North Lake Tahoe Hikes
Top 10 Hikes in North Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is packed with nature trails to explore for people of all levels. Check out this guide to the top 10 North Lake Tahoe hikes.
Do you feel the need for adventure? Do you have a soul that can't be caged? Then you need to set out for the North Shore of Lake Tahoe and catch some of the most beautiful sights in the country. From sweeping vistas to rolling hills and spectacular lakefront homes.
The North Tahoe community features a cozy, small town feel with locally owned and operated businesses. You'll find something new at every turn.
Once you get a scope of how much there is to see and do, you might want your own lakefront home.
North Shore Lake Tahoe Trails
This list of top hiking trails in and around the North Lake Tahoe area provides an overview of the area. We try to incorporate a feel for the difficulty and rewards for each.
The best hikes in North Lake Tahoe can range in difficulty but nothing will tax you too much.
1. Tamarack Peak
Adjacent to the also popular Mt. Rose Trail, Tamarack Peak rises 10,000 feet above the lake. The peak can be described as iconic because it shows up in many pictures and marketing materials for the area.
Several routes lead to the Peak, so this might be a bit of a cheat on a list of top hikes. However, the visuals are much the same, with a few features changing between. The ability to scale the difficulty to your level upgrades the enjoyment.
The steep route will max out at a few hours to the top while the moderate routes will wind around and take more time.
Like many of the hikes in this list, the ascent will grant the hiker some amazing panoramic views of the lake and the people playing in the water below. The lake is framed by trees and surrounded by a ring of mountains.
Changing the time of day can grant some startling changes to the landscape. Sunset and sunrise viewed from higher positions are amazing as the mist and fog boil off the lake in the morning. The evening sunset sets the lake on fire or bathes it in gold, depending.
Always be careful when hiking in the dark and bring proper equipment to avoid injury or getting lost.
2. Donner Pass
With a view of the lake and technically part of the greater North Taho area, this hike offers more than most. The hike starts in the town of Truckee and ascends towards Donner Summit. Along the way, you can also hit up the Donner tunnels.
The tunnels contain petroglyphs but, depending on the season, may be closed or barred for entry. Check with local sources to determine the availability.
This area also offers some excellent free rock and bouldering climbing opportunities. Views offer both Donner Lake and Lake Tahoe landscapes. You might also spot a few cabins in the area.
Hitting many of the spots along this wide and varied destination can take some time. Expect to spend a full day working your way through the area and back. You can also join up with the Pacific Crest Trail on the way back to pack a few extra sights into your trip.
3. Brockway Summit Trail
For those craving something more primal and a little less foresty, Brockway Summit Trial delivers. The trail covers more than 3 miles of countryside, so come prepared.
That 3 miles features some excellent switchbacks that you ascend. Here you can view exquisite lava rock formations and find yourself a comfortable seat to look down at Lake Tahoe below.
The elevation of this hike clears 7,000 feet and presents some late-season snow in places. The trail cuts through fields of pines and you can watch the aspens disappear as you climb. You can enjoy seeing the change in flora and fauna as you climb above 5,000 feet.
Prepare to be mesmerized by the sudden peaks of the lake from through the clumps of trees. One thing this hike provides is a sense of perspective as the trail and trees and lake each vies for attention.
4. Tahoe Rim Trail
The grandest attraction of the area, the somewhat infamous and often abbreviated Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). This is the longest of all North Lake Tahoe hiking trails covering a total of 120 miles as it goes all around the lake. Unless you happen to be a veteran of the even longer Appalachian trail (and it's 2,200 miles) consider some preparations before you begin.
The trail moves through a lot of countrysides and, as you might expect, a lot of different features. Alpine lakes and waterfalls will delight the hydrophiles while the soaring peaks and wide vistas will bring out that sense of wonder in us all.
Wildflower-filled meadows and a wide variety of birds and smaller animals will cross your path.
The trail itself also offers a fair number of volunteer opportunities to be a part of the action.
Numerous sub-trails, several of them on this list, spike off from the TRT. Camping and lodging opportunities abound with some sparse offerings on the southwest side of the lake.
Guided tours with different interests (travel, geology, flowers, birds) offer services and perspectives. You could take this journey a few times with different guides and have a completely different experience.
5. Tunnel Creek Trail
The hiking portion of the mountain biking Flume Trail, Tunnel Creek presents hikers a steep climb with a sweeping view. The tree line breaks halfway up to provide a view of the lake, the surrounding hills, and the beach and marina below.
The appropriately named Monkey Rock is another key feature of the climb. This jutting protrusion makes a solid standing point and anchor for taking photos of the surrounding area.
It also remains an interesting feature in its own right. The rock's sparse and powder white image contrasts against the backdrop of green.
The combination of tree cover and the positioning of the climb make it a comfortable choice for a midday hike. Unlike other areas which might bet exposed and heat up from the sun, this path stays shaded for the most part. You will still want to be careful of the sun while on and about the lookout points.
The hike takes between 2 and 3 hours and is of moderate difficulty with some steep parts but no particular challenging sections.
6. Mt. Watson Lake Loop
As the name suggests, the whole hike is a circle. This makes for a great hiking experience. You remove both the trouble of calculating the energy to go back and you don't see the same thing twice.
The total loop covers about miles. You enter at the Tahoe Zephyr lift and make your way up 1,000 feet to a section of the Tahoe Rim Trail before cutting across. This takes you to the area around Watson Lake itself.
The rise up gives a nice drop down of the terrain and the breeze from Waston Lake makes the hike surprisingly cool.
The trail can be crowded at times because it is both popular and has several different guided hikes offered by the Northstar resort. Some of these guided tours offer a brisk pace so expect to be passed by more than one if you like to take your time.
Tthe path around the loop is well-maintained and easy to work on. Unlike some other hikes with a lot of differences in the terrain, this is a fairly gentle slope. That gives you more time to see the surrounding forest and mountains and less time worrying about where your feet are.
7. 64-Acres Beach
Lake Tahoe has more than a few beaches and more than a few beach hiking trails. While many of them will take you to, from, or around a beach, only one can be the top.
For those interested in hitting up some other beaches, read this for more information about that.
64-Acres Beach trailhead comes off the greater TRT just outside Tahoe City. The area has less strenuous hiking than some other trails. It still features more wilderness and less development than other beaches.
A more casual picnic and barbecue beach, it is easy to stroll through the sand and enjoy the kayaking and lack of motorized water vehicles.
Hiking up to and into the tree-line gives access back the to TRT and also lets you climb up a bit and see across the water.
The wide shore also gives a gradient between water, sand, and meadow before turning back into forest. Walking through these 4 environs within a few minutes can feel like crossing through time itself.
8. Eagle Rock Hiking Trail
As hiking trails go, Eagle Rock needs only to mention the names of landmarks along the way to excite. What could whet the appetite of even the most jaded and seasoned hiking veteran? Well, names like Eagle Falls, Emerald Bay, and Desolation Wilderness should do the trick.
This trail winds through a series of alpine scenes before crossing the paths of these waterfalls and opening up into the beach proper. The shadow of granite peaks stretches across providing that late day quiet and shade.
The trail terminates at Eagle Lake itself. Another attraction that features new challenges and sights year-round, consider a winter trip. Snowshoeing into the area to see the partially frozen falls is a striking sight indeed.
9. Paige Meadows
For those looking for a different take on Tahoe hiking, Paige Meadows provides just that. As the name suggests, this is a veritable walk in the park. A nice easy trip across a meadow with plenty to see.
The area is a solid visit for every season as the area offers something in each. The spring and summer fill the area with wildflowers and lush greenery. Fall brings a tinge of color to the aspen trees.
The winter transforms the meadow into a quiet retreat for cross-country skiing an.
The area is large enough that different activities such as hiking and mountain biking don't have to collide with each other. The small rolling hills keep it from being a flatline while not creating undue obstacles.
10. Five Lakes Trail
A quick 5 miles to hit up five lakes, no problem. Just a couple of hops and skips and steep trails. Be prepared to get winded moving up 1,200 feet in a few miles.
The sights will also be working to take your breath away. If you have ever dreamed of visiting the German Alps but can't seem to find your passport, it makes a good substitute.
You will see charming meadows ridged with mountains and trees. You will see lakes dotting the landscape and babbling creeks linking them together. You will expect to see fabulous chateaus and maybe you will see a few of those lurking behind the treeline as well.
Small hills rise above the meadows and break up the landscape with juts of naked rock to light the way. The trail will wrap around the edge of a few steeper areas while keeping you safely in view of the splendor but away from the edge.
The lakes feature some shallows where fish watching is possible. The grasses growing along the shores make interesting spots to bird watch.
The trail splits at several places so that a journey can hit up the lakes at any pace and in any order. It can be a bit confusing to remember where you are but sings are plentiful and maps are offered. You'd hate to miss a feature, so plan carefully.
Find Your Place
This provides a sample of the many adventures and sights in the area. The activities in North Shore Lake Tahoe don't stop. Year round the area finds new ways for visitors and locals to get outdoors and experience the region.
It could take years to see everything and to feel at one with the area. So why not considering staying awhile? You can see offers and take tours of some locations, all you have to do is contact us.
