Tahoe Trail Guide

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

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Category: Summer Trails

Hiking Cathedral Meadow (via SR 89 near Fallen Leaf Lake in South Tahoe)

March 2, 2021
| 3 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails
Cathedral Meadow and Aspen trees

Cathedral Meadow is accessible year-round. Hike there during the warmer months, and then snowshoe and cross-country ski in the snowy ones. The area is often wet early in the summer since Cathedral Meadow is located near Taylor Creek and Fallen Leaf Lake. This is particularly evident after a big winter at Lake Tahoe. But because…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, short hike, south tahoe 3 Comments

Hiking Round Lake (via Big Meadow Trailhead near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)

March 1, 2021
| 4 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Sunset at Round Lake

The hike to Round Lake is not a secret Tahoe hike by any means. However, it’s definitely a Tahoe local’s favorite (especially for quick overnight backpacking trips). Why? Because it’s so close to town. And, yet, it’s out of the way just enough that you feel as though you were hiking a remote backcountry trail….

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged big meadow trailhead, christmas valley, day hike, south tahoe 4 Comments

Hiking Dardanelles Lake (via South Upper Truckee RD at Christmas Valley in South Tahoe)

February 28, 2021
| 4 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

The hike to Dardanelles Lake along the Christmas Valley Trail is a lesser known hike in South Tahoe. This is due to the fact that its trailhead is off-the-beaten-path. Unless you’ve read about it in a guidebook or randomly stumbled upon the trailhead, you’d probably never know it existed. Therefore, you don’t need to travel…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged day hike, south tahoe 4 Comments

Hiking Logan Shoals Vista Point (via HWY 50 in East Tahoe)

December 4, 2020
| 1 Comment
| Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Sunset at Lake Tahoe seen from the Logan Shoals Vista Point

From the Logan Shoals Vista Point on the east shore of Lake Tahoe, you’re afforded unobstructed, panoramic views looking west across the lake. Therefore, Logan Shoals makes for a perfect place in which to view sunsets at Lake Tahoe. Also, parking for the Logan Shoals Vista Point is free and located directly off of HWY…

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Posted in Blog, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged east tahoe, short hike 1 Comment

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

Hiking Maggies South Peak (via Bayview Trailhead near Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)

August 20, 2020
| 6 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Copyright © 2018 Jared Manninen

The day hike to the south peak of Maggie’s Peaks is an incredibly worthwhile challenge. One that rewards you with countless panoramic views of the Lake Tahoe Basin. In addition to long views along Lake Tahoe’s east and south shores, you’ll also see … Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Freel Peak, Mount Tallac,…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged advanced, day hike, emerald bay, south tahoe 6 Comments

Hiking Winnemucca Lake (via Carson Pass in South Tahoe)

July 19, 2020
| 6 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails
Alpine lake with mountains and snow in the background

The hike to Winnemucca Lake is one of the quintessential hikes of South Tahoe, especially when it comes to searching for summer wildflowers. Not only is the hiking trail to Winnemucca Lake a favorite by long-time Tahoe locals, it’s a mecca for wildflower enthusiasts from Sacramento to the Bay Area. Hiking to Winnemucca Lake is…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged carson pass, day hike, short hike, south tahoe 6 Comments

Backpacking in Desolation Wilderness: Echo Lakes to Emerald Bay (Trail Journal & Data)

July 7, 2020
| 2 Comments
| Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails

During my first summer of living at Lake Tahoe I took a mountaineering course offered through Lake Tahoe Community College’s wilderness education program. The course was a fantastic way in which to learn more about the new outdoor playground that I found myself living in. I moved to Lake Tahoe in the fall of 2005,…

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Posted in Blog, South Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails Tagged desolation wilderness, emerald bay, multi-day hike, south tahoe, trail journal, trip documenting 2 Comments

Hiking Spooner Lake (via SR 28/HWY 50 in East Tahoe)

June 11, 2020
| 3 Comments
| Blog, East Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails
The sun setting on Spooner Lake during summer

Hiking the loop around Spooner Lake is entertaining and educational. The views are mostly restricted to Spooner Lake and the neighboring forest. However, the lake is host to an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. Additionally, there are multiple infographics along the trail to provide for an educational experience. They include information and imagery about the…

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Posted in Blog, East Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, East Lake Tahoe Hiking, Summer Trails, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, east tahoe, short hike, spooner summit 3 Comments

Hiking Meeks Creek Falls (via SR 89 at Meeks Creek in West Tahoe)

June 5, 2020
| 6 Comments
| Blog, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, West Lake Tahoe Hiking, Winter Trails
Two women hiking along the Meek's Creek Trail

The hike to Meeks Creek Falls and around Meeks Creek is easy and provides plenty of solitude. There’s no elevation gain, so it’s perfect for the young and old. Hiking the Meeks Creek Trail as a loop takes you through a couple of micro-ecosystems. You’ll travel along a dirt road, in and out of the…

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Posted in Blog, Summer Trails, West Lake Tahoe Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoeing, West Lake Tahoe Hiking, Winter Trails Tagged beginner, day hike, short hike, west tahoe 6 Comments
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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
Hiking Mount Rose (via Mount Rose HWY/SR 431 near Incline Village, NV)
Hiking Winnemucca Lake (via Carson Pass in South Tahoe)
Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
Hiking Rubicon Trail (via Emerald Bay in South Tahoe)
Hiking Freel Peak (via Forest Service RD 051 near Luther Pass in South Tahoe)
Buying Cross-Country Ski Gear, for Beginners (Part 1): Intention, Types of XC Skis, and Whether to Buy New or Used
Hiking Castle Rock (via Kingsbury Grade/SR 207 near Stateline, NV)
Hiking Meeks Creek Falls (via SR 89 at Meeks Creek in West Tahoe)

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  • All Tahoe Trail Guide Articles (published chronologically)

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Recent Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Considerations and Reasons for Doing a Big Year
  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
Mosquitoes be damned, I'm finding all the wildflow Mosquitoes be damned, I'm finding all the wildflowers after work 🤣
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Four of the species I uploaded today (from last week's excursion to Round Top/Carson Pass) for the 2022 Tahoe Wildflower Big Year didn't count as they aren't included in the project list (because they're too rare, I guess). Regardless, I still managed to officially log my 500th plant species for the year. That said, there's always the chance that I've incorrectly ID'd something (i.e. it ends up being a duplicate of one I already have). But I still have a number of unknown species to ID and upload (my photo backlog is getting bigger!). And there are plenty more wildflowers left to find this summer. So I'm feeling confident that I'll retain (and actually surpass) my 500 species goal for 2022 😊
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#tahoe #tahoelife #laketahoe #southlaketahoe #tahome #tahoesouth #tahoesnaps #dailyadventure #outdooradventure #getoutside #mountainliving #optoutside #naturephotography #sierranevada #hiking #hike #mountainlife #lifeofadventure #lovewhereyoulive #livelifeoutside #wildernessadventure #outdoorphotography #adventurelife #mountainculture #wildernessculture #sierranevadamountains
Not too shabby out there today 😊 . But now I ha Not too shabby out there today 😊
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But now I have 1,000 more photos and well over a dozen new wildflower species to sort through and upload to iNaturalist. And that doesn't include the 100s of photos that I took during the past few days. So, yeah, I might get to them in the next week or two. Fortunately, it doesn't really matter when I upload them so long as they get submitted before December 31, 2022 😂 
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The bottom line is that these Big Years are big time sucks 🤣
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Felt a little like hiking on Mars last night 😗 Felt a little like hiking on Mars last night 😗
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View from the other day's high altitude wildflower View from the other day's high altitude wildflower hunt (Freel Peak - 10,881ft).
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Pacific Hulsea (Hulsea algida) near the summit 🤗
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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.

Popular Tahoe Trail Guide Posts

  • Considerations and Reasons for Doing a Big Year
  • Behind-the-Scenes Action Photos of Tom Cruise Filming Top Gun: Maverick (aka Top Gun 2) in South Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Big Yellow Wildflowers with Big Green Leaves called Woolly Mule’s Ears and Arrowleaf Balsamroot
  • Considerations for Spring Hiking and Backpacking at Lake Tahoe
  • Tips for Spring Hiking in the Mountains at Lake Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Tips for Finding Wildflowers at Tahoe
  • Lake Tahoe Wildflowers: Two Major Factors that Determine Peak Bloom Times for Wildflowers at Tahoe

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