Hiking activities in Lake Tahoe
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A
Hiking Emerald Bay State Park
Two trailheads lead from Emerald Bay into the Desolation Wilderness. Starting at the Eagle Falls parking lot (around US$3), the Eagle Falls Trail travels one steep mile to Eagle Lake, crossing by Eagle Falls along the way. This scenic short hike often gets choked with visitors, but crowds thin out immediately beyond the lake as the trail continues to the Tahoe Rim Trail and Velma, Dicks and Fontanillis Lakes.
From the Bayview Trailhead at the back of the Bayview Campground, it's a steep 1-mile climb to glacial Granite Lake at the foot of Maggies Peaks. The less ambitious might want to opt for the easy to moderate 1.5-mile round-trip to Cascade Falls. Vikingsholm Castle…
reviewed
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Mt Judah
Truckee is a great base for outdoor explorations in the Tahoe National Forest, especially in the Donner Summit area. One popular hike is to the top of 8243ft Mt Judah for awesome views of Donner Lake and the surrounding peaks. A longer and more strenuous ridge-crest hike links Donner Pass and Squaw Valley (15.5 miles, moderate to difficult) skirting the base of four prominent peaks. The TART bus takes you back to the trailhead.
For maps and further route suggestions, drop by the USFS ranger station at Truckee.
reviewed
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B
Hiking Squaw Valley
Several hiking trails radiate out from High Camp, or try the lovely, moderate Shirley Lake Trail (round-trip 5 miles), which follows a sprightly creek to waterfalls, granite boulders and abundant wildflowers. It starts at the mountain base, near the end of Squaw Peak Rd, behind the cable car building.
reviewed
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C
Hiking Tahoe City
The paved 6-mile Truckee River Bike Trail runs between Tahoe City and Squaw Valley. It's easy but expect crowds on summer weekends.
reviewed