The colors of fall are beginning to emerge in the Tahoe Sierra. Enjoy the brilliant bursts of reds, golds and oranges across the mountains, forests and shorelines of Lake Tahoe while they last. Here are a few of my favorite spots to enjoy fall color.
East Shore
Spooner Lake | My absolute favorite spot for fall color, the easy 2.5-mile loop around Spooner Lake at Spooner Lake State Park never disappoints. You can enjoy aspen groves, watch the many birds basking in the meadow or on the lake and find your own hidden spot of shoreline to contemplate the changing of the seasons. | parks.nv.gov
Clear Creek | Close by, the Clear Creek trail offers options for hiking or mountain biking all the way to Carson City (15 miles). In the fall, I enjoy a 6-mile roundtrip out to Five Valleys View overlook that meanders through at least four aspen groves before coming to the overlook. Start at the Tahoe Rim Trail trailhead on Highway 50 near the intersection with Highway 28. Take the trail to the left, not the trail for the TRT on the right. | carsonvalleytrails.org
Mount Rose
Tahoe Meadows | Just above Incline Village, Nev. on the North Shore, the Tahoe Meadows loop off Highway 431 is an easy, 1.3-mile loop trail that includes spectacular views of Ophir Creek and the meadows.
Galena Falls | For a longer outing, park at the Mount Rose trailhead at the pass on Highway 431 and follow the trail for 2.5 miles (5 miles RT) to Galena Falls. The falls may not be flowing still, but you’ll enjoy the fall color along the trail and in the meadow below the falls, along with spectacular views of the summit of Mount Rose.
West Shore
Page Meadows | Page Meadows is one of my favorite trails to enjoy in any season. It’s ever changing foliage never disappoints and it’s particularly impressive in the fall. Trails cross through the six interconnecting meadows like a spider’s web, so be sure to keep track of where you start and where you are going. If you’re not familiar with the meadows, I recommended downloading a map from AllTrails before you start (there’s no cell service). Parking is available at the end of Silver Tip Drive. | alltrails.com
South Shore
Taylor Creek | Taylor Creek on Highway 89 offers several easy, family-friendly hikes to enjoy fall color. You can also watch the running of the kokanee salmon in Taylor Creek. Be sure to take the Rainbow Trail to go to the Stream Profile Chamber to enjoy an underwater view of the creek. Taylor Creek is subject to closure during salmon season to minimize human-bear interactions. Check before visiting. | fs.usda.gov
Fallen Leaf Lake | Nearby Fallen Leaf Lake offers a number of fall jaunts to enjoy including the 4.2-mile Moraine trail from the campground or drive to the far end of the lake and hike 2.2 miles (4.4 RT) to Glen Alpine Springs. | alltrails.com
Hope Valley
Hope Valley from Pickett Junction to Kirkwood or to Markleeville never disappoints in the fall and is the best spot for fall color in the region. You can explore the trails on Carson Pass or at nearby Grover Hot Springs State Park (read our features on both in this edition).
For a fun, short excursion, I recommend a visit to Snowshoe Thompson Cave. The trailhead is off Highway 88 shortly after Desolation Hotel on the way to Markleeville. You’ll see a small parking area on the side of the road (there are no signs). It’s the same trail parking for Horsethief Canyon, which shows up in most map apps. Follow the quarter-mile trail on the left side of the lot to enjoy the fall color and explore to the cave.
