Lake Tahoe - Northern America's Largest Alpine Lake
A scenic destination in the Sierra Nevada Mountains full of outdoor activities
Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a phenomenal destination for everyone from families to outdoor enthusiasts there are things to do and places to see for every level. Whether you are planning to visit in the Summer or Winter, Lake Tahoe will have endless activities. Since before I could walk I was going to Tahoe and 18 year later it continues to be one of my favorite places to visit.
The best part of Lake Tahoe is that you don’t need to spend a lot of money to experience everything you want to see. There are many great places to explore around Lake Tahoe such as Truckee, South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City, and King’s Beach just to name a few. However, there are three places that come to mind when I think of Lake Tahoe.
Those three places are Mount Tallac, Squaw Valley, Emerald Bay.
Mount Tallac is the tallest mountain around Lake Tahoe on the California side of the lake, topping out at 9,995 feet of elevation. If you are up for the task I would highly recommend doing the 10.2 mile hike to the top with 3,290 feet of elevation gain. Although difficult, I’ve done this hike with people of varying abilities and seen many people make it to the top. If you aren’t up for hiking to the top there is still a great view of Fallen Leaf Lake and many small lakes along the way up that are worth the approximately 3 mile hike. However, if you can make it to the top the effort is well worth the views. Walking on the ridge there are 360 degree, panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and Desolation Wilderness on the opposite side. Although it can get windy at the top it is still a great place to take photos, eat lunch and hang out until you are ready to hike down. This hike is best done during Summer because the lack of snow, shorts & T-shirt whether and fields of colorful wildflowers make for a better overall experience. To summarize, Mount Tallac is a great destination for avid and recreational hikers looking for a great view and aerobic activity.
The Palisades is a great destination for hiking in the Summer, skiing in the Winter and shopping and eating at restaurants all year round. In the valley, there are many clothing and boutique shops and all kinds of great food from pizza to sushi.
My favorite thing to do in Squaw Valley is hiking to upper camp via Shirley Lake because of its great views, reasonable distance and zero cost. Clocking in at about 4 miles with 2,000 feet of elevation gain this hike isn’t a walk in the park but can be done by all ability levels. After just a few minutes of hiking you get great views of the 10–15 foot waterfalls and active rush of Squaw Creek. Near the end of the hike, Shirley Lake is a great place to rest and enjoy the view. Once you get to upper camp there is lots to do including a pool and jakuzi you can swim in for $10, rollerblading or ice skating (based on the season) for about $11, a restaurant and various other free activities; however, if there is nothing at upper camp you like, you can take the Ariel Tram down free of charge. If you are still up for hiking I would recommend summiting one of the surrounding peaks: Squaw Peak (8,900 feet), Emigrant Peak (8,700 feet), or the tallest in the area, Granite Chief (9,050 feet). Although a long day, you can complete the Shirley Lake hike, then continue to summit each of those three peaks before returning to the tram for a 12 mile hike. Not quite as strenuous as Mount Tallac but close. After all this hiking the restaurants in the valley taste even better.
Emerald Bay is a great place to spend the day relaxing, kayaking and paddle boarding. With a mile hike from the parking lot to the beach, this is the most accessible locations I’ve talked about yet. Although kayaks and paddle boards will run you $25 an hour or $35 an hour for a double I would recommend it. Find a friend and rent a double kayak for the best deal and fastest transportation. I would recommend paddling to the island in the middle of the bay where you can explore the castle at the top and do a small amount of cliff jumping. Be careful and make sure where you are jumping is deep enough and safe enough. With that in mind, the island is a great place to explore and hang out at. When you are done kayaking you can relax on the sandy, Emerald Bay beach.
After the sun sets, with little light pollution, the stars are beautiful. I would highly recommend taking the time to find an open area to look at the bright stars.
Lake Tahoe is a great destination for anyone looking for a scenic location to explore, hang out and relax. With endless activities from hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, mountain biking, river rafting and more, Tahoe is an outdoor person’s paradise.
