A half-mile down, turn right at the campground then veer left for day visitors. Getting there: Driving north on Highway 89 from South Lake Tahoe, turn left after 3 miles at Fallen Leaf Lake Road. Feel free to keep walking, as the trail continues along the lake for another half-mile with many choice spots for resting, picnics and swimming. There is a bridge across the spillway where you can watch the water cascade down Taylor Creek. A half-mile down the well-marked path, you’ll reach the dam built in 1934. Midway up the ride is a 14,000-square-foot observation deck with snack shack and picnic tables.Īll ages will enjoy this gentle stroll alongside the lake and through cool woods. There is a fee to ride the eight-person gondola, but children 4 and younger ride free. Getting there: In South Lake Tahoe, two blocks before the Stateline casinos, is the Heavenly Village Gondola Center. It takes about an hour, and there are also 2.2-mile and 3.8-mile options for a sturdier crowd. The vista point offers stunning views of the Tahoe basin and the Carson Valley far below. The East Peak Trail is the most gentle choice, gaining 400 feet of elevation in a 1.6-mile roundtrip hike. All ages can enjoy a combination ride/hike after using the E Ticket gondola to float up to Heavenly’s hiking trails. The trail starts immediately in the lower lot and restrooms are available. Rose Highway) 7.7 miles to the right-side parking lot. Getting there: From the junction of highways 28 and 431 in Incline Village, drive east on 431 (the Mt. The entire trail has three bridges crossing over picturesque streams, and wildflowers are often abundant. Incline VillageĬalled the Tahoe Meadows Whole Access Trail, this just over 1-mile loop through meadows and forested glades is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers. After the airport turn right into the lot marked Wildlife Viewing Area. Getting there: From downtown Truckee, drive east on Brockway Road from Donner Pass Road. Out-and-back is a gentle 2 miles, or choose to connect with the Tompkins Memorial Trail for a 3-mile loop. Some days, glider planes are visible from the adjacent airport. The lake is about 1 mile from the roadside gate, meandering through wetlands and along the creek side. This is a very popular walk along the creek with no elevation gain lots of folks use the path as a dog walk, so make sure the kids are prepared for furry activity. Turn right at Glenshire Drive and continue 5 miles to the Glenshire clubhouse parking lot. Getting there: From downtown, drive east on Donner Pass Road. The Glenshire Lake Trail is a nice wilderness adventure for the very young. The 1-mile loop circles the small lake and crosses a lush meadow. TruckeeĪ quick 6-mile drive from downtown Truckee, this short, scenic hike is in the Glenshire subdivision. Check out these Lake Tahoe kid-friendly hikes to take the guess work out of the planning. But watching the kids scamper across a wildflower meadow and enjoying the great outdoors is worth the effort. If you find yourself in the beautiful Lake Tahoe area, whatever the season make sure to take the short trip to Fallen Leaf Lake - a quick 10 minutes from downtown South Lake Tahoe but miles away from the hustle and bustle.Planning a Lake Tahoe hike with children can be a challenge. I think he understood why it’s always been such a special place for me. I felt so lucky to be able to share the experience with my husband and was thrilled that this was his first look at this place he’d hear me talk so much about. When I first saw this view of my beloved lake, covered in fresh, white snow with a soft mist rising off the water, I fell in love with it all over again. And what a different lake it is in the winter! The campground is closed during the winter months, so you can park at the entrance and snowshoe through the campground to a short trail leading to the lake. It was only years later, as an adult living on the East Coast returning to Tahoe with my husband in tow, that I got to experience Fallen Leaf Lake in a whole new way: in winter. Growing up in Sacramento, my family and I were frequent visitors to Lake Tahoe and spent many a summer weekend camping at the Fallen Leaf Lake campground, my brothers and I riding our bikes around the loops and swimming in the cool, crystal-blue lake. And the jewel of the Lake Tahoe area has to be the amazing Fallen Leaf Lake. After Thailand, my favorite place in the world is the incomparable Lake Tahoe.
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