Lake Tahoe: California and Nevada Travel Guide

What To See

Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Nature Trail

Wildflower Photography

Baker Pass Trail Head

Lake Tahoe Beaches

The Tallac Historic Site

Fishing Bridge

Camping Food

Getting There

Kaspian Campground

Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Nature Trail

This free nature walk and visitors center is sparkling new. Rangers were there to answer questions about the area and this is the location for picking up back country permits. The nature walk has well done informative signs all along the way. The highlight of the walk is the underground exhibit that allows you to watch the fish in the stream.

Wildflower Photography

We met a camper in our parking lot who told us that the week before (last weekend of July) he saw the best display of wildflowers he had ever seen. As avid photographers, we were all about that, so we asked a ranger at the nearby campground where we might find them. She thought they were probably past their prime, but sent us to the Baker Pass trail head.

Baker Pass Trail Head

I don’t know what the flowers looked like the week before, but they were amazing (first week of August). The flowers started on the drive up the pass and blooms were blooming clear at the top. The humming birds were in full force, but we didn’t see any other wildlife. Be sure to enjoy all of the little waterfalls along the way. The hike itself was tough for me. My poor lungs are used to sea level air. I probably would have done better if I went on our second day. After our walk, we drove along the pass road for a few miles for beautiful views of the mountains to the west.

The Barker Pass trail head is located 7.5 miles west on the Blackwood Canyon Road. It is part of the Tahoe Rim Trail To get there turn (right if coming from the north and left if coming from the south) onto Blackwood Canyon Road from Highway 89 at Kaspian Campground. This turn is 4 miles south of Tahoe City and 4 miles north of Tahoma. The Tahoe Rim Trail website has an excellent, interactive description of day hikes. There is a map of the trails and a potty at the trail head.

Beaches

There are zillions of beaches along the shores of Lake Tahoe. If you have never seen this lake, it is hard to describe how beautiful and clear it truly is. The sand is course, but clean. We don’t have a boat, so no water skiing for us, but you can rent them if you want to give it a try. You can also rent kayaks and other water toys.

We went to the city beach in Tahoe City the first day. The water was surprisingly warm. That is warm compared to the ocean. This little beach had new bathrooms and a very close parking lot. It also had grass rather than a lot of sand. Good for sunbathers, not so interesting for little sand castle builder children.

The second day we went to the beach just east of Richardson whose name we can’t remember. Pretty much the south shore of the lake is a beach, so it really doesn’t matter. That one did cost 5 bucks however. It also had lots of shade next to the sunny, sandy beach with a few picnic tables.

We wanted to go to D.L. Bliss State Park, but the ranger informed us that if you aren’t there by 10am on the weekend you won’t get in. We believed him, as we once sat in a silly line waiting to get in two years ago. D.L. Bliss is however one of the prettiest lake beaches I have ever seen. Next year maybe we make reservations early enough and we can camp there. Campers have first dibs on beach space.

Camping Food

Some camping trips are about the food and some are not. This one was about the food. Our son was visiting from college, so I didn’t want him to miss out on our normal camping experience. Plus, we were enticed by our Dutch oven cookbook’s claim that cake can be made in a Dutch oven. In preparation, we borrowed a second Dutch oven so that we could make a two layer cake. I also make frosting at home. Once we got the Dutch oven’s warm, it only took 15-20 minute to bake them. I think maybe that they were a little too hot.

You can see from the photos that the end product was not pretty. It was tasty and let’s face it, pretty amazing for camping. Not sure if I would do it again. A one layer cake would have done the trick for 3 people, although we did spend the second day dreaming about the cake waiting for us back at the camp kitchen.

Getting There

It is 230 miles from Santa Clara to Tahoe City. It took us about 6 hours with a dinner and gas break on the way on a Friday night. I don’t know why it took so long. Note that the campground is just on the right when you see the sign. There is no sign at the entrance on Blackwood Canyon Road, so in the dark we didn’t see it and kept driving. That was annoying.

Weather

Check the forecast before you go and bring layers. It could be hot. It could be cold. It could snow. In the summer, you are pretty much guaranteed to have an afternoon thunderstorm.

Making Reservations

Winter and summer are high Season

It is easier to make reservation on the weekday and the week before or after a holiday

Find out what the hotel cancellation policy is if you are unable to reach the area due to heavy snow and road closure

Camping reservation are harder to get than hotel reservations

Use Reserve America to make a camping reservation in both state and federal campgrounds

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