We went here and walked around the lake with our lovable lab. It was a beautiful area. The trail…read morewas flat but I suggest hiking boots this time of year as there was some icy snow in spots. The bathrooms were available at the trailhead and were well maintained.

We had an amazing hike around Spooner Lake back in June. It's an easy walk with just a few…read moremosquitos around. Peaceful and filled with bird sounds, not many people when we were there on a weekday. Bring your binoculars to check out the many birds and woodland creatures around. Definitely wear good walking shoes and bring some water. This trail is a short drive from where the casinos are and well worth the time to get away from the people and hustle bustle that can sometimes be found in Lake Tahoe around state line.

Got kids? This is the perfect hike for you!…read more A smooth, flat, wide, dare I say stroller appropriate, 3ish mile trail tracks along the Mexican Ditch and eventually the Carson River, offering opportunities to view nearby livestock, fish, frogs, birds, and reptiles, as well as access to fishing and wading, all as you make your way out to the dam and back. The first stretch starts at what remains of an old ranch where the barn and many buildings are still standing and open to exploration. From there follow the signs to the trail and meander your way down the ditch to a fork where you have the choice to stay high on the loop in the sunshine, make your way along the working ag fields, or head down toward the ribbon of green trees that mark the banks of the Carson River. We took to the trees to escape the sun and loved the cool breeze, birdwatching, and sounds of the rushing water as we made our way. The trail is marked by fencing on both sides, but there are several gaps that allow easy access to the river where you can fish or wade, depending on the movement of the water. At the backside of the loop you can extend your hike by following the river trail all the way up to the Mexican dam, which will make the out and back hit the 3 mile mark. We had little legs that ran out of steam so we turned back about a half mile from there and returned along the backside of the loop to our truck parked at the ranch. All in all a great find for family fun!

This is probably our favorite trail within Carson. It is about 3 1/2 miles round trip to the dam…read more It is very kid and family friendly as the trail is hard packed with only a very slight rise to the dam. It also has great scenery with the Carson river on one side and pastures on the other side when you start out that eventually are replaced by the Mexican ditch. Can catch the trail head from the Silver Saddle ranch or from the Carson River park. Both are about the same distance from the dam. We prefer the Carson River trail head as it has a nice parking lot with a few picnic tables, and walks along the river when you start. Please know my pics are during the record setting winter we have had in 16/17, and so the river is really flowing strong! The river has overflowed its banks a few times this year so the trail does have parts that are a little washed out or muddy right now but nothing too bad. Usually there is not this much water flowing this fast over the dam which is great to see!

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.

I did this trail in late May when there was still a lot of snow on the mountain. I started the hike…read moreearly in the morning (7 a.m.) to make sure the snow was packed and not slippery (because of the sun beating down on it). There were only 2 other cars in the lot when I got there. That already signaled me that this trail may not be as safe to hike as I had initially thought. The hike started easy, but soon after I passed the second lake, it became tricky because it was really hard to keep track of the trail. Parts of the trail were either buried under the snow or harder to identify due to the fallen trees, bushes, and streams of water. I definitely went off the trail a few times, but thankfully, I had the map downloaded on AllTrails (yayyy AllTrails+ subscription), which came in clutch. The trail is mostly covered until you get past the 3rd lake. After the third lake, it was all rocky and exposed. It was really hard to follow the trail from that point on because of the snow. It gets steeper from there on out. Since the trail was convere in snow, I decided to rock scramble straight to the top. It was probably not the best idea. Having done that, I'd advise against it because the rocks were loose. One wrong step, and you are either falling or twisting your ankle. I did this hike with no poles, spikes, or gloves. Spikes would have helped because some areas required going downhill on snow-covered patches (some steeper than the others). I don't think you need gloves or warm layers. The views throughout the hike were amazing. Don't forget to stop and look back on your way up (and look up on your way down). Avoiding snow-covered areas in some cases will lead you off the trail, so take your time when going through those patches of snow. Don't let your ego get in the way and turn back if you start having doubts. A tip (shouldn't be a surprise) - When going through a patch of snow, make sure your first step is somewhat bigger so you don't step on the edges of the snow patch where the snow is usually thin and chances of you falling through are high.

This trail is a killer! I've done strenuous hikes before, but I think part of my soul left on this…read moretrail. Not sure if it's the 80° weather, all the rocks, or I was just out of shape, but this trail really tested my mind over matter. The trailhead is easy to find, with a small parking lot but there's tons of parking nooks along the road for overflow. I would say this hike has 3 sections to conquer. 1. The trail starts off easy, soft dirt path with some shade alongside great views of Lake Tahoe. There's some slight parts of incline, but nothing too elevated. You pass by several lakes that are great picnic spots and we saw many dogs taking a swim. Butterflies everywhere. 2. The trail starts getting rocky the further you go, like walking along a dry creek. You hike uphill for what seems like a lifetime, then finally get to the base of the mountain.. of boulders. SO many rocks, BIG rocks, and switchbacks! ALL incline. And no shade. This took some time to get to the top. 3. You made it to the top! But oh no, you're not done yet. To get to the summit is about another mile to the right. The trail eventually splits with a less noticeable trail to the right. Keep right to get to the summit. This was probably the most beautiful part of the trail with open plains, soft grass, and wildflowers along both sides of the path. However, at this point I was so exhausted that my steps were like the mini steps of a toddler. The struggle was real ya'll. Every uphill was a battle. Finally, after what felt like a lifetime, you climb up some rocks and you're at the top of the summit, greeted by a metal sign "Mt Tallac 9,739" elevation. Whoo! It was a spectacular 360 view. There were oddly a ton of flies up there. Also, lots of butterflies and chipmunks. Of course going down was much faster but beware if you have bad knees. My knees usually never hurt going downhill but I definitely felt it on this hike. With 9.5 miles (out and back) of rocky trail and the 3,284 ft elevation gain, hiking sticks are a must! On part two of the trail, certain parts you can hear rattlesnakes so make sure you stay on the trail. Cover up and bring more water than you think you'd need. I plowed thru my hydropack and additional two bottles. At the end, the sight of the trailhead sign and our car was like heaven on earth.

One of the most underrated spots on Lake Tahoe!! A great place to spend the day , natural shade…read morefrom the trees in the grassy area , swimming and soaking up the sun on the dock and incredible lake and mountain scenery from everywhere. If you bring a kayak or paddle board you can paddle just south towards Meeks Bay and tuck yourself into a number of smallish beaches if you want some privacy. When we have a weak winter and the lake level drops , you will have a very small 6-8 foot deep sandy beach area but we haven't had that for quite a few years. So the only thing you don't really get here is a big sandy beach but you do get a fantastic stretch of beautiful lake tahoe in a park like atmosphere with towering trees !!! Not too shabby!

Located on the West end of Lake Tahoe. Short walking distance to the lake on the other side of…read morehighway 89. Park is known for the presence of black bears. Did not encounter any! Come to think about it, probably was overly cautious having bear spray within reach. Visitors must comply to safety rules and prevention. Supposedly fragrant items (e.g. soap, shampoo, etc.) are highly attractive to bears. Our assigned site (number 76) sits at the beginning of the loop. Surrounded by neighbors on all sides except one. Nearest restroom and dumpster is just two sites away. Potable water is accessible in front of site 78. Bear storage are included at each site along with a picnic table and a fire ring. Camp host will make frequent runs around the loop with firewood available for purchase. There is a presence of carpenter ants but was not a nuisance. Experienced hot mid days and warm nights in the month of early August. Ideal and convenient for those looking to visit various parts of Lake Tahoe and even neighboring city of Reno.

Eagle Rock is a relatively short and easy hike that's welcoming for people of all age groups. The…read moretrail itself is less than a mile long, with minimal elevation increases on your way to the top. It's a very dusty path up, so make sure to wear some proper hiking shoes and clothing that you don't mind getting dirty. I wore a white, button-up t-shirt and jeans because my in-laws failed to tell me we were going hiking before stopping at the motel. But it was such a light hike that it didn't bother me too much aside from getting my clothes dusty and dirty going up and then coming back down. At the top of the trail resides Eagle Rock, which comprises of sharp, volcanic rock. So definitely be careful while up there. For those with mobility issues, the path does not extend all the way up to the top. So you will have to clamor over some rocks in order to reach the summit. But once up top, you'll get treated to a gorgeous top-down view of Lake Tahoe to one side, and beautiful forest covered mountains on the other. The trail is dog friendly, but there are no trash cans along the path. So make sure to take back out anything you bring in. There is a small, free parking lot at the entrance to park at.

This is one of my favorite short hikes in the area. It's a very nice hike any time of year. It…read moreboasts spectacular views of the mountains, trees and lake. I came here this morning after it snowed the day prior. No one had been up here since the new snow, and my footprints were the only ones to imprint the fresh snow. Coming here alone this morning and connecting with nature by myself brought about feelings of peace and solitude, it was very nice having the entire place to myself. I was very grateful for this moment alone with nature.

One of my go-to beaches in my youth. My friends and I would always go in a large group during the…read moreweek. Carpool and hike in what we'd need for the day. Nostalgia set in visiting so many years later. I felt there was less beach this last time around. I really wouldn't recommend packing heavy with coolers and heavy umbrellas. My Tommy Bahama cooler chair and portable umbrella saves me every Summer. It's a rocky little hike and I wouldn't recommend taking younger children. It was a great day date and we are looking forward to visiting again next Summer as this season closes. Tip: Get there earlier to find parking and claim a spot on the beach. Please help keep Tahoe blue and pick up after yourselves!!! We packed other visitors trash in with us. It's a shame!

What used to be one of the best beaches in Tahoe has become one of the worst. Went today on a…read moreThursday, and there was trash everywhere!!! Makes me sad. Humans have ruined this beauty. Seriously how hard is it to "pack it in, pack it out." Don't come here if you're going to leave trash everywhere. Also parking used to be free now it's $12. They also added another parking lot, which is so bad because this is a very small beach it can not ahold all those parking spots. Still can not believe all the trash left on this beach. Shame on those people.

Great trail for leaf peeping this year…read more Trails were well kept and easy to navigate in this out and back trail network by the river

Description: 40-acre park area. Amenities: picnic tables, handicap accessible fishing pier, river…read moreaccess ramp for non-motorized watercraft, decomposed granite walking paths, trailhead parking lot, enclosed portable toilets April thru November. Dogs are allowed off leash at all times. (Carson City Parks & Recreation) No water fountain.