Fall in Tahoe City is something not to be missed. With the cooler, crisp air and shorter days
comes beautiful autumn colors. Whether you’re speeding by yellows and oranges on a mountain
bike, taking a Sunday drive to the Mt. Rose Highway Scenic Overlook to take in the views, or
simply strolling through the woods, you’ll be wowed by the beauty you’ll see. Since fall is the
perfect weather for hiking, we put together a trio of hiking ideas near Tahoe City to get you
started on your leaf peeping adventure.
Paige Meadows
One of the best spots close to Tahoe City to catch Aspens turning brilliant gold is Paige
Meadows. Also a great place to see wildflowers in the spring and summer, Paige Meadows is a
series of five interconnected meadows with views of fall colors and the mountain peaks beyond.
With hikes of varying lengths weaving through the area, you can take a quick hike and bring a
picnic for a relaxed stroll or, if you want more of a workout, link up with the Tahoe Rim Trail for
a longer hike. Whether it’s an afternoon stroll or a full day hike, you’ll have lots of chances to
enjoy the beautiful fall colors.
Sugar Pine Point
Want to see your fall colors with some sand between your toes? With two miles of frontage
along Lake Tahoe, Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is a fantastic leaf peeping destination.
Just a 15-minute drive south of Tahoe City along the picturesque west shore of the lake, Sugar
Pine Point is the perfect spot to spend a fall day. While the lake side of the park is gorgeous,
head across Highway 89 for some fantastic hiking trails. Our favorite is the General Creek Trail
which is a 4.5-mile loop with a 300 foot elevation gain and beautiful fall foliage along the way.
Or, if you’d like to make a day of it you can continue on to Lily Pond for 6.5-mile roundtrip hike
or hike up to Lost Lake with an elevation gain of 1,300 feet. The Lost Lake hike is 14.5 miles
roundtrip so be sure to bring supplies for a long day on the trail.
Five Lakes
Make your way inland from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows Road to get to our next fall hiking
destination. Five Lakes is a 10 mile out-and-back challenging trail where you’ll be rewarded
with fantastic views of Alpine Meadows and the mountain peak beyond. Don’t get discouraged
too quickly as most of the elevation gain of over 1,000 feet is in the first mile or so of the hike. If
you turn around too quickly, you’ll miss out on the quiet solitude of the lakes above. Part of the
Granite Chief Wilderness, this area is a must see during the fall. Not only is the hiking weather
ideal, but the trail is less crowded this time of year and the views are dotted with fall colors.
Dogs are welcome so you can bring your favorite furry hiking buddy along for a fun afternoon of
hiking.