Hiking Trails - North & South Lake Tahoe

The most famous of hiking trails are the Tahoe Rim Trails. They are on the edge of the mountain and overlook the Nevada border. (See below). We also have a list of short hikes. Before starting any hike, be sure you know where you are going, have a map, and can get that information from the local visitors bureau or forest service office in Lake Tahoe. If you need some gear before you go, you can shop online for hiking gear at our store.

Stateline Lookout

From Hwy 28 on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, turn north on Reservoir Drive, just east of the old Tahoe Biltmore Casino. Turn right on Lakeshore Ave and left on Forest Service road 1601 (by the iron pipe gate). Park in the parking lot just below the lookout. During the summer the lookout is staffed with knowledgeable volunteers. Superb views of the lake can be seen through the free telescopes located here. A short self-guided nature trail, located by the lookout, explains the history of the north shore of Lake Tahoe.

Prey Meadows/Skunk Harbor

Take Hwy 28 from Hwy 50 north approximately 2 miles. Look for an iron pipe gate on the West Side of the highway. Park in one of the turnouts along the highway and do not block the gate. Snow free in early spring, this is a great walk through a mixed conifer forest with filtered views of Lake Tahoe along the way. Look for the remains of an old railroad grade along the way, built in the 1870's as part of the network to supply timber to Virginia City. When you reach a fork in the road, you have tow options. The left fork leads to Prey Meadows, which is blanketed with many varieties of wildflowers in the spring. The right fork leads you to Skunk Harbor, a small picturesque cove that offers great swimming and sunbathing in the summer.