Fall Hiking - We love it!!!
By ITR Staff |
Wed, 31 Dec 1969
We know we say it every year around this time but mother
nature has left us with an exceptionally mild and gorgeous fall. The Beautiful Aspens are changing to their
bright yellow and the Maple’s to their bright red, creating an intense, fiery
canvas surrounding our blue lake. Pair
this with the 65 degree weather and you’ll have a perfect fall. This is a great time to put on those hiking
shoes and head to the hills. Below are a
few hikes for every level that we love.
Beginner:
We were just up at the Crystal Bay Fire Lookout with a group
of friends. If you haven’t been there yet you need to do yourself the favor and
make it soon. It is about a ˝ mile walk on a paved road (uphill). Many of
the group were not locals and therefore not used to the elevation but still
everyone made it, including my 79 year old mother. There is a trail around the top with
historical facts and others signs that tell you what you are looking at. Plan
on spending an hour on top just to relax and fully take it in. There are
toilets ( no water ) at the top. My
first time up we brought along our dogs and met several other dog lovers along
the way. We spent our time with a picnic dinner and bottle of wine. Plan on making this part of your Tahoe
experience soon. How do you get
there? Follow Tahoe Blvd. (HWY 28) west
from Incline Village towards Kings Beach. Once you reach Crystal Bay, turn right (north) onto Reservoir Drive. A
quarter-mile later (at the fire station and water tower), turn right onto Lakeview
and continue about a mile (stay left at each fork) to the gate/trailhead for
the overlook. When you see a narrow fork do take that. It will bend back around
and take you to the gate. If you avoid turning onto Tuscarora you should be
able to find the Forest Service road ok.
Intermediate:
We love Tunnel Creek! Within just a few minutes of hiking you will be met by an incredible
view. We must admit, this hike can be a
bit strenuous but you don’t have to reach a summit to enjoy the lake view. How do you get there? Just east of Incline
Village at the intersection of Highway 28 and Ponderosa Ranch Road, just beyond
— you guessed it — the now-dark Ponderosa Ranch. Park on Hwy 28 on the lake side, cross the
street to tunnel creek road. At the end
of the street you will see a fire road,
follow that. Please note: Though this is a popular hiking area, it is
private property.
The meadows at Mt. Rose are also a great place to hike. The trails here range from flat to steep and are absolutely beautiful right
now.
Advanced:
Mount Rose Summit is the way to go if you’d like to spend
the day on the mountain. This advanced
hike is a roughly 5-mile, 2,000 feet
hike from the trailhead, through some wonderful scenery, including a gorgeous
waterfall. At 10,776', this is not a
hike for the faint of heart. Be sure to take plenty of water and the appropriate
clothing as the climate can change quickly in the mountains. How do you get there? From Tahoe Blvd, east Incline Village, Follow
Mt. Rose Hwy (SR431) past the meadows to the very top of the mountain. The parking lot will be on your left. Park here and you will see the train head as
well as bathrooms and maps w history.
Have fun and be safe!!
