Lake Tahoe, Natural Beauty in all seasons
65Outstanding Natural Beauty
Big Water The Jewel of the Sierras
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful Alpine lake set at 6250 ft in the Sierras It is just over half an hour drive from Reno, Nevada. The lake itself, is shared by California and Nevada. It is a spot on the elbow of the map outline of Nevada.The lake is about 12 miles across and 22 miles long and the tenth deepest lake in the world. The amazing thing about Lake Tahoe is the wonderful clarity of the water and the sheer beauty of its surroundings.
All four seasons are enjoyed at the lake even though Summer is little short and relatively cool. Winter is a wonderland of snow and ice, Spring is riot of wild flowers and Fall shows seams of yellow Aspen glowingly displaying the creeks that run down into the lake. There is no outlet to the sea, instead the Truckee River runs into Pyramid Lake in the desert north of Reno. It leaves Lake Tahoe via Fanny Bridge in Tahoe City so called because people bend over the parapet to look at the huge trout swimming in the pools below. Many people hire rafts to drift down the river to the River Ranch near Alpine Meadows and beyond.
In Spring the Aspens are so intensely green that they are almost painful to behold. As the snow recedes out pop the delicate Alpine flowers, tiny blue lupins, white phlox and mariposa lillies, yellow kingcups in damp meadows and majestic, poisonous delphiniums line the foot paths.
Summer is a time when the mountains loose their snow cover and take on a more imposing craggy appearance. The cool mountains are a retreat for people from the roasting hot valleys below. It is rare for the temperatures to exceed 80' F.
Here are some photographs taken on walks around Tahoe with dog walk-ons by Otis or Sasha the white wolf, owned by my friend Sean who took many of these photographs and has allowed me to share them with you.
Other aspects of the Lake
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I am very fortunate. indeed. Thanks for your comment
Gyps. leave your husband and take me to all these wonderfull places.
Incredible beauty on display! Glassy Summer Lake and Emerald Bay in general are exquisite. Your photos are perfectly shot and clean as well. I have never been to Lake Tahoe but have often been told about its beauty. Thank you for sharing.
Wish I had read your hub earlier. I stayed at Reno for two days just to watch and play roulette. I could have gone for Lake Tahoe. But I love Yellow Stone Park which is quite a distance away.
You make my day. Wow!
M, A,D He might not like it! Thanks anyway.
Hi James, Most of the photos were taken by my hiking friend,Sean he has a very nice Cannon camera. Great aren't they? Thanks for the comment.
hafeezrm. So sorry you missed out.......next time!
Kushal. Thanks, my friend
Simply amazing. No wonder so many people go to visit. Though I must say from the photos, I'd love to simply live there.
I am very fortunate that I do. Thanks for the comment, Frieda.
This is so beautiful, Gypsy! I never made it to Lake Tahoe, though I lived in Vail, Colorado for 10 years.... Boy, did I miss out!
Hi Jodi
Sorry but you did! Never mind, Wales makes up for it! Hope you are enjoying the great summer
In the 70's my Mother used to tell me "get out of the water, your lips are purple". As a child Tahoe was our yearly summer vacation spot, I would swim in the lake until I was half frozen (hence the purple lips). I loved going there. It looks just as beautiful as the day I last saw it. Thanks for the Hub.
Swimming in the lake is not for the faint hearted! You were obviously a tough young man. A lot of development has been going on but some of it is for the better for example South Lake is being spruced up and a lot of the old shacks removed. Thanks for the comment, Botterguy.
Gypsy Willow - Your description of the seasons at Lake Tahoe are very poetic. I especially liked how you described the greeness of the trees. Is Sasha your dog? Very cute!
Hi Dawe, Sasha belongs to my friend, Sean who took many of the pics in this hub. She is almost all wolf. We have dog beach near us so the dogs have a great time in the water. My dog is Otis, she is half black lab and half oozzie heeler. They are both wonderful hiking companions. In fact I wouldn't hike without a dog as there are bears, coyotes amd mountain lions around. Thanks for the comment by the way.
Hi Gypsy Willow. The drive from Reno to Lake Tahoe is exciting with all the twists in the road and at some point you have a panoramic view or Reno. These photos are incredibly beautiful. Did you meet any bears or coyotes on your hike with Sasha or Otis?
Now they are inspecting boats for zebra mussels which they say are the size of a spec of dust?
Hi Raven King
We often see coyotes and in 15 yrs hiking we have only met a bear face to face once. Otis took no notice and didn't even bark. Never met a mountain lion yet, thank goodness.
Zebra mussels are the current problem at the lake, Every boat has to be inspected befoe it's launched. Read your hub on Reno earthquakes. Things seem to have settled down again. Did you feel them?
Fantastic photos Gypsy - I have linked to you from my Lake Tahoe hub.
Thanks, Litany notch I appreciate that.
Whoops! I drooled on my shirt from just looking at your pics, GW. I made up my mind: My goal is to one day live there one day. Ever since I saw The Godfather, I've been wanting to go there. I usually take an annual trip to Vegas and the Canyon but I haven't once gone to Lake Tahoe. I want to at least go and visit this year. You're so lucky to have lived there.
Hi dohn121 Do come and visit, it is gorgeous all year round. Hope you make the trip! Thanks for the comment.
We lived at Tahoe for 15 years. Truly beautiful!
Thanks, stargazer00, thanks for stopping by. Hope you still get to visit this jewel of the Sierras.
Hello Gypsy:
Welcome aboard as a follower.
A few year ago, I rode my motorcycle from Sacremento, over Donner pass on my way to Reno.
There is no doubt about, Lake Tahoe is a gorgeous site to see.
I camped overnite on the N. end. Don't remember if it was a National Park campground or not.
Did a little site seeing the next day.
I did alot of gold prospecting in the Northern Sierras.
The scenery is awe inspiring is some areas.
Very Nice "hub."...:-)
Thanks for the comment qwark. Glad to be aboard. I live at the North End. Gold prospecting is fun in Nevada. I never travel anywhere without my geological hammer!
Absolutely beautiful pictures.Great Hub!
Hi Michael, thanks for coming by. Glad you enjoyed our photos.
This is the first hub of yours I should have visited - such fabulous photos - brings back memories, as I flew around there some 13 yrs ago. I'd love to take Rach, my wife there and get to see those incredible icicle sights.
Hi Jamie, welcome back to Lake Tahoe. It is amazing how beautiful frozen water is, it takes on so many forms. Hope you get to take Rach there, but she may prefer to lie on the beach under a summer sun! Tahoe summers are perfect!
Beautiful pics - I was googling for Lake Tahoe, as wanting to go this Xmas - see your pic here is so so tempting - definitely going to book now! Great blog, thank you.
I've been to Lake Tahoe twice, and each time my breath is taken away. You forgot the mention the log cabin Mcdonalds that's near the lake. Thanks for the hub.
Also, isn't there a lake monster?
Hi Amanda, hope you enjoy your visit. Incidentally I am a great fan of Sir Anthony and often wonder if he swings by the Lake on his days off!
Hi A.A. glad you have been to Lake Tahoe and you have been able to indulge in a McDonald's with Tahoe cabin style. I'm trying to give them up!
As for a Monster, Tahoe Tessie is supposed to be lurking in the depths of the Lake but I haven't sighted her yet!
That's great, WOW. I have never been but I do love the Lake too no matter what time of the year. We have a nice one not too far away, but it is not Lake Tahoe, this looks very beautiful!!
Thanks for appreciating this delightful lake and dropping by. It is truly wonderful.
Your pictures are amazing!
I took some but the best were taken by my friend Sean. Thanks for the visit.
Not Telling 2 years ago
Gypsy, you go such beautiful places!