Looking for an epic hike that isn't too far from Reno? Look no further than Mount Rose! To find the…read moretrailhead, head up the Mount Rose Highway and once you reach near the top, you'll notice a decent sized parking lot off to the side of the Highway. The trailhead begins behind the bathrooms. This hike is slightly deceptive because for the first half (2.5 or so miles), it's relatively flat. I mean, you're definitely going upwards but you barely notice it (at least I didn't). Once you reach the waterfall (the unofficial halfway point), that's where things begin to get a bit more interesting. The scenery gets better and better, but the incline in the trail will get far more noticeable not just due to steepness, but due to the elevation as well. Many people were turning around as my friend and I continued going. In no way is this a difficult hike, however, it's definitely not easy either. If you're out of shape or have any medical problems, this may not be the hike for you. There's plenty of other gorgeous hikes in the area that would be more suitable. But if you think you can tackle the 10,778 foot Mountain, by all means give it a go. The hike is just shy of 11 miles round trip. Once at the summit, you'll have an amazing 360 view with Lake Tahoe on one side and Reno on the other. It makes for some amazing pano shots.

Okay, I am going to probably get a lot of hate from giving this hike 3 stars instead of 4 or 5…read morestars which seems to be the norm in terms of reviews. When I go on hikes, I prefer it to be flat, scenic and with pretty meadows. I was not expecting it to be quite scary actually as my husband reassured me that this hike was easy and flat; he was wrong trust me. The beginning of the hike was a steep uphill climb that was full of sand and dirt. Combined with the intense heat and the uneven rocks, I was already getting a shortness of breath when we climbed the uphill. My skin also got a burning sensation even though I slaughtered on sunscreen before the hike. I looked up the UV index on my phone and it was at level 11; wow, no wonder why I felt like I was burning! Thankfully, I brought some sunscreen with me so I started applying it to my face and skin again. The heat was also so intense that my hair started sticking to the back of my neck. Anyways, we continued our climb and when we reached the top, my heart started racing as I noticed we were a good 9000 feet up in the air and the trail was so thin and narrow that my husband and I had to make a single file line just to walk on it. I remember throughout the entire hike, I had to look down because the rocks were so uneven (trust me, they were everywhere) because I didn't want to fall and hurt myself. Another thing about being so high up, we encountered wind storms that constantly blew up dirt and sand on our faces; talk about feeling super dirty and gross! The sand and dirt got all over my clothes, skin and hair. Needless to say, I was not enjoying myself and I kept wishing we were lying on the beach instead listening to quiet waves and sunbathing. After a good 2 and a half mile hike, we finally reached the waterfall and relaxed. The waterfall was gorgeous and there were cute chipmunks too; this is why I gave my review three stars; this was the one good thing about our hike. When we got home that night, I scrubbed my face clean and washed my hair twice too. For avid hikers like my husband, this hike will be enjoyable as for me however, I will take a pass for next time.

Quality/Quantity - Not so hidden, lol. The first beach…read morewalking towards Sand Harbor from Incline. Very small, but we were here off season (just the way I like it) and other than one other family, it is just us "two" here. So a private beach, lol. We are hosting our friends today. Showed them our free local parking spot. Gave them a quick tour of this area and all of Incline. A short 1.5 walk on the beautiful and easy Tahoe East Shore Trail. Just be careful of all the ebikes that do NOT have full control of their bikes or themselves. It would be nice if there was a separate bike path, or only allow manual bikes on the walking paths...? Atmosphere - Again, a very small, NOT so hidden beach. A nice stop/break from the 3 mile walk. Approximately the half way mark from Incline to Sand Harbor. Restrooms nearby, but I can NOT recommend them. More like outhouses with NO sink to wash your hands. Easy walk or bike ride. Fairly easy, very short walk/hike to each path. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - N/A.

If you park at tunnel creek cafe, you can access the beach. You walk on the sidewalk then loop…read moreunder a tunnel. The lake is always amazing. You can even do the walk with a stroller.

Spooner Lake State Park is easily accessible off NV 28 (on the way to Incline Village), but does…read morecharge for parking. I had previously purchased an annual pass through Nevada Parks for $30 (Senior Rate). The parking area, visitor's center, picnic areas, and large greenbelt are all well maintained, pretty, and with a great view of the Lake. I was most recently here for a well-executed and family/dog friendly Day 2 Rosh Hashana service led by Temple Bat Yam (Stateline). That included a interactive and leafy 2.1 walk around the lake on a almost perfect day. Spirituality experienced outside is a special thing, and meeting a few new friends along the way was a welcome bonus. Note: Yelp also has a Spooner Lake Trailhead listing, which overlaps with this one.

Mom and I got lucky when we visited Spooner Lake on a Tuesday in August. Hardly anyone there so…read morekeeping our distance was easy. We only passed 1 couple on the trail. I wasn't really sure where the trail for Spooner Lake loop was so I parked and we wandered a bit til we saw the map and a little sign. Followed it down to the water... and then from there the trail was clear. We did the lake loop trail... I think it's about 2.5 miles... with all our walking around we did 3. It's a great trail! Lots of shade with a little bit of elevation change.... not too much tho. There was 1 big hill but that's it. So, a really nice easy trail around the lake. If I lived in the area, I would get an annual pass and come here regularly to do this loop and explore the other trails that connect to this one. It's a state park so $10 fee... we wanted to buy an Annual Pass good for all state parks but they were sold out.

Easy to get to, but parking can be tricky as it's on the side of the road in a residential area and…read morethe open spots may be taken. Hiking this short 1.7 mile trail is initially heart pounding (at least for me) because there's an incline all the way to the top. Along the way, the lake views are fabulous. Once at the top, there are little interpretive side trails that you can take (or not) and two clean vault toilets. Additionally, there are several benches from which to admire the view. The photo opportunities are obscene! On the way down, it's all downhill.

We parked on the side of the road and made our way up. The hike is 1.7 miles long. The path was…read morestraightforward, but there were some small patches of snow. At the end, you are rewarded with a view of the lake.

Quality/Quantity - Something for everyone! For both locals and tourists; well the tourists I feel…read moreout number us.... Views of Lake Tahoe, Sierras, Washoe Lake (yes quite a ways of a hike), Incline Lake (I have not been yet), etc. Winter - Sledding, cross country, snow shoeing, hiking, snow mobile, etc. Summer - Hiking, biking, etc. The path is 1.4 miles with only a 78ft elevation. It should take you no more than an hour. Only certain parts of the trail are ADA friendly. And of course, feeding the chickadees; bird seeds only please!! Do NOT give them "human" food. They will literally eat out of your hands. A great experience for all ages. Overall, very easy trails. But if you want to keep going, there are more challenging ones that you can connect to. We do not come here often enough... Ambiance - Beautiful and user friendly! Road parking, be safe. And please do NOT run across 431, wait for NO traffic before crossing! A place to drop off your snow mobiles, etc. Oh, and now I am starting to see food trucks?!?! NO restrooms or services. If available, you can drive a mile to Mt Rose Summit to see if the public restrooms are open. Service - Self service. Price - Free. Owner Comment - Thank you to the team at Tahoe Rim Trail Association, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit for maintaining this beautiful area.

Good place for hiking, or playing around in the snow. Nice place to snowshoe, cross-country ski,…read moreetc. great fun for the whole family, ample parking. Make sure you bring your sunglasses cause the snow can be very bright on your eyes. Highly recommend this place! It's a lot of fun! And the surroundings are beautiful!!

The most beautiful beach in Lake Tahoe hands down. I genuinely don't think I've seen a more…read morebeautiful view anywhere else in the world. The water is so clear and the rocks in the water are just so gorgeous. The only downside is that it is a nude beach and there are some creepy people. If you can look past that, it is the most beautiful beach EVER!!!

Secret Cove is a really beautiful, crystal-clear beach on Lake Tahoe's East Shore, with stunning…read moregranite boulders. Parking: Along Highway 28. It fills up super early, so plan accordingly. Clothing: Optional. If you plan to wear swimwear, I'd recommend putting it on at the parking lot since there isn't much privacy or covered area at the cove for changing. How to get there: A scenic 0.75-mile hike. Water: Warm-ish (for Tahoe standards) and a bright turquoise color. There are porta-potty restrooms available at the parking lot at the start of the trail. When I went, I only saw a couple of older men fully nude; most people were wearing swimwear. The hike is a bit steep at the beginning, so sturdy shoes or water shoes are a good idea. A lot of people bring water sports gear, coolers, and picnic setups. There was even a small hippie-style drum circle near the cove, which added to the laid-back vibe. Please remember to pack out all your trash and help keep this beautiful spot clean.

What an incredible walk from the parking lot (Ponderosa/Tunnel Creek Lot) all the way to Sand…read moreHarbor Beach. A leisurely 3 mile, 1 hour, walk to Sand Harbor State Park. Incredible and stunning views along the way. Lots of pictures to take. Lots of people walking and biking. Must do this yearly if I can.

We absolutely love this trail. We have walked it, jogged it, and taken our bikes up here. It's…read morealways so extremely breathtaking. I love to park on Lakeshore Boulevard and walk to hidden Beach.

Love the park has lots of parking We saw people with snow…read moreshoes Cross country skiing and sleds lots of them. Great paved trail and dog park too. Tree top was closed due to being winter but it did look like a lot of fun. Will do it when we come back in the summer.

Beautiful park. We went for the dog park and it was will worth it. Roomy and aesthetic. The trees…read moreand bushes added a nice natural feel especially in the mixed size "outback" area. It was nice that the large, small, and mixed areas all connected too so you could move from spot to spot without leashing your dog.

The hype is real, Sand Harbor certainly delivers on being one of the most if not most beautiful…read morebeaches in Lake Tahoe. Recommend booking a reservation as you will be taking a chance trying to time the 10:30AM opening for parking. We came on a Wednesday and the best part about reservations is the beach never felt too crowded once we were inside. There are three distinct areas, the boat launch, the picturesque cove with all the boulders you see on instagram, and the longer more open beach area. We picked the picturesque area and got lucky to find a small section we could carve out of the beach after arriving around 10 am. I'm sure on weekends this cove fills up even sooner so get there early as everyone mentions. Great area for paddle boarding, climbing rocks and relaxing on the beach. Definitely plan to come back again next summer, but will not be on a weekend. Seeing the lines for the parking lot midweek was enough to convince me. All in all if you have an opportunity to go do it! Just make sure you have a plan before you do to maximize your time and fun.

After all my years living in this area, my first visit to Sand Harbor. My daughter had been before…read moreand knew all the needed ins and outs. Most important, do make your parking reservation, $15. Opens at 8:30am, we arrived very early ensuring a great parking spot and a choice of position on the beach. Bringing your own shade is a must, umbrellas are the least popular, we had an Easy Up, perfect! The limited parking also limits the number of people so always comfortable and doesn't feel too crowded. Many bring their paddle boards, floats and canoes. People watching is top notch Fun day being surrounded by people just relaxing, chilling and enjoying the moment. Restrooms are near by, an easy walk and across the parking lot is their restaurant. Nice menu choices and prices quite okay. Later on in the year there are no reservations needed but to have the best experience, check to be sure if you need one before planning your visit. I shall return and that is the best thing you can say about a first time visit!

I love this trail in the Summer because it's somewhat shaded and flat for the most part…read more Today (1/26/2025), we decided to do it with snowshoes. The last storm was over a week ago, so the snow was pretty packed and ended up using Trax instead. I loved it and as usual, the views of the lake and surrounding snow-capped mountains were stunning. What I love about this trail is you can make it as far as you want to and it connects with various other trail systems. The trailhead is accessible from Highway 431 and there is a small parking area across the highway.

This is one of my favorite trails to run on becuase it's fairly flat and the dirt is compacted…read morewhich makes the running better. I went up yesterday hoping for an 8 mile walk but after a 1/5 mile in there was still snow. I made it out 1 mile and decided to turn around then looped back again because it was just so nice outside and thunder was in the distance. I can't wait till the trail dries up and I can get some good hikes, runs, and walks in.