Find fall color at Lake Tahoe

My pal Pettit Gilwee writes that it’s leaf peeping season 
in California’s North Lake Tahoe – almost. 
"The trails and roads in North Lake Tahoe are just
 starting to show signs of autumn as the area’s aspens
 transition from a sea of green to a brilliant shade of yellow."
 I love this time of year in Lake Tahoe--autumn's tinges 
of yellow and red create such a lovely contrast with Tahoe’s
 solid wall of pines and firs.

It’s a good time to slow down. “Whether you’re out hiking or
 paddling via kayak, when you see that striking contrast 
in the trees, you just have to take a moment and soak 
it all up,” says Executive Director Bill Hoffman of the
 Incline Village Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau. According 
to Hoffman, the last two weeks of October and the first 
two weeks of November are when the region’s trees really
 start to change over.

Where to see the show? Locals recommend road cycling, 
inline skating and running up Blackwood Canyon on the 
West Shore, located three to four miles south of Tahoe 
City. Blackwood’s paved road takes you from 6,200 feet lake
level to Barker Pass at 7,200 feet.

Eagle Rock, a Tahoe landmark, sits just south of the
 Blackwood Canyon entrance and is an easy 15-minute 
hike to the top, offering panoramic views of the region.
 (The California Tahoe Conservancy recently completed a 
new trail to the top, which has significantly reduced 
pollutants into Lake Tahoe.)

For a scenic alpine lake edged by aspen, check out 
Spooner Lake nine miles south of Sand Harbor State Beach 
(just outside of Incline Village). You’ll find miles of 
hiking trails, as well as a good starting point for those
 venturing into the backcountry for backpacking excursions.

On the Tahoe Rim Trail-- Lake Tahoe’s most popular hiking,
 mountain biking and equestrian trail--you’ll wind through
 more fall color. The 165-mile dirt path circles Lake Tahoe,
 with eight trailheads making it easy to access. Try 
jumping on the trail at Tahoe Meadows on the Mt. Rose 
Summit (Highway 431), at Tahoe City off Fairway Drive 
behind the town’s commercial core 
and at Barker Pass up Blackwood Canyon, the paved 
road is open to cars until they snow flies.

Details: In fall, look for the 2-for-1 dining deals,
 with coupons in area newspapers; significant savings
 on lodging; and many special events. TheVillage Center
 in Incline Village is hosting Oktoberfest October 15
 with German food, beer, live music by Bigg Funn and 
raffle prizes. Furry friends are invited to the Dog 
Days of Fall Dog Party October 15 in Incline Village.
 The 7th Annual Tahoe City Harvest Festival runs through
 October 22 and has a month long Scarecrows on Parade 
decorating downtown Tahoe City. The Lake Tahoe 
Women’s Wellness Weekend is November 12-13.

For more, head to www.GoTahoeNorth.com. And, 
for the best bargains, check out the website’s 
Cool Deals, which is updated daily and includes 
savings on lodging and 
activities.

Fresh snow at Lake Tahoe ski areas

Adding to an already heavy snowpack, North Lake Tahoe got two feet of new snow in the last 24 hours. That makes more than 14 feet of snow falling at the ski resorts’ higher elevations since late October, with more snow on the way.

“It started dumping heavily last night,” said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “This morning we woke up to blue skies and a ton of fresh powder, perfect conditions for skiing and riding.”

Most North Lake Tahoe ski resorts have opened, including Alpine Meadows, Boreal Mountain Resort, Donner Ski Ranch, Homewood Mountain Resort, Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, Royal Gorge Cross Country, Soda Springs, Spooner Lake Cross Country, Squaw Valley
USA, Sugar Bowl, Tahoe Cross Country, Tahoe Donner Cross Country and Tahoe Donner Downhill.

Diamond Peak Ski Resort opens Thursday, December 16, and Granlibakken Lodge opens for skiing Friday, December 17. Granlibakken’s sledding hill is open.
Details: To find deals on skiing, lodging and activities, along with special events, is available at www.GoTahoeNorth.com; hit 'Cool Deals'.

California secret: Lake Tahoe's best beaches

When most of California is baking in triple digit heat, what better time to go to the beach? But no, not the crowded coastline—it's so crowded, nobody goes there anymore (our apologies to Yogi Berra). You should head for the sublime beaches of California's North Lake Tahoe. We got some great ideas from locals about their beach faves:

Best beaches to dip your toes in the water: Moon Dunes Beach in Tahoe Vista, an open sandy beach guarded by a grove of tress and sand dunes or Sand Harbor in Incline Village, with a scenic granite outcroppings and long sandy beaches.

Best beach playground: Tahoe City’s Commons Beach has a big playground and expansive lawn area, perfect for resting in between dips.

Best beach for families: Kings Beach State Recreation Area is one of the area’s most popular spots for families, where a wide stretch of sand is ideal for picnics and playtime (with adjacent playground and barbeques). Parasailing, kayak rentals and paddleboats are also available from a number of shops in and around the recreation area.

Best beach for pooches: Have a canine in your clan? Then head to Patton Beach, just west of the marina in Carnelian Bay or Kaspian Recreation Area on the West Shore, just south of Sunnyside.

Details: North Lake Tahoe is a 45-minute drive from the Reno Tahoe International Airport, two hours from Sacramento International Airport and just over three hours from San Francisco International Airport. For lodging reservations, recreation and event details, call North Lake Tahoe at 877/949-3296 or visit www.GoTahoeNorth.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: GoTahoeNorth/Zikas