While in Lake Tahoe, we asked a local what she would recommend to friends and family to see while in the area. She mentioned the Eagle Creek Trail and Eagle falls areas and Taylor Creek. She said that the Kokanee Salmon have started to run back up Taylor creek to spawn, and there are great fall colors there too. If we're lucky we may get to see a bear fishing too! We saw this a while ago in Alaska, fantastic! She added that Buckeye hot spring would be a good visit too, particularly if we're headed south.
We had a fantastic experience hiking up to Eagle lake, in to the Desolation wilderness, starting early- the trailhead is next to a super popular state park, Emerald Bay, so fills up quickly. The trees and granite are fabulous, and the fall colors added an extra punch.
Susan and Ginger on th trail to Eagle Lake, Desolation wilderness.
Eagle creek trail, Desolation wilderness
Ginger Lake Tahoe
Eagle creek trail, Desolation wilderness
Eagle creek trail, Desolation wilderness
Returning from the Emerald Bay area, we did stop near Taylor Creek despite the crowds. The Aspen in the area were gloriously golden in the sun, and indeed there were kokanee swimming upstream. I was a bit shocked at how small they look- about the size of trout. I would have liked to see a bear, but seems like just the wrong time of day. Headed back, near the congregation of families with strollers, dogs, bikes and kids running around, a Ranger came running up the path like a maniac, hollering at people to get back. We got to see our bear! And a circus of people running towards and away from the scene. Sorry, I wasn't fast enough to get a photo of that!
Kokanee Salmon spawning in Taylor Creek, Lake Tahoe
Leaving town, we did head to Buckeye hot spring with anticipation of a solitary wild soak, hahaha! The route took us through some fabulous areas of fall colors. The town of Markleeville had a great little coffee shop with a parade of people chatting about the happenings of the area. Seems that "leaf peeping" is a thing here too :)
The hot spring was rather busy, but we did find some time to soak in one of the almost hot spring in the morning- expectations reset!