Question on Lake Tahoe

[Sigarms]

We were at Tahoe in August. Surprising how very clear the water is. I'll bet you could get Sechi disk reading at 50 feet in that lake.

So we decided we would go swimming. Thank God - I first put a bare foot in the water. It was as cold as ice. No swimming for us.

I have to laugh. You should try Vermont swimming "holes" depending on the summer month. Same way...

The only swimming I may do is at where we're staying at if they have a heated pool, but no plans on my end given the elevation in the "natural environment" in that area.

Heck, going over Sonora pass last year in August...

Use to do a lot of whitewater kayaking in Idaho in the summer. You get used to the term "snow melt" LMAO

 

[kenmbz]

We were in Tahoe and Yosemite end of July on the way down south to visit family.
After last years pass closures, it gets pretty dicey in November.
When they start telling you to get a car with chains......

You will have to carefully watch the weather and make accommodations to change routes to avoid anything bad.

I wish we could have spent more time at Tahoe, unfortunately it was too windy for our 20' open bow rental and we didn't stay out on the lake too long.

Yosemite was fun and we rented bikes, like I did on my first trip out many years ago.

The crowds there didn't bother us too much as we paid extra to stay in the park. Though the room has no AC and it was in the 90's, we did get to start out before the crowds and end after the crowds.

 

[ning]

We were at Tahoe in August. Surprising how very clear the water is. I'll bet you could get Sechi disk reading at 50 feet in that lake.

So we decided we would go swimming. Thank God - I first put a bare foot in the water. It was as cold as ice. No swimming for us.

this is why you see bumper stickers "Keep Tahoe Blue"

 

[plowhog]

For your trip there are two good ways in/out of the Tahoe Basin. (actually 3)

From Reno, head south on Hwy 395 then west on Hwy 431 over Mt. Rose into the Tahoe Basin.

Or, from Reno, take I-80 West to Truckee, then south on (267?) to Kings Beach.

I would suggest planning on of those "going in," the other "coming out." The road over Mt. Rose hwy is very scenic and lots of tight turns.

Lots and lots to do in the Tahoe Basin.

The third route, from memory, connects into Incline Village from Reno. If you go to Incline Village-- bring money. That's the high rent district. Of course for someone not from California its "all" the high rent district!!

 

[RobertN]

Being she is from Vermont and I'm familiar with lake effect snow, no doubt we will play it safe for the possibility of any snow, particularly with driving.

Caught fall colors a few year ago. Have friends that live in Ct. Drove from Brookfield up to Killington and Woodstock Vt.

Wow, the views from the top of Killington Ski resort were breathtaking! We caught the colors at their peak. We do not have fall colors like that in the Placerville, Ca area...

 

[Sigarms]

For your trip there are two good ways in/out of the Tahoe Basin. (actually 3)

From Reno, head south on Hwy 395 then west on Hwy 431 over Mt. Rose into the Tahoe Basin.

Or, from Reno, take I-80 West to Truckee, then south on (267?) to Kings Beach.

I would suggest planning on of those "going in," the other "coming out." The road over Mt. Rose hwy is very scenic and lots of tight turns.

Lots and lots to do in the Tahoe Basin.

The third route, from memory, connects into Incline Village from Reno. If you go to Incline Village-- bring money. That's the high rent district. Of course for someone not from California its "all" the high rent district

Thanks for the feedback.

Luckily I still have my Atlas and Gazetteer from last year on Nevada and California, and what you mentioned makes sense looking at it on the map.

Ironic when I go to a area I'm not familiar with I still much prefer a map and not my phone.

Looks like we're staying down around the Stateline area.

Out of curiosity, how long does it take to drive around the whole lake? Looks like 50, 89, and 28.

 

[Sigarms]

Drive the loop around the lake

Assuming that's 50, 89 and 28?

Up to Donner on 89 north from the south end of the lake?

 

[Sigarms]

Caught fall colors a few year ago. Have friends that live in Ct. Drove from Brookfield up to Killington and Woodstock Vt.

Wow, the views from the top of Killington Ski resort were breathtaking! We caught the colors at their peak. We do not have fall colors like that in the Placerville, Ca area...

Although my wife spent the first 33 years of her life in Vermont, I joke with her if she ever wanted to get a promotion and move back to the corporate office in Vermont, I'd support her 100% and have no qualms moving if that is what she wants. She'll look at me like I'm crazy and tell me Vermont is a nice to visit, but it's never where she wants to live again LOL

Vermont has 6 seasons you know...

Spring, fly season, summer, fall, winter and then mud season.

Father in laws family lived in Vermont since the early 1700's. They lived with us for 6 months when the looked for a place down near us to relocate. We were all worried about how my FIL would finally react to living in NC in his retirement years being he spent his entire life in Vermont (other than the Navy).

Turns out he loved it for the 10 years or so he lived here (passed in 2021) and probably made more friends at his local church than all the friends he had up in Vermont less all of his old co workers up there LOL

Although I've never lived in Vermont myself, don't get my wife going on the cost of living and taxes.

 

[plowhog]

Out of curiosity, how long does it take to drive around the whole lake? Looks like 50, 89, and 28.

I don't remember because you usually stop at numerous points along the way. Allocate a half day minimum, maybe a full day and you should be OK.

Be sure to stop and see the spillway in Tahoe City. Over 100 feet long, the "normal" flow is 6 feet of water flowing over the entire length of the spillway. That's a lot of water. btw there is a nice easy hike at Emerald Bay. A lot of people stop there for a photo without knowing such a nice trail is nearby.

 

[Sigarms]

I don't remember because you usually stop at numerous points along the way. Allocate a half day minimum, maybe a full day and you should be OK.

Be sure to stop and see the spillway in Tahoe City. Over 100 feet long, the "normal" flow is 6 feet of water flowing over the entire length of the spillway. That's a lot of water. btw there is a nice easy hike at Emerald Bay. A lot of people stop there for a photo without knowing such a nice trail is nearby.

Very much appreciated.

Since we have the whole week there, may have to see about staying on the north side of the lake for at least one day depending on drive time.

 

[Hughman]

I think the lake is about 22 miles tall by 13 miles wide. At least half a day given how much sightseeing you want to do.

I haven't been to it but the ponderosa ranch from Bonanza was somewhere on the east side of the lake. It use to be an attraction.

 

[Hughman]

I think the lake is about 22 miles tall by 13 miles wide. At least half a day given how much sightseeing you want to do.

I haven't been to it but the ponderosa ranch from Bonanza was somewhere on the east side of the lake. It use to be an attraction.

Closed...

Ponderosa Ranch - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[kenmbz]

We stayed in South Lake Tahoe and rented a boat at one of the local Marinas on the California side.
Their is a Gondola up from the town, which is a large area of shopping and restaurants.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Wife and kid got desert at the Baked Bear and it's kind of a mild party atmosphere there.

Lots of little beaches, many charge at least parking if not beach access too.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Wish we could have spent more time there.
Keep us updated on your adventures!

The stack of casinos on the Nevada side is in stark contrast to the more relaxed timeshare area in California, I was surprised how many time share places in S Lake Tahoe.

 

[RobertN]

Out of curiosity, how long does it take to drive around the whole lake? Looks like 50, 89, and 28.

The drive around Lake Tahoe is about 72 miles. It's mostly slower road. You could drive in a couple of hours, but there are places to stop/sightsee all the way around. You could easily spend most of the day.

Fallen Leaf Lake is nice.

Palisades Tahoe (Formerly Squaw Valley) hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics

 

[ericm979]

Larger hotels/motels in the gambling district or a few miles across the border can get some loud customers. At one place we stayed in a few times when I was there to do a cycling event we kept getting neighbors who would come back drunk at 2am and have loud arguments. Bad enough normally but extra tough when we were going to get up at 3:30am to drive to the event.

The last time we stayed in south lake tahoe for that event we found a small motel off the main drag that was quiet even though it was closer to Nevada.

 

[kenmbz]

We stayed at Basecamp South Tahoe.
Smallish clean rooms, walk to town or beach.
Kinda hippie vibe, nice and quiet.

 

[Sigarms]

Wife has been down at her mothers last couple of days as apparently she (mom) took a fall.

Looking like the same type surgery next week my father had when he fractured his own back (in and out same day).

Have a aunt who lives closer to her mom, but her and her husband are probably both worse than my MIL health wise.

My mother in law will be no different than my own father when it comes to admitting they need help.

I know my wife lol I've already told her to cancel the trip and we will replan in late spring, but she's hanging on hope that we can still get away. We go, my wife will be so worried about her mom that she probably wouldn't enjoy the trip. If anything, I'll be the one convincing her it's fine to cancel. She lost her dad a couple of years ago, has one sister who totally different than her and really doesn't have a close relationship with her, and if anything were to happen to her mom, I know she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

Point being, when you book a vacation, ALWAYS pay a little extra on the insurance in case you have to change the dates or even cancel. You don't plan on it, but it can be a life saver...

 

[kenmbz]

Wife has been down at her mothers last couple of days as apparently she (mom) took a fall.

Looking like the same type surgery next week my father had when he fractured his own back (in and out same day).

Have a aunt who lives closer to her mom, but her and her husband are probably both worse than my MIL health wise.

My mother in law will be no different than my own father when it comes to admitting they need help.

I know my wife lol I've already told her to cancel the trip and we will replan in late spring, but she's hanging on hope that we can still get away. We go, my wife will be so worried about her mom that she probably wouldn't enjoy the trip. If anything, I'll be the one convincing her it's fine to cancel. She lost her dad a couple of years ago, has one sister who totally different than her and really doesn't have a close relationship with her, and if anything were to happen to her mom, I know she wouldn't be able to live with herself.

Point being, when you book a vacation, ALWAYS pay a little extra on the insurance in case you have to change the dates or even cancel. You don't plan on it, but it can be a life saver...

Agreed, my parents just lost all the money they put down on a trip when he fell a few weeks before the scheduled sail dates. By the time I was able to figure out how to unravel the trip, it was past the refund date,

 

[Sigarms]

Both my wife and I agreed, by far the best part of the trip was Donner Pass. At times, I can be a big history buff, and the Donner-Reed party has always fascinated myself due to all the intertwining family stories and how the party was basically screwed over by the Hastings cutoff and the lack of info the party received and why.

Actually being there in person and actually getting an idea of how cold it was in early November with some snow, gave me a new perspective on what those people endured.

Looking down at Truckee (now Donner) lake

 

[Sigarms]

The road up Donner pass road. Can't imagine trying to make the climb through that pass going up a mountain without a road trying to get help...

If you look at the second pic, you'll see a structure going around the one mountain. That is actually a rail road box to protect the trains going around the mountain.

Reading up on the history on how the Chinese built those protective devices for the trains over mountains was a new find for me.

Both my wife and I got a chuckle... This was the second day there, and originally we were in Tahoe city at the visitor center and I wasn't planning on going to Truckee due to the drive time. The "host" at the visitor center convinced me I could make the drive and check out Donner state park and museum no problem. I asked about Donner pass road, and she told us there was no reason to go up there because there wasn't anything up there.

Yes, there are no buildings to see up there, but dang, the beauty and history of the area was the highlight of the trip for us (at least for me, but my wife agreed, it was her favorite part of the trip as well LOL).