Your Online Resource for Hiking, Backpacking, Cross-Country Skiing, and Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe
Cross-country skiing at Big Meadow is totally rewarding when the conditions are right. The loop around Big Meadow is approximately 1.5 miles (depending on how far into the woods you want to ski), the terrain is flat, and the area is far less traveled than nearby Grass Lake. And, although Big Meadow essentially sits in…
For similar reasons that I enjoy hiking to Red Lake Peak during the warmer months, I love cross-country skiing to Red Lake Peak in the winter. Those reasons include: ease of access via the north lot of the Carson Pass Sno-Park; line-of-sight travel thanks to the wide open terrain you’ll cover; sweeping panoramic views (again,…
Traveling to Winnemucca Lake, accessible from Carson Pass, is a favorite activity year-round for locals and visitors to South Tahoe. In the summer, people hike the trail to Winnemucca Lake in order to find Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, to go swimming, and to fish. During the winter, people backcountry ski, cross-country ski, and snowshoe to Winnemucca…
When most people cross-country ski or snowshoe from the Echo Lake Sno-Park, they’ll automatically head toward Echo Lakes. There’s another option, however, if you’re in the mood to change things up and willing to travel off the beaten path. Although this alternative option doesn’t reward you with views looking into Desolation Wilderness like you would…
Cross-country skiing and Hope Valley go together like peanut butter and jelly. Although it can take some time for snow to accumulate in Hope Valley, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better location in the mountains where the terrain is flat for so many miles yet high enough in elevation to actually receive snow. The…
If you find yourself on the north shore of Lake Tahoe and looking for a spectacular day hike, look no further than the trail to Mount Rose. With a summit elevation of 10,776 feet, Mount Rose is the third tallest peak in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Freel Peak (10,881’) and Jobs Sister (10,823’) are the…
Stevens Peak is an exceptional hike for adventurous people looking to challenge their physical stamina, weather forecasting, and land navigation skills. Throughout the journey you’ll be treated to stunning views of the south end of the Lake Tahoe Basin (and beyond in all directions). Since you’ll be trekking through Meiss Country, you’ll bear witness to…
Red Lake Peak is an exceptional hike that includes on and off-trail travel. Although half of the route to Red Lake Peak is off-trail, those few miles are easy to navigate because they’re across open terrain allowing you to see for miles in all directions. And, those views are incredible! You’ll be treated to glimpses…
The hike to Dardanelles Lake along the Christmas Valley Trail is a lesser known hike in South Lake Tahoe mostly because of its off-the-beaten-path trailhead. Unless you read about it in a guidebook or randomly stumbled upon the trailhead, you’d probably never know it existed. For that reason, you don’t need to travel far from…
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) because it’s not far from town, but out of the way enough to feel as though you were hiking a remote backcountry trail. This relatively easy day-hike features…
The hike to Meeks Creek Falls and around Meeks Creek is perfect for people seeking an easy trail (i.e. no elevation gain) with plenty of solitude. When hiking the Meeks Creek Trail as a loop, you’ll travel along a dirt road, in and out of the forest, and finally through a meadow. Although there are…
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 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,…
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…
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…
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…