AMAZING HIKE TO A FROZEN LAKE AT LAKE TAHOE
It is winter and I wanted some snow in my life. After having a good Xmas with my closest friends, I wanted to try something new. I wanted to go to the mountains and hike some snow. So I decided to road trip.
I left without any real planning, like most of my trips, but with a direction to go. I decided to head towards Lake Tahoe. I have heard so many good stories about it during Xmas time that I wanted to make some memories for myself.
GETTING THERE
It took me eight hours to get there, but I took my time by stopping at Rhyolite Ghost Town and The International Car Forest of the Last Church. With modern technology, you can just click here, and Google will take you there.
Overall, it is an easy drive. Once you reach South Lake Tahoe, head South on Lake Tahoe Boulevard towards Los Angeles Avenue. Turn right on Emerald Bay Road (CA-89). You will be on this road for about 20 minutes. Take your time and enjoy the view. Stop at every viewpoint you can. Inspirational Point is a favorite.
From there I walked back to get a beautiful view of Cascade Lake. Be careful, there is no sidewalk so I recommend you walk against traffic for your safety.
After Inspirational Point continue on CA-89 and you will see a sign that reads National Forest PICNIC AREA TRAILHEAD: Eagle Falls. You can find parking on your left.
PREPARATION
I was somewhat prepared for this hike. Without a real plan, I packed for various scenarios that could happen on this random trip.
- Clothing – Wear pants that are waterproof and have a layer of warmth built into it. I used my snowboarding pants for this situation, along with a waterproof winter coat with a sweater underneath. I just wore a hat and a pair of waterproof gloves.
- Footwear – Since you will be in the snow, water is an issue. My hiking boots are waterproof and allow me to go into the snow without getting my feet wet or cold. Wear appropriate thickness of socks. Highly recommend you get some snowshoe rentals if you do not own a pair for about $25. I rented them at a nearby rental store. I did see a few people along the way regretting not having snowshoes. I saw some epic falls!
- Water – Bring at least 2 liters. A CamelBak and/or backpack with a hydration system would be enough
- Food/Snacks – I recommend to bring some snacks. Protein bars are my favorite since they are light and a good source of energy. You could actually picnic at the frozen lake if you wanted to.
Bring a small bag to carry your leftover trash or just maintain it in your backpack. Adhere to the “Leave No Trace” principle.
EMERALD BAY
This bay is beautiful! There are various trails that you will find around the bay with some spectacular views to enjoy. The Rubicon Trail, The Eagle Falls Trail, Eagle Falls Vista Point, and the Eagle Lake Trail are in this area.
I took the Eagle Lake Trail and it also incorporates the Eagle Falls Trail, and Vista Point.
THE HIKE
This trail was done during winter, so the difficulty of it was a little different than what you would experience Spring through Fall. Like I mentioned in the PREPARATION section. Get snowshoes! An alternative could be ice snow grips. Oh yeah, and some trekking sticks for balance.
It is a popular trail and it is heavily trafficked therefore there is a lot of ice you will encounter. Since it heads towards the Desolation Wilderness, a permit is needed and can be found at the trailhead. NOTE: Due to COVID this is currently not needed.
Viewpoint
The beginning of the trail, which is a loop, starts with a gradual climb. Then you will eventually run into some stairs making it steeper. Pull up to the vista point and look back.
You will capture a great view of the bay behind you. You should then go back down to the right towards the Eagle Falls. You will see a wooden sign and a bridge that crosses over a creek.
After the bridge just keep pressing on towards Eagle Lake. The natural scenery of the wilderness can be breathtaking. And the sound of the creek below is music to the ears.
Frozen Lake
You will reach a fork in the trail. The left side takes you to Maggies Peak (a 30-minute hike) and the right will take you into Eagle Lake. Once you reach this fork you are almost there. Look to your right and take in the wilderness.
Once you arrive at the lake, you will notice where the creek flows into it. It was frozen when I went there in late December. I will be coming back to see it this in Spring!
CONCLUSION
If you want to try snowshoeing, this is a great place to try it. Lake Tahoe’s Emerald Bay is beautiful and Eagle Point has some trails to explore and wander into. Go walk on a frozen lake and lose yourself amongst the wilderness. Escape your boundaries!
What would you like to try that is new to you? Leave a comment below.
