NOVEMBER 2022
Lake Tahoe
Where: Nevada/California border
Directions: I-80 east and west; US 395 north and south
Why so good:
* Straight from the United States Forest Service: “our well-behaved, leashed dog is welcome almost anywhere within the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Area (about 78% of the land around Lake Tahoe), with the notable exceptions of designated swimming beaches and areas that are restricted for wildlife protection.”
THE LAKE.
Quoting the USFS again: “While your dog is not allowed on any designated swimming beaches which include Nevada, Pope, Baldwin, Meeks Bay, and William Kent Beaches, there are still plenty of places for both of you to enjoy the water. Dogs are allowed at the Tallac Historic Site from Valhalla Pier to Tallac Point (where the Lake of the Sky Trail meets the lakefront) in South Lake Tahoe, North Beach at Zephyr Cove Resort, Hidden and Chimney Beaches on the east shore, Coon Street Beach in Kings Beach, Ski Beach in Incline Village (from October to April only), and Echo Lakes.” So there is ample opportunity for dog paddling in the famous mountain-framed lake - your biggest obstacle is likely to be parking.
THE TRAIL ALL THE WAY AROUND.
It is possible to fill a vacation with your dog by examining the beauty of Lake Tahoe from every angle. The Tahoe Rim Trail, a footpath completely around Lake Tahoe, was the inspiration of United States Forest Service officer Glenn Hampton. He built a coalition of support that would attract more than 10,000 volunteers working 200,000 hours before the 165-mile trail was completed in 2001. The Tahoe Rim Trail visits two states, six counties, three national forests, state parkland and three wilderness areas. It stands as one of the largest volunteer projects ever completed in the United States. The lowest point of the ridge-running route is 6,300 feet at Tahoe City and the trail reaches its apex at Relay Peak where the summit is tagged at 10,333 feet. Dogs are welcome to enjoy hiking on the Tahoe Rim Trail; the going is often on soft, sandy terrain as you pass through lush forests and playful meadows. If you hike the entire trail you become eligible for the “165-Mile Club.” These long- distance hikers receive a patch from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association but no word yet on laurels for your dog’s completing the trail. Fortunately for vacationers on a time budget, a cornucopia of shorter trails reveal Lake Tahoe’s magnificent scenery in bite-size chunks...
THE EAST SHORE TRAILS.
Winnemucca Lake: This trail goes through Carson Pass, pioneered by hunter and trapper Christopher “Kit” Carson. When his team made the first successful winter crossing of the Sierras in 1844, the gap at 8,754 feet was called simply “The Pass.” Gold-seekers who came several years later started calling this passageway “Carson Pass.” The hike through Carson Pass tags a string of jeweled alpine lakes, the most popular being emerald green Winnemucca Lake. The trail is a delight for humans and dogs alike - wide and sandy with no severe climbs for more than a mile. This is the Lake Tahoe hike to take for wildflower lovers in summer - Lupine, Mules Ear and Indian Paintbrush color the ground. Canine hikers in search of a more spirited walk can continue past Winnemucca Lake. Another mile down the trail - and 400 feet higher - is Round Top Lake and behind it Round Top Mountain is waiting to be climbed. The scenery is some of the best in the Northern High Sierra.
Prey Meadows/Skunk Harbor: Part of this easy-going canine hike reveals an old railroad grade built in the 1870s to supply lumber to the Virginia City building boom. The path forks but is short enough that canine hikers will want to take both routes. The left fork takes you into Prey Meadows with waves of springtime wildflowers; to the right is Skunk Harbor, a twinkling cove on the Tahoe shore. Along the way come glimpses of Lake Tahoe through thick pine and fir trees. If the meadows and mountains look familiar it is because this is where Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright rode for years on Bonanza.
SOUTH SHORE TRAILS.
Tallac Historic Site: The southwest shore of Lake Tahoe was a favorite playground to the wealthy and the Tallac Historic Site features three separate rustic estates built from the 1890s through the 1920s. One belonged to Lucky Baldwin, a California real estate investor who operated “the greatest casino in America” here at his Tallac Resort. The Forest Service acquired the area between 1969 and 1971, and has been restoring and renovating ever since. Pine-scented paths meander around the three estates and poke out to Kiva Beach on the lake, a free beach. Your dog is welcome to trot easily through charming buildings and gardens, man-made ponds and an arboretum. The Tallac Historic Site is linked by a short trail to the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center where dogs are welcome to enjoy a variety of short nature trails. The Rainbow Trail is the feature trail, an interpretive 1/2-mile loop that illuminates the importance of marshes and meadows to the unrivaled clarity of Lake Tahoe. The Forest Tree Trail focuses on the life cycle of the Jeffrey Pine, the dominant tree in the Lake Tahoe basin. Across the road is the Trail of the Washoe, dedicated to life of Tahoe’s original settlers.
Mt. Tallac Trail: Mt. Tallac is the monarch of the Lake Tahoe shoreline, rising over 3,000 feet above the water. Many trails lead to its summit and the Mt. Tallac Trail is one of the best day hikes at Tahoe. The first half of the 5-mile climb is moderately paced until you reach smallish Cathedral Lake, ideal for a doggie dip. Then the going gets rougher as you grind your way up the front face of the 9,735-foot peak. Once on top there won’t be much that escapes your view. Lake Tahoe, Fallen Leaf Lake, the Desolation Wilderness and even the casinos across the state line in Nevada all reveal themselves on Mt. Tallac. Mt. Tallac is in the Desolation Wilderness that requires access by permit. Permits for day hikers can be obtained at the trailhead.
WEST SHORE TRAILS.
Cascade Falls Trail: This is a short out-and-back trail of less than one mile that leads to memorable views of 200-foot Cascade Falls. The trail gains scarcely 100 feet of elevation and can get crowded so you will need to keep your dog under close control. The trail itself picks its way among rocks and Jeffrey pines as it clings to the mountain slope. Cascade Lake below and Lake Tahoe in the distance are in almost constant view. The final steps as you near the falls are across open granite slopes that can be slippery under paw. Across the road from the campground is Inspiration Point, with views of Emerald Bay that have been called the most photographed in America. Below on the shore at the head of the bay is the estate of Vikingsholm. A trail leads down to the Viking castle on the beach but you will have to take it without your dog. All the trails around Emerald Bay, including the short but demanding Eagle Falls hike, are extremely popular and recommended only for well-behaved dogs.
NORTH SHORE TRAILS.
Mount Rose Wilderness: Mount Rose is the most heavily used of the three wilderness areas around Lake Tahoe. The centerpiece trail is a 6-mile, 2,000-foot ascent to the summit of Mount Rose. This trip is for experienced canine hikers since the paw-friendly hard-packed sand trail gives way in the last two miles to rough shale that can give sharp, uncertain footing to a dog. From the top of 10,776-foot Mount Rose there are long vistas of Lake Tahoe, the Truckee Meadows and, on clear days, Pyramid Lake beyond Reno. Other trails exploring the canyons and ridges of the high country of the Carson Range are at Mount Rose. The Jones/Whites Creek Loop Trail covers 8 miles and the 2-mile Hunter Creek Trail explores the northern section of the wilderness. The 3-mile Thomas Creek Trail leads canine hikers to small lakes and lively meadows in the interior of the park. A pleasant leg-stretcher for canine hikers at Mount Rose is the 1.3- mile Mount Rose Meadows Interpretive Trail. The easy loop is paved for full access but bikes and horses are not allowed. It trips through rushing streams and rough granite boulders along the way to the alpine meadow that is awash in wildflowers after the snowmelt.