NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - San Francisco and Northern California - page 192

Exploring Lake Tahoe

Beauty, size, and a unique alpine setting distinguish Lake
Tahoe from other lakes in the US. It is sometimes compared
to Russia's Lake Baikal despite much more lakeshore
development. Lake Tahoe offers outstanding pedestrian and
bike-accessible views from a loop trail, which took some 20
years to build as well as a variety of water-based sports. There
are distinctive historic mansions built as summer getaways for
the rich; and a choice of California or Nevada views from
casino rooms at Stateline and the Crystal Bay Corridor.

Winter Olympic Games, Squaw Valley, 1960

Squaw Valley
8 miles northwest of Tahoe City.
Tel [phone]. ∑ squaw.com

and terrain. The most rugged
segment is on the western
side of the lake. Squaw Valley landed on the

international ski map as host
of the VIII Winter Olympic
Games in 1960. This was the site
of the first televised Olympics
and an opening- ceremony
snowfall arrived just in time to
ensure a sufficient base for
downhill events.
Today, the Olympic Flame
and original Tower of Nations
still remain at the valley's
entrance. This all-season resort
includes more than 30 lifts,
shopping and restaurants
facilities, and accommodation.
Winter skiers and snow-
boarders can expect an
average of 450 inches of
annual snowfall. High Camp,
at 8,200 ft (4,500 m) above sea
level, has magnificent views of
Lake Tahoe. There is also a 1960
Olympic Winter Games
Museum, a year-round ice
pavilion for skating, an indoor
climbing wall, a swimming
pool, guided hikes through
slopes of wildflowers, and
full-moon night walks to the
valley floor.

Sports on the Lake
Fishing trips are a popular
form of recreation on Lake
Tahoe. Visitors may prefer a
challenging search for one of
the large Mackinaw trout that
swim up to 400 ft (122 m)
below the surface, or angling
for rainbow or brown trout or
Kokanee salmon.
Motorboats, some with water
skiers or wake boarders in tow,
speed across the lake and those
in search of a further adrenaline
rush can also rent waverunners.
Sailors and kite surfers are
challenged by winds coming
down from the Sierra peaks.
Hang- and paragliders enjoy
views of the blue waters from
above, while canoes and kayaks
are a silent way to explore
hidden coves and shorelines.
Scuba divers seeking
underwater forests or monster
trout can enter the 100-ft (30-m)
visibility freshwater lake from
sloping beaches or kayaks.

Hiking along one of Lake Tahoe's
many trails

Tahoe Rim Trail
Tel [phone].
∑ tahoerimtrail.org

Hikers, equestrians, and
mountain bikes can travel on
most stretches of the eight
segments that complete the
Tahoe Rim Trail's (TRT ) 165-mile
(266-km) loop. The TRT is open
from snowmelt, usually in June,
until the first major snowfall,
normally in October. Some of
Lake Tahoe's most scenic vistas
are accessible on this trail, which
features beautiful pine and
aspen forests, huge grey granite
boulders, alpine meadow
wildflowers, and streams. Alpine
elevations range from 6,300 ft
(1,920 m) to 10,300 ft (3,150 m).
Moderate trails, with an
average ten percent grade, are
indicated with light blue
triangular trailhead signs, though
the TRT can be accessed almost
anywhere along its well-
constructed dirt path. The
pedestrian-only 1.3-mile (2-km)
Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail
at the north end is a quick
introduction to TRT scenery Kayaking on the clear waters of Lake Tahoe