Spanish Springs, Nevada

A wonderful hike in Lake Tahoe is the Mt. Judah Loop Trail that offers sweeping views of Donner Lake and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains on the North Shore. As a resident on the North Shore, many of my recreational activities favor this side of the Lake but there are marvelous hikes in ...

Located on the East Bank of Lake Tahoe along Highway 28, Chimney Beach is a great alternative to the more popular and heavily used beaches which can be quite a challenge to gain access due to the parking limitations during the busy summer months and on weekends.From the parking area on the east s...

This trail starts right off NV28 between Chimney Beach and Great Tahoe Beach. Around 30 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe and the CA/NV border, we arrived close to 10am with plenty of parking available. While it seemed the trail was heavily used by mountain bikes, we encountered zero during our ...

This is a casual hike in an area with a ton of history. Stop by the museum before or after your hike to learn about the Donner Party, the Transcontinental Railroad, and local Native Americans Park at the Donner Lake and Memorial State Park Visitor Center and walk west towards the lake. Cross the...

Take a short little hike down from HWY 28 to Secret Cove to relax on the beach on sunbathe on rocks. The water is incredibly clear and has different shades of turquoise. There are many rocks to climb on and the water is great for swimming. It gets crowded early, and is a nude beach, so plan accor...

Secret Harbor / Whale Beach is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Carson City, Nevada.

The parking for Skunk Beach is very limited and a little difficult to find. Make sure you get there early if you want a spot. The parking is a turnoff along highway 28, about two miles north of the junction with highway 50. There is no trail sign or anything but there is an old green pipe gate wh...

Skunk Harbor is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Glenbrook, Nevada.

A perfect Sunday hike on your way back from a weekend at Lake Tahoe. Exit I-80 at Donner Lake and take the dirt road on the north side of I-80 to a large parking lot. A mild climb followed by a set of tougher switchbacks leads you to great views from Donner Ridge. Although adventuring out on t...

Burton Creek State Park is a moderate hike. It is a secluded peaceful hike that offers amazing views of the lake. This is a popular spot for mountain bikers, but is also ideal for hiking.  Much of the trail is through the forest and there are many maps and signs pointing out the trails. The hike ...

The Spooner Lake Loop is perfect for any ages since there is basically no elevation gain and many benches along the trail to rest. The trail offers many educational signs describing the history, and flora and fauna of the area. This man made lake is perfect for the kids and pup. They will love th...

Drive to the top of Donner Summit via the Old Hwy 40 and park at the Donner Summit PCT trailhead, just past the Sugar Bowl Academy Building. Begin hiking up-hill through a somewhat forested area for about 2 miles. Shortly after you pass the trail sign for the Mt. Judah Loop, you will come to a sm...

The trailhead is very easy to access as it is just off Highway 80 at the Boreal Mountain exit. When taking the exit, take a turn to the North, rather than to Boreal on the South side of the Highway. On busy summer weekends this trailhead can get quite crowded so you may have to park at the bottom...

I think all explorers agree there is nothing more serene than being surrounded by nothing but wilderness. If you are one of these said explorers, a trip to Calpine's fire lookout is a must.Calpine is a forest fire lookout tower that was constructed in 1934 and is one of 3 remaining examples of th...

From the trail map sign, follow the dirt path straight, following signs for the cross-country skiing route, not snowmobiling. Continue until you see a trail marker. You'll veer left to head over to the Hole in the Ground trail. Once you see another identical trail map board, you'll head left. Thi...

To get to the parking area for the Truckee Tunnels (Donner Tunnel Trails), drive along Donner Pass Rd to Sugar Bowl Road. There is a parking area just south on Sugar Bowl Road after turning off Donner Pass. The hike begins at the trailhead across the road. An alternate starting point is further d...