Washoe Lake & Lake Tahoe State Parks

Washoe Lake State Park

Sunsets, Wild Horses, Mountains, and an Angry Lake

After setting up camp, and relaxing for a few hours we head out after dinner to walk the campground and end up following a trail down through the wetlands to the sand dunes and lake.

The lake is so full, smaller lakes have formed in the wetlands and it is here we come across one of the many wild horses roaming the park.

As we reach the lake itself, we discover that the wind has whipped it into angry waves that are spraying water with every crash into the shoreline.

Despite the cold wind and water spray we decide to stick around to watch the sunset over the lake.

The last of the suns rays really bring out the colors in the wetlands on the way back to camp, and the same horse stops to pose for us.

Deadman’s Loop

Today we spend the morning doing chores around camp before heading out to hike Deadman’s Loop in the afternoon. It leaves from the campground and meanders through the hills before leading to an observation point high above the lake, providing a panoramic view of the park.

Along the way we come across stinging nettles; which I last encountered as a child on a trip to England. I didn’t realize these grew in the states; and they made me shudder when I saw them. To say my last encounter with this plant was unpleasant is a severe understatement.

On the road in and out of the park someone has added paint to a rock on the hillside in order to showcase how much it looks like an animal.

Lake Tahoe

Chimney Beach to Whale Beach Hike

After meeting up with a friend from home and making some new acquaintances at the trailhead, we begin down the path toward Lake Tahoe. As we reach the sand we get our first really good look at the lake. It’s a little windy and overcast today; but still beautiful.

Continuing along the trail; which winds in and out of the tress while following the shoreline we come across several beaches/coves and some new plant life.

This is a beautiful hike and the locals we met said it’s one of their favorites in the area. We can’t thank them enough for inviting us along to experience this hidden gem.

Sand Harbor State Park

Next, we head a few miles up the road toward Incline Village to visit Sand Harbor State Park. Sand Harbor offers a visitors center teeming with information about the area, pristine beaches, water sports (boating, scuba diving, kayaking, swimming, etc.), a nature trail with incredible views and information boards, as well as an amphitheater where we’re told they hold concerts day and night.

Here we learn that Lake Tahoe was formed several million years ago through a combination of volcanoes and glaciers. It is so clear because 40% of the areas precipitation falls directly onto the surface of the lake. The remaining precipitation drains through decomposed granite; which is the primary soil type in the area and a very effective natural water filter.

Spooner Lake State Park

After having lunch in incline village, we head to Spooner Lake State Park. This is the gateway to the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks 13k acres of backcountry. This park is also the site of the Marlette Water System. Developed in the last half of the 1800’s this engineering marvel used pipelines and inverted siphons to move water to the Comstock mines and it’s surrounding towns.

We unfortunately, don’t have time to venture into the backcountry; but we did enjoy walking the path around the lake.

On the way from the visitors center to the truck we pass by some beautiful wildflowers at the edge of the parking lot.

Cave Rock State Park and Overlook

Next we head south to Cave Rock State Park and then up the trail to the Cave Rock Overlook. This is a short trail that goes to the top of the rock where they blasted a tunnel through for traffic. Before the tunnel was created, traffic traveled around the rock on a wooden road that was cantilevered over the lake. Yikes! It’s a short but steep trail with some rock scrambling at the top; but once you reach the summit it provides a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe.

It also provides an excellent view of the snow covered mountains to the west.

Looking south from the lower overlook, we can see Cave Rock State Park, and as we begin down the trail a Western Fence Lizard comes out to investigate who’s invading it’s territory.

To top off an incredible day, we’re greeted with another spectacular sunset as we drive into camp.

Lunch with Friends in South Tahoe

This morning we meet our friend from yesterday’s hike at his home in South Lake Tahoe. After a tour of their currently under renovation home we head to the Beacon Bar & Grill for lunch on the shore of South Lake Tahoe. Located in the Camp Richardson Resort, this restaurant offers incredible views, good food, great service, and walking access to the the Tallac Historic Site.

Tallac Historic Site

After lunch we meander around the Tallac Historic Site; which is the site of three historic homes and their surrounding grounds. These estates were summer homes and were so vast they contained numerous guest houses, boat houses, their own blacksmith, a barn, as well as many other buildings for staff.

Being right on South Lake Tahoe these estates must have been incredible in their time and are still stunning today.

Glen Alpine Falls

Next, our friends decide to treat us to a visit to one of their favorite hidden gems of the area. Heading west from Tallac we turn south onto a narrow, bumpy road, that skirts the edge of Fallen Leaf Lake before heading south again. We are able to drive all the way up to Glen Alpine Falls, and the experience is breathtaking.

We now have to say goodbye to our friends and we sincerely thank them for sharing their day, home, and area with us.

Van Sickle Bi-State Park

For our last stop of the day, we pop into Van Sickle Bi-State Park. As the name suggests this park straddles both Nevada and California. We decide to head to the Nevada trailhead and go up the Van Sickle Trail to an overlook and eventually a small waterfall.

As we reach the overlook we realize we can see where we spent the morning and had lunch.

On the way back from the waterfall we see a flash of blue only to realize a Steller’s Jay has landed not very far from us. And, it actually sits still long enough for a good picture.

Mormon Station Historic State Monument

The discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 was the beginning of the gold rush and migration to California. The final challenge of this journey was the Sierra Nevada mountains. Weary travelers often rested and purchased supplies in the Carson Valley. After hearing about the needs in this area, the Reese Company built a permanent trading post “Reese’s Station”, later renamed “Mormon Station” in 1851. The Station is considered the first permanent building in Nevada and soon had a blacksmith shop, livery stable, flour mill, and saw mill nearby. It also became Nevada’s first Post Office in December 1852.

Out front of Mormon Station is a statue dedicated to “Snowshoe Thompson” who became one of the great western legends. He used his Scandinavian Heritage to carve a pair of ten-foot skis from oak timber and crossed the 90 miles over the sierras in three days in January. This solved the major issue of getting mail and other items across the Sierras in the winter. His tenacity and daring earned him a permanent job delivering mail, ore samples, medicines, and the “Territorial Enterprise” during his journeys across the Sierras.

This stop wasn’t part of the original plan; but came into play with a heat dome plaguing the west. We needed something at higher elevation to get through the scorching temperatures. For not being planned, it was an incredible stop and there’s still so much more to explore in this area as we only covered the NV side of Lake Tahoe. But, alas our time here has run out.

Next stop… the Manzanita Lake section of Lassen Volcanic National Park.