Your Online Resource for Hiking, Backpacking, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe
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…
Hiking the loop around Spooner Lake is entertaining and educational. The views are mostly restricted to Spooner Lake and the neighboring forest, but the lake is host to an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. Additionally, there are multiple infographics along the trail that feature information and imagery about the history of the Spooner Lake area…
In spite of the very low effort and short distance required to hike to Eagle Rock, it’s well worth your time. I’ve driven past Eagle Rock a thousand times before and have always wondered whether or not I should stop to check it out. The answer is an enthusiastic “yes.” Hiking to Eagle Rock is…
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 of the trail on its south end you can see many prominent locations of South Tahoe,…
The hike to the Eagle Point Campground Vista Point (featuring a wooden sitting bench) is more like an after-dinner walk you’d take with your toddler than an actual hike. That’s not to say this short trip isn’t worth your while. In fact, I would say the ends justify the means in this case. For very…
The day hike to the south peak of Maggie’s Peaks is an incredibly worthwhile challenge 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 will also see Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Freel Peak, Mount Tallac, and…
The Lam Watah Historic Trail is just east of the casinos of Stateline, NV. Although it’s more akin to a self-guided city park trail with its meticulous maintained trail and informative placards that discuss historic aspects of the area, it provides a welcome respite from the insanity of the casino corridor. Either hiked as an…
The hike to Eagle Point is an out-and-back route approximately 8 miles long and features between 1,200-1,400 feet of total elevation gain. The views are incredible the entire hike as you will pass Vikingsholm and then contour the southern side of Emerald Bay. During this traverse along the bay you will be treated to multiple…
The hike to Emerald Point is an absolute dream. The trail contours the north side of picturesque Emerald Bay, it’s relatively short at 5-6 miles (out-and-back), there’s only about 500 feet of total elevation gain to negotiate, and access to the trailhead is simple. The drawbacks to hiking the trail to Emerald Point are that…
The hike to South Camp Peak probably isn’t in the top five trails to hike at Lake Tahoe, and it may not even be in the top ten. However, I would argue that it’s about as exceptional a hike as any at Lake Tahoe. Parking is abundant (and free), the trail is easy to navigate,…
Freel Peak is the highest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin, standing at 10,881 feet. Freel Peak basically sits on the border between the Lake Tahoe Basin and the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, and offers unparalleled 360 degree views of the entire region. In addition to the panoramic views, you’ll find a variety of Sierra Nevada…
The Warr Trail is short and stout, featuring just over 1,800 feet of elevation gain in just under three miles of hiking (one-way). Although the Warr Trail is shown on three of the more popular Lake Tahoe recreation maps, not many people (Tahoe locals included) actually know it exists. This is interesting because the trailhead…
The hike up Mount Tallac is one of the iconic hikes in the Lake Tahoe Basin and should be on your list of places in which to travel at Lake Tahoe. The hike is not for the faint of heart, however, as it features approximately 3,500 feet of elevation gain and high exposure. But the…