These notes describe a number of easy backcountry ski tours in the Lake Tahoe region as explored by a novice backcountry skier and several canine companions during the past several winters. They're posted to this web site for other amateurs who may find them useful.
Many of these tours are also described in other useful references at the end of this web page, notably Marcus Lubkin's book and Bob Akka's free-heel-skiing web site. I've described some of them in more detail here because, while mostly easy and suitable for novices, some of them are poorly marked.
Wider metal-edged backcountry skiis with a good non-wax or "fish-scale" base will be preferable to lighweight cross-country skiis for most of these tours, especially the ones that go off groomed or heavily used trails.
| The Tours | |
"Agate Knoll" is my unofficial name for a small peak immediately behind the Agate Bay subdivision on the northwest end of Lake Tahoe. This peak has a prominent open face on the Lake side (perhaps from a fire some time in the past?) that is visible inthe winter from all around the Lake. A short excursion to the top of this knoll, including a bit of forest bushwhacking along the way, offers a magnificent view from the top as the reward.
Turn off Highway 267 into North National Avenue, below Brockway Summit on the Kings Beach side, where you see a large sign marking the Kingswood Condominiums. (This is the last road on the west side of 267 below Brockway Summit; it's some distance below the summit.) After a short distance turn right onto Regency Street and follow it for a considerable distance until it ends in a cul de sac. There used to be a snowmobile rental concession at this point; as of 1999 it's gone. Be cautious about parking outside the cul de sac, as there are snow removal regulations.
From the cul de sac ski in along the extension of Regency a short distance to where a telephone utility easement with orange signs crosses Regency. Climb up this easement to the left until it levels off, then keep climbing upwards and slightly to the right through the forest and occasional clearings. There are no obvious trails in this area except random snowmobile tracks; you just have to keep ascending to the south through the forest until you come up over the top of the knoll and are rewarded by the view. Return by the reverse route.
Carnelian Bay Road is a signed but unpaved Forest Service road that starts from an intersection with Tripoli Road near the back corner of the Agate Bay subdivision. The road is usually plowed as far as two large houses located uphill and on the right, and then ascends from there up past an intersection with the unplowed extension of Regency Street (described just above) and on up to the Fibreboard Freeway very close to Brockway Summit. It provides a pleasant climb up to either of these points with a run back down through the adjoining forest, as well as one way of accessing Agate Knoll. Carnelian Bay Road also seems to have been named Old Wood Road or 16N02 in earlier references, and there is also an entirely separate paved section of the road behind the 7-11 in Carnelian Bay.
Walk or ski up the plowed section of Carnelian Bay Road, passing two or three houses on your right.; the upper house has the name "Stoll" and a fenced horse corral beside the road just above its driveway. If the snow cover is deep but not too soft and you don't mind traversing around a forested hillside, you can continue up Carnelian Bay Road a short distance past the corral, looking for a likely point to turn right (south) off the road and into the woods. From that point traverse (or more accurately bushwhack) upward and to the left around the side of the knoll, heading toward the Lake. Eventually you will come out on the open front face of the knoll and can continue your ascent to the top. Retracing this route will also give you a few downhill turns on the open front face.
The alternative is to continue up Carnelian Bay road to an unmarked intersection with the extension of Regency Street (described above). Turn right on Regency Street for a few hundred yards and look for openings or snowmobile tracks heading south into the forest. Navigate south from this point for half a mile or more through the trees to the top of the knoll. As you get close to the top the slope steepens a bit, and you finally clamber up over the back side of the knoll, to be rewarded by a spectacular view of all of Lake Tahoe. To return retrace your steps, heading north and down through the trees until you intersect Regency. If you see residences on your right, this means you have drifted too much to the east.
Alternatively, if conditions are right you can make a few turns down the somewhat steep but very appealing open front face of the knoll toward the Lake, bearing around to the right as you descend. Eventually you have to bushwhack your way back around the side of the knoll, proceeding around to the right and descending gradually, until you encounter Carnelian Bay Road partway down.
Starting from Brockway Summit (described below) ski in a short distance on the Mt. Watson Road or Fibreboard Freeway, then angle left down the upper section of Carnelian Bay Road to the same Regency Street intersection as described above. At this point turn left onto Regency for a short distance, then right (south) into the woods, and follow the same directions as above.
This is supposedly a short and easy tour, described in Bob's Free-Heel Skiing web page. I've never tried it myself, so can't report on it.
This easy tour is located at the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe, just to the south of Fallen Leaf Lake. Details are given in Tour #61 in Lubkin's book The drive from Tahoe to the starting point is a bit round-about, but once you get there this is a very pleasant and easy excursion, with a great view at the top.
Once you park you continue down the road a short distance to where you may see other cars or tracks. After turning left into a meadow and then angling into the forest on the right side of the meadow, you ski up is a gently climbing summer road located in a partially shaded valley between two ridges, with no views during the ascent. The gradient is just right both for easy climbing and a pleasant descent. Once you reach the Angora Fire Lookout building at the top of the climb, the views down on Fallen Leaf Lake, out over Lake Tahoe, south to the Carson Range, and especially across to Mt. Tallac are more than worth the ascent.
Blackwood Canyon is a well-known mountain biking and OHV route starting from the intersection of Highway 89 and Blackwood Canyon road on the West side of Lake Tahoe, a few miles south of Tahoe City, and extending in along Blackwood Canyon Road toward Barker Pass. It is described as Tour #41 in Lukind's book. You can park at the intersection with Highway 89 across from the lakeshore even without a Sno-Park permit (I believe), or there is a Sno-Park lot located 100' in from the highway.
The first four or five miles of this road are just a flat and level tour up Blackwood Canyon Road, extending back from the Lake and following a pleasant stream. This section is normally well packed out by snowmobiles (although snowmobile traffic is not too heavy), and is well suited for very novice skiers and locals exercising their dogs. Once you cross the stream on a bridge perhaps 4 miles back in, the road begins to climb more steeply, heading for the Desolation Wilderness; I haven't attempted that climb yet.
Brockway Summit is the top of the pass on Highway 267 between Lake Tahoe and Truckee, reached by driving up from the traffic light on Highway 28 at Kings Beach or from the Northstar entrance road on the Truckee side. There is a sizable turnout and parking area on the southwest side of the highway just at the summit where a snowmobile rental concession operates all winter long.
This location is the start of Forest Service Road 1N73, a paved but unplowed road officially known as the Mt. Watson Road and informally known as the "Fibreboard Freeway" which runs from here to Tahoe City at its western end. This road is a major snowmobile access route for the backcountry northwest of Lake Tahoe. For skiers willing to overlook the somewhat heavy weekend snowmobile traffic it also provides a groomed trail with gentle grades, good access to many backcountry points, some panoramic views over the Lake, and good snow coverage until very late in the season.
Intermediate points along the Fibreboard Freeway between Brockway Summit and Tahoe City include the Four Corners/Sawmill Flats area; Watson Lake and the Mt. Watson area; and the Painted Rocks region looking across Truckee Canyon before the road drops down into Tahoe City.
Start by skiing in along the level and heavily used road from the snowmobile rental operation. After a short distance there is a marked intersection where Carnelian Bay Road drops away to the left (there may be a sign labelling it as 1N63). It's possible to drop down this road a mile or so to where it meets the Regency Street extension, turn left, and go a short distance to the Regency Street trailhead. Alternatively you can continue down Carnelian Bay Road to its intersection with Tripoli in the Agate Bay subdivision as described above. The upper section of Carnelian Bay Road is medium steep in places, making it of intermediate difficulty with good snow, more difficult if it's icy.
Past this intersection the Fibreboard Freeway climbs gradually for a mile or so (+300 feet) to a point where the road curves to the right and a clearing on the left offers a superb view of Agate Bay immediately below. The Heavenly Valley ski runs at the far end of the Lake and Mt. Tallac (slightly hidden by trees to the right) are also visible. Beyond this point the road climbs a short distance further (+50 feet) and then turns into a long gentle downgrade. Numerous snowmobile tracks intersect this section of the road, including some obvious side roads that diverge from 1N73 on the right-hand (north) side. In general these roads either climb above or connect into the Northstar ski area whose boundary is a short distance to the north.
Near the bottom of this downgrade, well past the two mile marker, you may also see tracks on an apparent Forest Service road crossing an open area on the left and merging into 1N73 at a shallow angle. This is the upper end of a discontinued Forest Service Road 1N75 which at one time looped back and then turned west to intersect Forest Service road 1N74 midway between Old County and the Four Corners intersection. Although it is still shown on many maps and its route can be followed, as of 1999 the Forest Service decommissioned this road, inserted many obstacles in the roadbed, and removed all signs referring to it.
Continuing on the downgrade eventually brings you to the Four Corners intersection (-400 feet), which is one of the few well-marked points in this whole backcountry region (some locals also seeem to call it Five Corners). Guided by signs one can turn a short distance north from here into the Northstar cross country ski area. A short distance down the groomed Northstar trails is a reservoir with a dam at the lower end, and off in a meadow to the left is an old railroad caboose that serves as one of Northstar's warming huts (drinking water available inside). The Sawmill Flats area is also a short distance north of here, within the Northstar area boundary.
One can also continue through the intersection on the Fibreboard Freeway to the Watson Lake junction, Mt. Watson itself, and eventually the Painted Rock region and Tahoe City; or one can turn left on the well-marked and well-traveled Forest Service Road 1N74 which descends to the Old County Road area. Finally, one can turn more sharply south and navigate down through the woods to Carnelian Bay via Carnelian Canyon (described separately below).
This pleasant route take you down from the Four Corners area down to the top of Carnelian Canyon, and from there down to the lakeshore at Carnelian Bay. It's essentially the reverse of the Carnelian Canyon trip described below. Since this route is in general poorly marked and traverses an area with few distinctive landmarks, it might be best to do the uphill trip first in order to become familiar with the landmarks. There is no unique trail for the upper part of this route, and there may be multiple snowmobile tracks in the area.
The general objective is to descend roughly south from the Four Corners intersection through the gentle wooded slopes below the Fibreboard Freeway until you encounter the power line, then if necessary traverse right or left until you find the woodpile mentioned in the Carnelian Canyon tour, and then follow the Carnelian Canyon route in reverse until you are able to descend down the Canyon. As a more specific description, ski east on the Fibreboard Freeway a few hundred feet from the junction with Old County Road until you see a distinct but possibly untracked road angling off to the right. Follow this cut through the forest, first level, then descending gradually, possibly encountering various snowmobile tracks along the way Eventually you will see the power line crossing at right angles ahead, and will probably.need to angle somewhat to encounter the woodpile. (As noted in the Carnelian Bay tour, there are actually two woodpilesor in the winter snow-covered moundsin this area. The one you want is the slightly smaller one which is actually a pile of logs and straw bales, located directly on the extension of the Carnelian Canyon route and just above the power line, near a tree with a number of blue markings on it. The second one is slightly larger and located several hundred feet further west, but also just above the power line.)
It is possible to traverse the Fibreboard Freeway starting from the opposite or Tahoe City end, with a 10 or 12 mile trek past the Four Corners region and back to Brockway Summit. At the starting point a steep climb up from the Tahoe City wye leads to striking views across the Truckee River canyon, looking directly into Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley.
To access the Fibreboard Freeway from this end, take Highway 89 west from the traffic light at the Tahoe City wye, heading toward Squaw Valley and Truckee. Turn right off Highway 89 a few hundred feet from the light, just past the second gas station. Park in the community center parking lot a short distance up the hill on the right. From there walk a few hundred feet back down to the hill to where there is a shed and at times small snowmobile operation on the opposite side of the street. The trail, which is normally groomed for snowmobiles, ascends very steeply up and to the left from the shed (not a pleasant climb when it's icy).
Follow this road up the stiff grade, crossing a number of other roads and trails, until it levels out and eventually provides excellent views across the Truckee River canyon into Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley. Following this road far enough will bring you to the Painted Rocks area, then Watson Lake, and eventually to the Four Corners/Sawmill Flats area and beyond this to Brockway Summit. There is also a signed entrance gate for the Tahoe Rim Trail just across from the community center parking lot. This trail, which ascends to the same general area, may be suitable for snowshoeing under good conditions, but not for skiing.
This is an easy but partly off-trail expedition to the top of an unnamed knoll located just above Brockway Summit on Highway 267. The views from the top are spectacular, and it seems to be relatively little accessed. The round trip takes about 3 hours on a good day.
Starting from the Martis Peak trailhead on Highway 267 (described below) proceed in a gentle climb up the heavily used Martis Peak road. Various trails and snowmobile tracks may branch off on both sides. After about a mile the trail narrows and winds upward through the forest for a short distance, then opens out into a more level and open but still forested section. Anywhere in the lower end of this more open section turn slightly more than 90 degrees right and head south into the forest (there may or may not be tracks heading this way). After a short distance on the level, angle slightly to the right and gradually climb up the ridge on your right. As you come up onto this ridge, Mt. Baldy becomes striking visible to the left and the Lake becomes visible ahead.
Once you reach the top of the ridge curve back around to the right and climb gradually northwest up the spine of the ridge until you see a higher peak off to your left. Climb up to the left toward the peak, at one point passing under a power line. It's best to traverse around on the left (south) side of the peak going up, as there may be large cornices on the right. The top of this peak is actually a short ridge with mixed rocks and snow and substantial cornices along the North side.
The western end of the ridge is a great lunch spot (in fact I've since learned that locals call it "Picnic Rocks") with Truckee, Highway 80, Donner Pass and Castle Peak visible to the north, the Northstar ski area spread out to the west across Highway 267, which is out of sight below you, and all of Lake Tahoe spread out to the south. You can just make out the Gar Woods pier in Carnelian Bay to the southwest,
Return by retracing the upward route with a pleasant run back down Martis Peak Road if conditions are not too icy.
From North Lake Boulevard (Highway 28) turn into either Agate Road or Sahara Drive in the Agate Bay subdivision, just east from Carnelian Bay and about midway between Tahoe City and Kings Beach (both of these roads are clearly marked on Highway 28). Wend your way back in and to the right through a maze of residential streets with African names until you find the marked intersection of Tripoli and Carnelian Bay Road. In the winter Carnelian Bay Road is usually plowed up as far as two large houses located uphill and on the right. The uppermost house has the name "Stoll" and a fenced horse corral beside the road. However, you should park on Tripoli or in the nearby cul de sac at the end of Tripoli.
Walk up the dirt section of the road past the houses and horse corral and continue skiing up the road. Shortly after passing a Forest Service sign the road makes a turn to the right and continues climbing, eventually reaching an intersection with the Regency Street extension which comes in from the right. There are remnants of some Forest Service signs at this intersection, and you can turn right and then south from here to reach the top of Agate Knoll as described above.
Alternatively, you can continue up Carnelian Bay Road to the Fiberboard Freeway and then turn right a very short distance to the snowmobile rental operation at Brockway Summit, or left a mile or two to the Four Corners area. If you descend back down Carnelian Bay Road, once you are below the Regency Street junction instead of descending on Carnelian Bay Road itself, which is a bit step and irregular, you can branch off into the forested area to the right, between the road and a small creek which runs down through this area.
This is an interesting, varied, and fairly easy ascent from Carnelian Bay up Carnelian Canyon to the Fibreboard Freeway, with further access to the Northstar ski area, Sawmill Flats, Mt. Watson, or Brockway Summit. It's not described in any of the references listed above. No snowmobile access.
Turn off Highway 28 into Carnelian Woods Avenue in Carnelian Bay, midway between Tahoe City and Kings Beach. The entrance is directly across from the large blue Sierra Boat Company building and marina, between the 7-11 and the Magic Carpet Mini Golf. Park at the end of the paved section, where Silver Pine Road (a private road) turns uphill to the left.
From a parking spot at the end of Carnelian Woods Road walk up Silver Pine about 100 yards to a utility road on the right. The utility road is slightly uphill from a telephone company easement which cuts straight through the woods with distinctive orange signs on both sides of Silver Pine. This road has a gate, usually buried in snow, about 100 feet uphill. As an alternative you can ski straight ahead a short distance from the end of Carnelian Woods Avenue and then cut uphill to the left onto the utility road.
In either case, ascend this utility road until you pass a green water tank on the right. Continue climbing up a slightly steeper grade until you see a similar water tank on a ledge above you and to the left. Continue straight ahead at this point, crossing a small spring which flows year round, and entering the canyon proper. After a few hundred feet the trail crosses Carnelian Creek and continues up the right side of the canyon. During periods of high water flow or late in the Spring the crossing here can become a little difficult, but attempting to continue up the left hand side of the canyon is not recommended.
Continue ascending up the canyon for a mile or more on a reasonably good trail up the right side of the canyon, heading more or less straight west. Carnelian Canyon eventually opens out into a level and somewhat confusing wooded area, with few good landmarks, possibly multiple snowmobile tracks, and no signage. Continuing on from here up to the Four Corners and Sawmill Flats area on the Fibreboard Freeway requires some navigating. As you come up out of the top end of the canyon proper continue more or less straight ahead through a couple of open areas where the trail shifts slightly away to the right from the creek, alternating with cuts through the forest. Avoid taking any of the snowmobile trails which may branch to the left (heading toward the Old County Road area) or to the right (heading in the direction of Brockway Summit).
After passing through a short but particularly narrow cut through the forest the trail crosses the Tahoe Rim trail, with smalll blue trail signs on trees on each side of the canyon trail. A hundred yards or so beyond this you come to an intersection with the one-time 1N75 Forest Service road which was decommissioned and torn up in the summer of 1999. The old roadbed comes in from straight ahead and runs off to the right, eventually climbing up to the Fibreboard Freeway near Four Corners.
The Carson Pass area is a wilderness region near Caples Lake and the Kirkwood Ski Area on Highway 88 (the Carson Pass road) about 15 air miles or 25 driving miles south of the "Y" at South Lake Tahoe. The following suggestions are taken from an article in the December 2000 issue of Couloir magazine; I've yet to try them myself. Note that the terrain here is generally higher, wilder and colder than inside the Tahoe basin.
To reach this area from Lake Tahoe drive south a few miles on Highways 50 and 89 from the "Y" where these highways intersect at the south end of the Lake. At Meyers turn left and follow Highway 89 across Luther Pass to Highway 88. Turn right onto Highway 88 and proceed southwest to Carson Pass. Parking areas at Carson Pass include: a) The Red Lake parking area on the south side of Highway 88 east of Carson Pass, at the east end of Red Lake. b) The Meiss Meadows and Carson Pass Sno-Park areas on the north and south sides of Highway 88 at Carson Pass, just west of Red Lake.
Starting from Red Lake Parking area (7840'), ski south 1.5 miles on an unplowed road. After crossing the Forestdale Creek bridge, angle slightly right and climb steadily, following a jeep road to a pass at 8900', and return.
This tour should be of considerable historical interest, since it takes you to the spot from which John Fremont became the first white man to see Lake Tahoe, 15 miles north, during his winter crossing of the Sierras on foot in February 1844. Start at the Carson Pass Sno-Park area on the north side of Highway 88.(about 8700'). Head west into a rather rough, rocky and wooded section (no clearcut trail), with Highway 88 to your left, losing elevation slightly for 0.5 mile into a small valley. Eventually you will see a open valley ascending to the north which you can follow to a gentle pass at 8800', from which Tahoe should be visible.
From this point it is possible to continue further north or to turn northeast and ascend Red Lake Peak (10,060'). There are said to be many excellent descents for more expert skiers off Red Lake Peak, to the south back to Carson Pass, or to the northeast to Crater Lake and eventually back to Highway 88. The Couloir article also gives direction for expert skiers to continue from this point northwesterly to Showers Lake, then west into the Strawberry Creek area, and eventually all the way to Highway 50 (a strenuous intermediate and advanced tour).
Start at the Carson Pass Sno-Park area on the south side of Highway 88. Ski south past Frog Lake for about 2.0 miles to Winnemucca Lake Ascend east to a pass at 9400' between Winnemucca Lake and Round Top Lake, then descend 1200' heading north or northeast to Woods Lake, where there is a roadhead on a spur road off Highway 88. This is said to be an intermediate level tour; however the terrain appears to be quite rough and broken.
This route provides an short, easy, and exceptionally scenic tour into the region just behind the Emerald Bay area, with views down onto Cascade Lake and back into Cascade Falls.
Park in the small parking area and campground access point on the west side of Highway 89 directly across from the Emerald Bay scenic lookout point at the head of Emerald Bay
Ski in away from the Lake heading south along an access road (not plowed in winter) to a small campground area. Just beyond the campground you'll see signs pointing left to Cascade and right to Desolation. Turn left over a small ridge, then right (south again) into a small valley. At this point you can climb up onto the small ridge to your left until you're looking down on Cascade Lake, or you can follow the summertime trail until after a short distance it also crosses over the ridge and traverses along the steep face above the lake, heading toward the cascades, which you can eventually see ahead of you.
The slope on the Cascade Lake side of the ridge does become quite steep after a while; I've never gone all the way to the falls in winter. Once on the ridge you can also turn left and ski down along pleasant terrain in the direction of Lake Tahoe and the head of Cascade Lake. You'll have to climb back up, however, as I believe you run into private property before you reach the lower section of Highway 89.
A major well-known region on the north side of Highway 80 just across from the Boreal Ridge ski area. Several routes are described by Lubkin.
This trail offers one of the best combinations of moderately easy skiing or snowshoeing and unparalleled views to be found in the Tahoe area. The lower part of the route is a pleasant and not particularly difficult area with excellent views. As you proceed further you get a certain sense of adventure, especially depending on how far you want to ascend toward Mt. Tallac.
Turn into Baldwin Road where it intersects Highway 89 on the west side of the Lake, about halfway between Emerald Bay and the "Y" at South Lake Tahoe. The entrance is directly across from the Baldwin Beach entrance (closed in winter) and a short distance south of Spring Creek Road and is marked by signs on Highway 89 pointing to Baldwin Beach, Camps Shelley and Concord, and Mt. Tallac. Follow the paved road for 0.3 mile to a corner where you turn left toward Camp Concord, with Camp Shelley to the right. Park 0.2 miles farther on at a corner where the road again turns left toward Camp Concord and a sign indicates the Mt. Tallac Trail.
Continue straight ahead from this corner on the paved but unplowed road about 1/2 mile to a summertime parking area and turnaround where there is a large Forest Service signboard. A few hundred yards past this signboard the trail turns to the right (another small signpost) and ascends a small face which is part of the lower end of the ridge that runs along the entire west? side of Fallen Leaf Lake. At this point it is possible to again turn left (south), ascend fairly steeply up onto the top of this ridge, and continue south along the ridgeline, looking down on Fallen Leaf Lake. Unless the snow is quite deep, however, forcing your way through the thick manzanita on top of the lower portion of this ridge may be difficult.
The preferred procedure is to cross over the lower end of this ridge, drop down a little, and turn left into a gentle valley which runs to the south just behind the ridge. As you proceed up this valley with gentle ridges on both sides, at any point where it seems convenient you can angle up the ridge to the left and continue south along the ridgetop, gaining an increasing good view down on Fallen Leaf Lake. In any case after about ??? mile the valley trail begins to ascend more steeply and eventually comes out onto a level area on the ridgeline above Fallen leaf Lake.
At this point you see what appears to be the face of a partially open knoll in front of you. Ascending this face puts you on a higher section of the same ridgeline (about 550 feet elevation gain from the trailhead) along which you can continue ascending gently to the south, with increasingly spectacular views of Fallen Leaf Lake to the left, expert ski tracks on the steep and open face of Mt. Tallac to the right, and Lake Tahoe behind you. After a further ??? miles you come to another open level area with another very steep open face in front of you and if the snow is not too deep a line of metal fence poles protruding from the snow. The easiest way to ascend this face is to first ascend some more gentle slopes to the right and then climb up the ridgeline from there. At the top of this ascent (850 feet total elevation gain from the trailhead) you will find you are again on a higher section of the same ridgeline.
At this point you can either enjoy the view, have lunch and return, or proceed further up the ridge, which however begins to descend after a short distance. By dropping down some to the right you can search for Cathedral Lake, or the more experienced and adventuresome can branch some distance to the right and ascend the steep and treeless face of Mt. Tallac.
The Diamond Peak Cross Country Ski Area located along the Mt. Rose Highway 431 between Highway 28 and Tahoe Meadows (separate from the Diamond Peak downhill ski area) no longer seems to be in operation as of January 2001. This region still provides, however, a very attractive place to explore powder snow and gentle wooded hillsides, free from snowmobiles and with access to dramatic Lake views. The area is high enough to acquire and retain excellent snow, yet still be below the clouds that sometimes close in on the slightly higher Tahoe Meadows area.
Park in the plowed slow-vehicle turnout point on the right-hand (south) side of Highway 431 almost exactly 5 miles up Highway 431 from Highway 28 and just above 8000' elevation. There is another turnout on the left-hand side just shortly below this, and a power line that crosses high above the uphill end of the upper turnout. The starting point for trail access is a Forest Service road with a metal gate (may be buried in snow later in the season) which branches off the highway about 100 yards further uphill from the turnout, just around a small bend.
Ascend gently northeast and then north up the Forest Service road, with Highway 431 just out of sight to the left, until after perhaps a mile or less you intersect the power line coming in from the right. Just beyond this point angle to the right under the power line at an indistinct fork, leaving the larger branch of the road to the left, and continue ascending north along the smaller branch with the power line a short distance to your left.
At any point along this section, and especially after some distance when the road begins to descend slightly, you can turn hard right and climb at an angle up through the open wooded hillside, heading generally east and south. Eventually you will come out on top of a broad ridge, with views south toward the Lake. At this point you can turn left and ascend generally to the northeast, curving along the top of this broad ridge for as long as you like. Moving to the outer edge of the ridge will bring dramatic views down onto Lake Tahoe and the Diamond Peak Ski Areas. Continuing up the ridge to the north for perhaps a mile will bring you to the lower end of the Tahoe Meadows, or you can navigate back down through the open wooded hillsides to the parking area.
This is Tour #10 in Lubkin.
This is Tour #10 in Lubkin.
Drive up Highway 267 from Truckee or over Brockway Summit from Kings Beach to a prominent and heavily used turnout and parking area on the East side of Highway 267 a short distance below Brockway Summit on the Truckee side. This is the starting point for the Martis Peak Lookout Road. The parking area here is usually plowed out and fairly heavily used by snowmobilers and cross-country skiers heading for the Martis Peak Lookout and other destination.
Just at the S end of Meeks Bay on Highway 89 on the W side of Lake Tahoe (at road marker 24.50) you'll see a parking area and an unplowed road with a Forest Service gate. If you
MORE TO COME
This is a really nice, easy area, although for some reason it appears to be very little used by skiers or snowshoers. Since it's more or less on a N face, the snow lasts until late in the Spring.
Old County Road, which turns off Highway 28 (North Lake Boulevard) near the bottom of the Dollar Hill grade a few miles East of Tahoe City and a little below the Chinquapin development, provides convenient and close-in access to a number of easy novice tours as well as more ambitious expeditions in the area below Mt. Watson on the northwest corner of Lake Tahoe between Dollar Point and Carnelian Bay. (Warning: the steep grade and partially blind intersection make for a dangerous intersection with Highway 28).
The easiest trail access is obtained by driving up Old County Road about a mile to La Crosse, the last intersection before Old County Road dead ends. Turn right on La Crosse and continue up to where it ends at Fulton Crescent, then left on Fulton Crescent to its end. Forest Service Road 1N74, which starts just beyond the end of the Fulton Crescent cul de sac, is a wintertime snowmobile route which climbs up to eventually intersect the Fibreboard Freeway at the Four Corners/Sawmill Flat area (described earlier), with access to other attractions from there. This is an easy and pleasant ascent and there are also several branches off this route, as described in the trail directions below.
This route offers sheltered skiing through the woods on a wide and generally groomed trail with gentle slopes and good snow coverage until late in the season. Since many locals use the road for short outings, the trail is usually broken out very quickly even after heavy snowfalls. The views along this route are limited, but the healthy forest and scenic open slopes above and below the road are attractive. Parking in the cul de sac at the end of Fulton Crescent can be somewhat difficult, however, as portions of the area are claimed by local residents; and a large number of free-roaming but friendly local dogs can mean a somewhat dirty trail. An alternative is to park instead at the top end of Old County Road itself, but the trail access to the 1N74 road is less convenient from there.
As noted, Fulton Crescent connects directly to the lower end of Forest Service Road 1N74. From the cul de sac at the end of Fulton Crescent walk in about 50 feet and turn right onto the snowmobile track. After about a mile of gentle ascent up 1N74 with about +150 feet elevation gain, you will encounter a groomed road coming down steeply from the left, in almost the reverse direction to 1N74. This road provides a the steep access route for skiers and snowmobilers up to Watson Lake (described below). Climbing even a short distance up this road opens up attractive Lake views, and unless conditions are icy skiing back down the lower section of the road is not too difficult.
Just beyond this intersection 1N74 dips slightly and crosses Watson Creek. Continue on 1N74 beyond the creek, ascending a bit more steeply. After another mile or so and an additional +250 of elevation gain, the main road levels off and makes a distinct 45 degree turn to the left into thicker forest. There may also be secondary tracks at this point heading more or less straight ahead into an open area ahead and on the right. If you leave 1N74 and follow these secondary tracks you can eventually drop down to the Carnelian Bay area as described below.
After making a 45 degree turn to the left, 1N74 descends slightly, passes under a power line also described in other tours in this area, and then ascends gently for a considerable distance, with an elevation gain of about 100 feet, until it ends at the Four Corners intersection with the Fibreboard Freeway (1N73). From this intersection one can turn left and ascend on 1N73 toward Watson Lake and Watson Peak; turn right and follow the Fibreboard Freeway to Brockway Summit; or continue straight ahead across 1N73 into the Sawmill Flats and Northstar cross country ski areas. Dropping down a short distance into the Northstar trail system will lead one to a railroad caboose converted into a warming hut, located just above a small reservoir.After following the same route as described above to the first intersection, turn left onto the road which branches back in almost the reverse direction to N74. After you make this turn the road climbs steeply for some distance and makes several switchbacks, ascending in the direction of Watson Lake. After considerable climbing (rewarded by some good views out over Lake Tahoe)) the road heads away from the Lake and into the forest in the general direction of Mt. Watson. Eventually you come to a 90 degree intersection with a sign, where you turn left and ascend a further distance to reach Watson Lake.
(Some maps also show a much smaller trail turning to the left a short distance beyond the 1N74 intersection mentioned above, immediately after you cross Watson Creek, which also climbs up to Watson Lake; this route does not seem to be used much in winter however, and I've never seen it broken out or tracks on it.)
There are also several ways to drop down (or angle down) to the right from the main 1N74 road in the region between Old County Road and the Fibreboard Freeway so as to eventually end up in Carnelian Bay. These include:
(a) If you follow the main road 1N74 a short distance beyond its intersection with the Watson Lake ascent just described, very shortly after crossing Watson Creek you may see a trail or road that drops down to the right. This trail, used more in summer than winter, descends toward Lake Tahoe and then turns left, passing below the private property of the Vedanta Society, with numerous unfriendly No Trespassing signs above the trail. If you keep going more or less East along this trail you will descend gradually, passing behind some summer-only cabins in the woods, and eventually end up at the 7-11 in Carnelian Bay.
(b) If you continue up along 1N74 to the point where it levels off and makes the distinct 45 degree turn mentioned above, rather than making this turn you can instead continue more or less straight ahead into a level forested valley region where may or may not contain visible snowmobile tracks. If you continue into this more or less unmarked, area you will pass behind a series of low ridges and hills on the right, i.e. between you and the Lake, eventually dropping down somewhat so as to end up in the flat area at the upper end of Carnelian Canyon, from where you can descend down Carnelian Canyon to the Carnelian Woods development and eventually to Carnelian Bay, as described earlier under the Four Corners to Carnelian Bay heading.
(c) Finally, at several points along the route through the unmarked region just described you can also turn right (toward Lake Tahoe) and either climb over or pass through gaps in the ridge between you and the Lake. Once on the front side of this ridge you can descend gradually, angling mostly to the left, and eventually find your way down to the Carnelian Bay area, probably intersecting the unplowed section of Silver Pine Road in Carnelian Woods, below the upper water tank and the lower end of Carnelian Canyon.
Warning: There are few distinctive landmarks in the region just described; the roads and trails in the flat area around the head of Carnelian Canyon are largely unmarked; and there are often random snowmobile tracks running everywhere in this region. This region can therefore be somewhat confusing to someone unfamiliar with it, although if one keeps heading E and S toward the Lake, one is sure to eventually come out somewhere along the lakeshore between Dollar Point and Carnelian Bay.
This is a classic and easily reached area with large open meadows on the West Shore just a little south of Tahoe City off Highway 89. It's very scenic and easy, with essentially no climbing at all, and a very popular dog place. Directions later.
This is a pleasant and easy loop which offers steady gradual ascent and then similar descent on wide forest roads, with some minor views, and good access to more remote back country for the more venturesome. The Sierra Club hut recently removed from Five Lakes Basin near Alpine Meadows is apparently to be relocated somewhere in this area.
The Pole Creek loop starts from a small parking area on the West side of Highway 89, a couple of miles North of the Squaw Valley entrance road and a few hundred feet South of Pole Creek itself. The easiest way to identify it is that it's directly across from the Olson Construction Company building.
The Pole Creek region is described in several of the books listed above. It offers a choice of two loops. You start on either of them by proceeding up the obvious wide unplowed forest service road that ascends going sharply to the left just in from the parking area. This road ascends steadily but gradually about 2 miles up to an obvious trail intersection, with a gate on the road to the left. There are views to the left of the back side of the Northstar ski area across the Truckee River canyon. At this intersection you can make a shorter loop by crossing the creek and descending on the opposite (north) side of the creek, or you can have a pleasant run back down the way you came up. If you turn left at this intersection, however, you can follow around a more remote loop that goes deeper into the back country and offers views of a somewhat wilder region.
Regency Street provides a sheltered trail for short excursions along a level forested path, as well as alternate access routes to Brockway Summit, Agate Bay, Agate Knoll, and the Fibreboard Freeway.
Turn from Highway 267 into North National Avenue a short distance below Brockway Summit on the Kings Beach side, where you see a large sign marking the Kingswood Condominiums. (This is the last road on the west side of 267 below Brockway Summit; it's some distance below the summit.) After a short distance turn right onto Regency Street and follow it for a considerable distance until it ends in a cul de sac. There used to be a snowmobile rental concession at this point; as of 1999 it's gone. Be cautious about parking outside the cul de sac, as there are snow removal regulations.
From the cul de sac proceed straight ahead following the snowmobile path along the extension of Regency Street. The initial half mile or so is completely level and usually groomed. After a short distance you can turn left into the forest and ascend Agate Knoll as described above. After about a half mile this extension ends at an intersection with the Carnelian Bay Road described above. There may be remnants of some Forest Service signs at this corner. Note that snowmobiles coming in from Regency Street often convert the tee intersection of Regency with Carnelian Bay Road into more like a "Y" intersection; the lower (south) branch is usually the one you want. At this point you can turn left on the Carnelian Bay Road and descend to the Agate Bay subdivision, or turn right and ascend up a medium steep grade a mile or so to the Fibreboard Freeway just west of Broackway Summit.
Turn off 89 onto McKinney/Rubicon Road just south of Homewood. Take the first left into Bellevue, the second right into McKinney Road, then left back onto McKinney/Rubicon Springs Road to its end.
This trail is known variously as the Rubicon Trail, the McKinney Rubicon Road, the Miller Lake or Miller Jeep Trail, or Forest Service Road 14N34. It actually continues some 22 miles over the Sierra to Georgetown on the western slope. It is also of considerable interest as the oldest road connecting the Tahoe Basin to the west slope of the Sierra Nevada (according to a June 1, 2000, Tahoe World article, from which most of the following information is taken).
It was first traversed by a portion of the Fremont/Stevens party which crossed the Sierras in 1844 (twoyears before the tragic Donner party). A portion of this party, led by Elisha Stevens and using only pack horses, split off from the main party near Truckee, and ascended the Truckee River to Lake Tahoe, in the process becoming the first known non-native group to enter the Tahoe Basin. The group then blazed their way down the west shore of the Lake and crossed into California over this route The remainder of Fremont's party successfully took their wagons over Donner Pass, two years before the more famous but much disastrous Donner Party attempted the same traverse. The route became one of Tahoe's earliest east-west corridors, receiving moderate use in the 1870s and 1880s. Historical artifacts and remnants of old logging camps and mineral springs resorts, including the McKinney Springs Resort, can be found along the trail. The area is very heavily used at present as a summertime jeep and OHV trail. The trail forks just past Miller Lake. The southern branch is the Rubicon Road (rougher); the northern branch heads to Bear Lake, Barker Pass and Blackwood Canyon. Rubincon Springs is over the crest, 9 miles from Tahoe. Sierra Club's Ludlow Hut is near Richardson Lake.
Spooner Lake is a pleasant low-cost commercial cross-country area on National Forest land halfway down the East side of Lake Tahoe. It also has a couple of backcountry log cabins for rent that are accessible only on skiis. One major defect is that it doesn't allow dogs on the trails.
The well-marked entrance is on Highway 28 on the East side of the Lake, 12 miles South of Incline Village, a short distance North of the intersection of Highway 28 and Highway 50.
Other than level meadow trails close to the lodege and a very short and easy loop around Spooner Lake, the primary trail ascends gently but steadily up North Canyon, with descents back down Upper and Lower Aspen. Depending on how far you want to climb, you can branch left off the canyon trail onto the Shepherds' Rest, Saints Rest ,and Marlette Lake Trails, each of which offers a relatively easy destination with good views over the Lake. The Carson Range and Snow Valley Peak trails also offer access to higher elevations and views over into Nevada.
The large open meadows at the top of the Mount Rose Highway (Highway 431) between Incline Village and Reno, called by some the Mt. Rose Meadows but labelled on maps as the Tahoe Meadows, provide one of the richest and most pleasant areas for higher-altitude backcountry access in the Tahoe region. Because of its elevation (from 8500' to 8900' at the road) this area gets and retains ample snow cover, and ascents out of the meadows in any direction can lead to striking views over both Lake Tahoe and western Nevada.
This is a gradual climb up a historically interesting road that slants up the face of the mountain behind Incline Village and the Ponderosa Ranch with excellent views out over the Lake and opportunities for further exploration at the top. This road is also the northern end point for the famous Flume Trail coming from Marlette Lake.
Drive east on Highway 28 (North Tahoe Blvd) through Incline Village to the far end of the Ponderosa Ranch. Park on Highway 28 near County Road. Walk a short distance up County Road, then up Tunnel Creek Road a few hundred yards until the snow starts. (Don't try to park in any of the large empty Ponderosa lots; note all the friendly signs posted on either side of Tunnel Creek road; expect Ponderosa personnel to be equally friendly should you try to drive up this public road even just to unload your gear at the topand preferably don't patronize any of the summer tourist attractions of what may be the unfriendliest organization at Lake Tahoe).
From that point Tunnel Creek Road switchbacks gradually up the face of the mountain, with fine views out over the Lake, until you reach the actual tunnel entrance (which is now blocked, not very striking even in summer, and buried in winter). It's possible to continue on a fairly level section beyond the tunnel entrance toward the Flume Trail. The only feasible descent is back down the road, which is narrow and steep enough that skiing down it will not be pleasant under icy or rutty conditions.
Other useful sources of information on back country ski tours in the Tahoe region include:
Ski Tours in the Sierra Nevada, Volume 1: Lake Tahoe (2nd ed.), by Marcus Libkind, Bittersweet Publishing Company, Livermore CA, 1995. Excellent softcover book providing detailed descriptions and maps for 100+ novice and advanced backcountry tours all around Lake Tahoe, including the Donner Pass andTruckee areas and Echo Summit at the South end.
Snowshoe Trails of Tahoe by Michael C. White, Wilderness Press, Berkeley, 1998, also available from the League to Save Lake Tahoe, $12.95 paperbound. Provides information on 45 snowshoe trips in the Tahoe area.
Seventeen Spring Ski Tours of Truckee by Bob Sutton, Broken Arrow Press, Truckee CA (?), 1993, $7.00. An informal set of notes sold (at least at one time) by the Wilderness Exchange in Berkeley.
Cross Country Ski Tours, and Backcountry Telemark Tours. Helpful free brochures available from the Alpenglow Sports store in Tahoe City.
So far as maps are concerned, the USGS topo sheets for the Tahoe area are often considerably out of date, with newer roads, ski areas, and backcountry trails not yet shown. The best supplementary maps I have found for the Tahoe region are
North Lake Tahoe Basic Recreation Topo Map, second edition (Fine Edge Productions, Bishop CA, for sale in local hardware and sporting goods stores for around $9.00).
Recreation Map of Lake Tahoe by Tom Harrison, also sold locally at a similar price, supplements this and covers a larger area at the South end of the Lake.
North Tahoe Winter Trails Guide: Free brochure distributed by the North Tahoe Public Utility District in winter sports stores and other locations. Primarily aimed at snowmobilers, but contains a useful map of groomed backcountry trails in the Fibreboard Freeway, Martis Peak, and Tahoe to Truckee regions.
However, the mapping tool I find find by far the most useful is the TOPO! CD-ROM
TOPO! Interactive Maps: Lake Tahoe and Surrounding Areas, available on an unfortunately somewhat expensive CD-ROM from TOPO! at http://www.topo.com . Outstanding for planning trips and later recording them on-screen, using free Mac or Windows software.
A U.S. Forest Service map of the Tahoe Area is also available as a very large on-line JPEG file (several MB) at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/laketahoe/graphics/maps/images/fs_roads.jpg
For supplemental reading and historical background, backcountry explorers at the north end of Tahoe might enjoy
Trail of the First Wagons Over the Sierra Nevada (a Guide) by Charles K. Graydon (Patrice Press, St. Louis MO,1986). This is a paperback "coffee table volume" with historical and modern photographs, narrative, and numerous excellent and detailed topographic maps showing the emigrant trails followed by the 1844 Stevens party and others across the Sierra superimposed on current topography. Available from amazon.
