| |
| Emerald
Bay:
Home to the only island at Lake Tahoe, Emerald
Bay exemplifies the beauty of Lake Tahoe.
The shallow waters reveal sunken timbers that
are easily seen from the highway, hundreds of
feet above. Eagle and osprey nests
are prominent in the trees edging
the bay, offering us an opportunity
to catch a glimpse of them feasting on the fish
in the bay, and raising their young. |
|
| Angora
Lakes: This
short drive off of Tahoe Mountain Road in
South Lake Tahoe leads to a secluded parking
lot in the forest. The trail is a short and easy
hike, passing a series of small crystal clear
lakes. The final lake seems perfectly round,
with a towering mountain face resembling an
amphitheater gracing one end. There are cliffs
overhanging the water from 15-75 feet
that people often hike to. |
|
| Fallen
Leaf Lake: Fallen
Leaf Lake is a pristine lake adjacent to Lake
Tahoe and approximately 90 feet higher. The
height is significant because at the right
angle you can see all of Fallen Leaf Lake
and the lower elevation Lake Tahoe in the
background. The road leading to the lake passes
a series of aspen filled meadows and several
sites of Hollywood productions, including
The Bodyguard and City of Angels. Follow Hwy 89
north past Camp Richardson about one mile.
Fallen Leaf Lake road will be on the left. |
|
| Secret
Beach: An easy four mile
mountain bike ride or hike in the forest
leads to one of the most amazing alpine beaches
in existence. Rock gardens are scattered shoreline
in the shallow water, which appears to be Caribbean
blue and is obviously crystal clear. The trail
to the beach begins at the paved parking lot
on Highway 28, 2.9 miles south of Sand Harbor.
|
|
| Truckee
River: The Truckee River
has several different access points in the
the Lake Tahoe Basin. One of the more popular
spots is in Tahoe City, where anyone can access
the river with his own raft, or rent a more
durable boat for the family. The natural, lazy
river provides a mellow ride leading to
a riverside restaurant. This is a great activity
to do with groups all summer long. |
|
| Truckee,
California: The
town of Truckee is a quaint railroad and
gold-mining town that has preserved its Old
West look through generations, offering an
interesting destination for shopping and
dining. This is a historic and entertaining
place for a day trip or even a full weekend.
|
|
| Historic
Camp Richardson: Camp
Richardson has a variety of things to keep everyone
entertained, including the Beacon Restaurant
and Bar, a popular beach, historic homes,
boat rentals, bike trails, and a huge pier. |
|
| DL
Bliss State Park: The
trails in DL Bliss state park drop down to
ridges that overhang Lake Tahoe and a rocky
shoreline. The views looking back at Heavenly
and the south shore of Lake Tahoe are stunning
from these well maintained trails. |
|
| Hope
Valley: A
short drive down 89 south from South Lake
Tahoe to the intersection of 89 and 88 is
where Hope Valley begins. Winding rivers,
sprawling meadows, and jagged peaks make Hope
Valley one of the most gorgeous locations
in the Sierras throughout the seasons. |
|
| Hot
Springs : Route
88 from Hope Valley leads to a small gold
mining town called Markleeville which is also
home to some natural hot springs. |
|
| Kirkwood,
California: The
Kirkwood Valley is beautiful during all
seasons. The skiing and snowboarding are amazing
in the winter, but the other seasons should
not be forgotten at Kirkwood. Kirkwood has
one of the oldest bars in California and rests
on three different county lines. During the
Gold Rush, the Saloon at the Kirkwood Inn had
several different last calls based on which
county they rolled their mobile bar to. |
|
| Hot
Air Balloon: Hot
air balloon rides are a great way to see many
of these scenic places at once. Soaring hundreds
of feet above Lake Tahoe, a balloon ride reveals
all of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra
Nevada mountains. |
|
|
|
 |
Vikingsholm, featured above, is on the shores
of Emerald Bay, hidden amongst giant pines.
This historic site has a roof covered in thick
grass and moss which makes it nearly invisible
from the hiking trail that winds just above.
photo
courtesy of LTVA.org |
| |
 |
| Emerald
Bay is home to Tahoe's only island, Fanette
Island. A one room stone tea house built in
1929 still stands on the island. Boaters often
anchor off the island to hike, and jump off
the large rock croppings into the deep bay
waters. |
| |
 |
East
shore beaches are famous for their long
days in the sun and many rock gardens. These
rock gardens put in perspective how clean
and clear the water of Lake Tahoe really is.
photo
courtesy of LTVA.org |
| |
| |
|
