First off, a lot of people yelping on this particular subject are confused. Pyramid peak is a 9100+…read moreft peak which can be hiked to from a few different areas. People are reviewing the creek/falls tat has absolutely nothing to do with the peak or hike itself. The route we use, which im not giving away, is a 7.6 mile out and back. And it is brutally steep. One of the harder hikes I've done since it gains over 39oo ft of elevation. The views from the top are fantastic! Can see a piece of the lake Tahoe and many others. You can also see Sierra at Tahoe as well as ice house... I do not recommend unless you have decent cardio.

Quads burning like never before, I took off my hat as I inhaled the undeniably clean, fresh air at…read morejust under 10,000 feet. Looking down at the other mountain peaks made me realize that if I had ever used the word "breathtaking" to describe anything else before, I was surely mistaken. Just a few ways to describe the view and the feeling of accomplishment after hiking Horsetail Falls and scaling Pyramid Peak = awe-inspiring, hair-raising, heart-stopping, and overwhelmingly thrilling! Simply amazing. I just can't believe that I did it! (sigh) There are many ways to get up to Pyramid Peak and if you like, you can drive half of the way up on the backside but my favorite way is one of the hardest ways to get to the top. You have to start at the bottom and hike all the way up. You can park by Twin Bridges right off of Hwy 50 and pay a small fee for parking. You will also need a day permit unless you choose to backpack and stay overnight, in which case you'll need an overnighter permit. The first half of the hike is the Horsetail Falls trail. Depending on which variation of that trail you choose, there will be moments of a gradual climb and moments of practically rock-climbling. On a hiking scale, this trail has been rated a level 5 (very difficult) in some areas but there are definitely more moderate alternatives. Tips: - If you want to make it to the top of Horsetail Falls to proceed onto Pyramid Peak, and back to the base before sunset, you better hit the trails no later than 7-8am in the morning. - Take into strong consideration the people that you're hiking with. This will determine pace and possibly cause your group to split into two once at the top of Horsetail Falls. One group will choose to journey up to the top of Pyramid Peak (another couple of hours of hard-core hiking and climbing) and another group will stay behind to re-coop. Every time I've hiked this peak, we have split into two groups. - Wear GOOD hiking boots (that are well broken into), dress light (bring a windbreaker or trash bag for the wind & snow at the top), and bring a water bottle and water filter. - Do not hit this trail without wearing serious sunscreen and a good hat. Everyone gets burned at the top! Also, if you know that you're going to do this hike, do yourself and everyone else a favor by physically preparing for it. You are going to be hiking and climbing ALL day! The Horsetail Falls hike will take at least 3-4 hours (sometimes 5 hours depending on your group) and the Pyramid Peak stretch will be another couple of hours. Then, you have to hike back down and while it is faster, it's much harder on your knees. Regardless of the shape that you're in, this hike WILL humble you. It's not for those who wake up one morning and decide - I am going to do a killer hike today! If you do that, you will pay the price and probably not see the top of Pyramid Peak. The first time a group of us hiked Pyramid Peak was several years ago. We opted to drop-in through Echo Lake, took a boat ride across to the western side, and backpacked down towards the top of Horsetail Falls, which is also the base of Pyramid Peak. After whipping-out our sleeping bags, we crashed. Needless to say, no one had trouble falling asleep. In the morning, we ate and hit the trails! I'll never forget that first Pyramid Peak Hike. If you don't want to carry a windbreaker with you, a trash bag is a great alternative. It gets chilly towards the top of the peak (wind + snow), so you can turn the trash bag into a pullover. Quick and easy! And when you head back down from the top, the trash bag turns into a great butt cover for sliding down the snow! It's awesome! The following years, we decided to camp in the Sierra's before heading to Horsetail Falls. Since we had a big group, our goal was to hit the trail by 7ish. I've done this hike more than a handful of times but I learn something new every single time. Additionally, I discover new scenery that I didn't notice the year before. Some years, I was in decent shape and other years, I thought I was going to collapse from exhaustion. It's a crazy hike but also, wonderfully rewarding! As my military Dad often said to me when I was growing-up - No pain, no gain! It builds character! It'll put hair on your chest! Uhhhh, I can do without that last one!

I was in town in December right before Christmas, where the Tahoe area had gotten enough of a surge…read moreof snow to be able to give skiers and snowboarders a good time. My wife and I went up with 3 dogs, two small dogs which we own and a much bigger pitbull mix. I took one of our small dogs and the pitbull mix on a couple mile hike on the trailhead off leash and they had a great time. Even with the snow you could tell whomever oversees the trailhead does a good job maintaining the area. The dogs got super tired running around and of course I probably got tired before then, but the hike was not too challenging especially with my gore-tex boots. This is definitely a good dog friendly and fun and free option to get out there that is not affiliated with the main resorts.

Beautiful trail and easy for those not looking to climb…read more Not a ton of markings or signage but we found the water, followed it to the bridge, and enjoyed watching the water flow. No wildlife views but plenty of beautiful scenery.

Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Wrights Lake is a sparkling sapphire gem that…read moreoffers breathtaking natural beauty and a wealth of outdoor recreation opportunities. Located off U.S. Highway 50, 22 miles east of Pollock Pines at an elevation of 7,000 feet, the lake boasts majestic mountain vistas and is home to an abundance of wildlife, including bears, mountain lions, deer, and bald eagles. Visitors can experience the fresh, pine-scented air, fish the lake's fertile waters, and let their troubles drift away as they gently rock in rhythm with the swaying pines. It is a perfect place to paddle and camp! Check it out here: https://www.paddlingcalifornia.com/Wrights_Lake.html

Wow . Wrights Lake is some kind of beautiful. Pristine, gorgeous lake in the Eldorado National…read moreForest. It is off the beaten path and secluded. Parking is limited. The road to the lake is gravelly and natural. A day use permit is required. Every time I visit Wrights Lake, the beauty and natural grandeur of it all just humbles me. Darn gorgeous! The mountain range of the Sierra Nevada and Desolation Wilderness is visible from the lake. The forest of pine and fir trees line the lake's perimeter. The lake is about 40 acres with an average depth of 5 feet. No motorized vehicles are allowed. There are nearby campsites which need to be reserved. But beware of the rattlesnakes and bears. No lie. Additionally there are nearby hiking trails heads and a 4 wheeling trail.

this place is absolutely breathtaking but the hike to the springs literally took my breath. the…read morehike was so hot and difficult and i was the idiot that wore flip flops to go hiking... also, none of us in the group expected the hike to be this difficult so only a few of us brought water. what a bad idea. towards the middle of the hike, we had to ration our water out, sort of like those movies where people are stranded in the desert. but once getting to the springs, it's really beautiful. there's a small cliff where people can jump off of. but be careful because the edge is really rocky and the rocks are sharp and someone can really hurt themselves.

One of the most secluded yet still fairly easy to access places in the Basin…read more Don't get me wrong - the hike can be brutal, especially if you decide to go in the summer (my suggestion? Go in late spring after the snow is mostly melted or mid fall before the snow starts). The trail / fire road is wide, but not at all paved. It generally consists of baseball size rocks, and oh, did I mention it generally runs at a forty-five degree angle? Yeah, that flat stretch at the beginning of the trail is deceiving. This isn't a "one hour, sure you can wear flip flops and bring the stroller" type hike. This is a HIKE. Wear sneakers. Bring plenty of water and snacks. Stop often to enjoy the waterfalls along the way. And when you've conquered the trail and arrive at the springs bask in the glory of knowing you made it in one piece (and the knowledge that the walk home is all down hill!)

If you're looking for an alpine hike with meadows, lakes, wildflowers, snow capped peaks and…read morerushing streams, then a hike to Winnemuca Lake offers all of this within a 5-7 mile hiking excursion. Parking is located off Highway 88 at the Carson Information station (ranger staffed during certain hours) and costs $5. It's a small lot but there's overflow parking a few hundred yards up the road. Hiking to Winnemuca Lake and back is about 5 miles RT and it's a gentle elevation change uphill to most of the lake. Lots of rocks and roots so I bring my hiking poles for stability. During the summer (timing dependent on the snow pack of the previous winter) you're treated with a spectacular wildflower show en route to the lake. Once there, there are plenty of spots to relax and enjoy the view. I like to stop there for lunch and then push on up to Round Top Lake which is more strenuous (but short) 1 mile further up the trail. From there you will get to enjoy more sweeping views, rushing streams and a path that skirts part of the lake. Doing these two lakes as an out and back is about 7 miles but since I explored the meadows and lake shore at Round Top my tracker told me I did over 8 miles. It's a gorgeous hike that, while does get crowded, isn't overly packed-you can find some trail solitude. The PCT intersects the trail and there are hike in camp sites for those who want to extend their adventure. No water so be sure to bring enough. This is about 2 1/2 hours from the Bay Area depending on where you located but absolutely worth a day trip out!

Not a difficult hike, but these trails take you some of the most beautiful alpine mountain areas…read morethat you will ever encounter, especially when all of the wildflowers are in bloom. Breathtaking is the best way to describe the scenery that you will encounter hiking along these trails. We started our hike at the Woods Lake trailhead passing Round Top Lake, Winnemucca Lake and ending up along the Carson Pass trail. It was mid-August, but the snow-capped mountains were just melting, so there were mountain streams everywhere and the wildflowers were in full bloom. The temperature was perfect in the mid-seventies. The skies were blue with puffs of wispy white clouds. This was a hiking experience that I will remember for a lifetime.

It is a Beautiful small Alpine Lake. The Campground is small 12 sites but worth the trip to enjoy…read morethe lake, hiking trails and the the view of the Sierra Mountains that surround the lake. The campground is well maintained and the Ranger and Camp Host are very helpful and fun to visit with.

Beautiful and quiet. Nice little trail that goes around the lake. Great little lake for Kayaking.read more

It's been years since I last hiked this loop on a hot Summer day in July…read more This is a steep trail and there are parts that narrowed out, but hubby and I walked single file through those parts. We spent a day hanging out here, but we stopped halfway for a break and lunch in some shade. There are plenty of little rivers that flow below the waterfall. Hearing the waterfall kept us chugging along because we were ready to cool off. This wasn't the biggest waterfall, but we enjoyed our time in it. It was very private once we actually got down there and so happy we were in our own little oasis; we had the whole place to ourselves. With all the precipitation we received this year I can only imagine how beautiful and full everything is. I'm planning on revisiting this Summer to see how everything has grown.

Beautiful hike, spectacular views with a waterfall, this hike offers up rewarding treasures that…read moreonly Genoa can deliver. We set off on this trail that starts in the historic town of Genoa at the end of Carson Street which is north of Main Street (same side as the Genoa Bar - look for the Orchard House). You will see a gravel parking lot and the Genoa Loop Trail sign at the start of the trail. We opted for the 6 mile round trip to the waterfall adventure on this particular day as we headed out. With an elevation gain of 1410ft and many switchbacks be sure to carry plenty of H20, wear appropriate footwear, maybe bring something like a granola bar or fruit and as always pack out, what you pack in. The trail is well maintained, but can be narrow & steep at times with bicyclists and furry companions allowed on the trail too. Please be sure to bring leashes along with doggy mutt mitts aka poop bags, there is a trash can and mutt mitts at the beginning of the trail but better to be prepared and there are no poop fairies. Remember everyone is out there to enjoy the beauty of the Great Outdoors so ENJOY IT! We thoroughly enjoyed this hike, stopping along the way to take in the spring flowers, beautiful views, grab our binoculars to look upon Genoa, the Carson River & Jacks Valley. We crossed the creek throughout the trail with foot bridges, butterflies, and the reward of our hiking adventure was the Genoa Waterfall as it cascade over as we listened to it surrounded by the pine trees. So get out there, this is a GREAT waterfall hike with stunning views added bonus you are already in the quaint historic town of Genoa so why not check out the cute town and grab a bite to eat or libation. Enjoy and #moveyourbody!!

To sum up this backpacking trip.. My body was crying, but my eyes were basking in a euphoric haze…read morefrom all the amazing views. If you're thinking about it but on the fence, let me tell you! This was totally worth the 12 mile roundtrip ankle-killer, stream-sloshing, snowsliding, find your own offtrail path, freeze-your-booty-off night(s), hike to Lake of the Woods. 6 miles sounded like nothing, but when you're walking on rocks, then switching uphill thru snow and back, it eventually tires you out on the way back. The trail is interesting with so much variety. You start out on a dry trail along the hills, then follow the rocky path along the streams from the melting snow, then boom, snow everywhere, and again dry patches and what looked like a fairy tale woods setting, snow again, until you finally reach the secluded semi-frozen Lake of the Wood. You also pass Taramac Lake view on the way to Lake of the Woods. Early May still had so much snow and the campsite markers were buries, so we had to just pick a spot and settled down. No fires allowed! Because.. Desolation Wilderness. It was extremely cold at night without a fire, especially surrounded by snow and a semi-frozen lake. Definitely too cold to even be outside and enjoy the stars, which we attempted but had to retreat after a while. Temps dipped down to about 40° in early May, so be prepared. In the morning, the secluded views were amazing. The fresh, crisp air, baby blues of the lake peeking thru pockets of ice, and the sounds of nature were a dream to take in. We even saw several marmots waddling about. Well worth it all!

6 miles round trip if you take the boat taxi across Echo Lake…read moreModerate hike. One of the bigger challenges of this trail is finding a parking spot. After cruising the 3 parking lots for 30 minutes I gave up and parked a quarter mile down the road. I arrived at the boat taxi just as they were leaving so I was able to hop right on. Even tho the ride is short, I'm happy to pay the 10 bucks as you get to check out the cabins on Echo Lake and the little canal between the 2 lakes is cool. It helps to be a fan of granite expanses to appreciate this hike cause there's a lot of them. And the trail has a lot of pure rock on it, but happily not a lot of rolling rocks. Still you gotta watch your step, and it's moderately steep. But Ay yi yi, the views are fantastic! And after just 30 minutes of hiking you hit the turnoff to Tamarack Lake, which looks like a totally nice lake for hanging out. But I trudged on. Did I mention this trail is popular? I passed about 4 groups, everything from college kids that looked like they had never been on a hike before to 70 year old ladies who were just cruising. And tons of couples and grizzled old hippies types. My times before on this trail I have gone to Lake Aloha, another awesome lake. But I wanted to go somewhere new so I took the Lake of the Woods turnoff in the saddle area. One passes thru a pretty little meadow, then up a short ridge, then down down down. You can see Lake of the Woods almost immediately form the crest, but boy, it's a long ways down there. But once I arrived I was happy to discover that the lake is large enough to accommodate 15 to 20 groups, with lots of big rocks to choose from. Also a couple of areas of sandy lake entry, good for swimming but they were right on the trail, so no privacy for picnicking. I continued on and found a great little spot for hanging out and swimming, a nice flat granite area. The lake is beautiful and you get that feeling that you are right on the top of the world. You should also give yourself enuf time to explore around the lake, there's some good stuff. I was sad to leave this little bit of paradise but I needed to get back before the last boat took off (6:30) otherwise it would mean an extra hour of hiking. I was a bit stressed coming out as I didn't see any other hikers going my way on the trail and the boat taxi won't come out for less than 3 people. I shouldn't have worried, there were 17 people waiting when I arrived. Notes: Bring your cell phone for calling the boat taxi, the phone wasn't working when I was there. Good Really beautiful lake Lots of good lounging rocks Good swimming & easy entry Great vistas Boat ride is fun Can bail out and go to Tamarack Lake if tired Varied beautiful scenery on trail Bad Very popular Lots of parking that is already filled up by the time you arrive due to being so popular Boat ride is $10 one way First half of trail very rocky Last half mile of trail is steep downhill, meaning a steep uphill climb out