Peak baggers looking for a challenge will be well rewarded with an ascent of 9,103-foot Castle Peak. Though there is no official trail all the way to the top, a boot-beaten path from the Pacific Crest Trail at Castle Pass to the summit is easy to follow. Successful summiteers will be rewarded with a far-ranging view of the northern Sierra.
TRAIL 5
Hike, Run, Bike, Horses, Dogs Allowed, Child Friendly
9.6 miles, Loop
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Castle Valley, Round Valley, and Andesite Peak
Two scenic valleys and a trip to the summit of Andesite Peak provide plenty of diverse scenery along this loop for a wide range of recreationists. Additional bonuses include a visit to rustic Peter Grubb Hut and wildlife viewing around Castle and Round Valleys.
TRAIL 6
Hike, Run, Bike, Horses, Dogs Allowed
8.0 miles, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Three picturesque lakes are cradled in the Loch Leven Lakes basin, and a mile-long side trip to Salmon Lake adds an optional visit to a fourth lake. At a lower elevation than most Tahoe-area lakes, the Loch Leven Lakes provide not only an early-season opportunity for hikers itching to get out on the trail but also relatively warm opportunities for swimming.
TRAIL 7
Hike, Run, Horses, Dogs Allowed, Child Friendly
4.6 miles, Loop
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Hikers, runners, and equestrians would be hard pressed to find a shorter and less difficult trail in the Tahoe Sierra that affords such impressive views. Don’t expect much solitude or any water along this route, which initially follows a segment of the Pacific Crest Trail.
TRAIL 8
Hike, Horses
15.0 miles, Point-to-point
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Pacific Crest Trail: Donner Pass to Squaw Valley
One incredible view after another awaits travelers on this section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which lives up to its name for a several-mile course along the crest of the Tahoe Sierra. Though you’ll see plenty of people along the beginning and end of this route, the middle section should provide ample solitude.
TRAIL 9
Hike
2.5–10.2 miles, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Whether you plan on making the strenuous climb all the way from the floor of Squaw Valley or enjoying the ride in the cable car partway up the mountain, the awesome view from 9,006-foot Granite Chief is still the same—extraordinary.
TRAIL 10
Hike, Run, Dogs Allowed
4.0 miles, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
A stiff, nearly 2-mile climb leads from the base of Alpine Meadows, across mostly open terrain with fine views, to a forested basin holding five delightful lakes within the Granite Chief Wilderness. The relatively short hike in combination with the pleasant setting around the lakes provides hikers with fine opportunities for swimming, fishing, and picnicking.
TRAIL 11
Hike, Run, Bike, Horses, Dogs Allowed
11.4 miles, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Tahoe Rim Trail: Tahoe City to Truckee River Canyon Viewpoint
A steady climb from Tahoe City leads recreationists along the Tahoe Rim Trail to a pair of scenic viewpoints, the first of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the second of the Truckee River Canyon.
TRAIL 12
Hike, Run, Dogs Allowed
10.0 miles, Out-and-back
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
A maintained trail leads to the summit of the Tahoe Basin’s third-highest peak, where you’ll see excellent views of Lake Tahoe and the Truckee Meadows. Along Galena Creek you’ll experience a stunning waterfall and a brilliant seasonal wildflower display.
TRAIL 13
Hike, Run, Dogs Allowed
18.0 miles, Point-to-point
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Newly constructed by volunteers from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, this shuttle trip travels through the upper elevations of the Carson Range for several miles before dropping into Thomas Creek Canyon, offering fine views along the way.
TRAIL 14
Hike, Handicapped Accessible (Interpretive Loop Trail), Dogs Allowed (on leash), Child Friendly
0.8–3.3 miles, Loop
Difficulty: 1 2 3 4 5
Four short nature trails sample some of the highlights of Tahoe Meadows, a large subalpine clearing carpeted with wildflowers and teeming with life. The wide, pleasantly graded Interpretive Loop Trail is well suited to wheelchair-bound naturalists and families with young children. The three loops in the lower meadows add forested sections to the meadow rambles.
TRAIL 15
Hike, Run, Bike, Dogs Allowed
19.5 miles, Point-to-point
Difficulty:
