment, and the Value of Taking XC Ski Lessons
  • XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
Nothing says you care quite like the gift of a ... Nothing says you care quite like the gift of a ... stick 😆
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Osprey building a nest 😍
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Still keeping the dream alive, one patch of snow a Still keeping the dream alive, one patch of snow at a time 😆
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Watch my latest (17th) cross-country skiing VLOG of the 2020-21 winter at YouTube.com/JaredManninen
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Current mood. ... with a week left of working at t Current mood. ... with a week left of working at the cross-country ski center 🤡
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American White Pelican sporting a breeding horn.
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Morning conditions were firm and fast while the af Morning conditions were firm and fast while the afternoon was hot and sloppy. Overall, though, it was a great day to be xc skiing in the backcountry ❄😊❄
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Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Hiking Round Lake (via Big Meadow Trailhead near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
  • Hiking Dardanelles Lake (via South Upper Truckee RD at Christmas Valley in South Tahoe)
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
  • Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 2): How Much Gear to Acquire, Evaluating Your Commitment, and the Value of Taking XC Ski Lessons
  • XC Skiing Explained (Part 4): Classic Cross-Country Ski Bindings
  • Snowshoeing on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • 5 Reasons to Love Snowshoeing

Lake Tahoe Trails

  • Tahoe Trails Overview
  • All Summer Tahoe Trails
    • North Lake Tahoe Hiking
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      • Short South Tahoe Hikes
    • East Lake Tahoe Hiking
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  • All Winter Tahoe Trails
    • North Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • South Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • East Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing
    • West Lake Tahoe XC Skiing and Snowshoeing

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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 © 2016-2020 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.”