North Tahoe Regional Park

The North Tahoe Regional Park on the northern end of Lake Tahoe is recreational land that caters to a variety of interests, one of which is the urge to hike with your best buddy. The park features 8 miles of paved intersecting trails within its boundaries and adjacent public lands to create an almost endless chain that can be customized to your hiking style and time. Add to this the many unsigned dirt side trails that will appeal to those who want to get off the beaten track and explore.  There's even a 3/4-mile interpretive nature trail that describes the flora and fauna, providing feeding and mating habits, where favorite nesting locations can be found and other details. 

There are 6 named trails that arise or connect near the main gate, but arguably the most popular is the Pine Drop Trail, a 1.2-mile paved out-and-back path that meanders its way from its trailhead through a mildly hilly landscape of tall pine and cedar forest. Its highest elevation change is about 141 feet, and it's shady and pleasant throughout. The park provides handy dog waste bags and receptacle along this route, and you'll notice many plants thriving in the relative shade. 

North Ridge Trail boasts the highest elevation at 6,200 feet and is often shared with mountain bicyclists. Tall Trees Trail is about 1/2 mile long and follows along with the lovely Snow Creek for much of the way. Lake Ridge, Lake View, Cedar and Manzanita Trails amble through fields and meadows along the sunny shores of the creek and lake, featuring lupine, paintbrush, and other flowering plants, and is where you're most likely to spy some of the many species of wildlife living here. Chickadees and hawks share the trees, and bears and small mammals forage for their food below. 

As you begin your adventure on the trails at North Tahoe, you'll notice that every intersection contains a sign and map so you can plan your next turn or the best way back to the parking lot, where you'll also find a pawsome off-leash dog park, in case Fido hasn't had enough exercise! 

This is a set of trails that is worthy of repeat visits!