Tahoe Meadows is a piece of Heaven on earth, less than 30
minutes from Reno (or from Incline Village - depending on which direction you're driving). The preserve has a parking lot at its south end and roadside
access on the north end. Be cautious as Mt. Rose Highway (SR 431) is busy. In
winter four-wheel drive with snow-tires or chained vehicles may be required.
The parking lot can be tricky to see from the road but
watch for the USFS sign near a set of rusty gates. The parking lot does have a
bathroom, but the north access does not. There are no other services, so be
sure to allow for snacks & water – and rapid weather changes. Leashed dogs
are welcome in all areas.
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| Sharkie ready to walk |
The temperature at the preserve is cooler than the valley
below. This is due to the alpine elevation. I was there on the first weekend of
July, and it was 64 degrees with plenty of sunshine. Small creeks still ran
with cold water. Colorful wildflowers are in abundance. Most of the meadow was still
green.
As it was a holiday weekend, there were plenty of visitors
enjoying the wilderness. Sharkie and I didn’t see horses out while we wandered.
The majority of the other dogwalkers were respectful: dogs leashed. Sadly,
there are always exceptions. It was nice seeing families having fun and even
the bicyclists were friendly.
We spent a decent amount of time wandering the trails,
taking photographs, and watching birds. Ambitious users can take connected
trails to Ophir, which goes over a summit to Washoe Valley. The Meadow trails
are formal with little shade (boards or hard-packed dirt). The mountainous
sections are natural and wind through the forest and meadows.
Overall, it is a great place to spend a day outside.
Below are two links to information about the area. For advanced hikers, there
are other places for hiking, but the Tahoe Meadows is family-friendly.
Tahoe Rim Trail |
Official Guide to Exploring Lake Tahoe's Trails
https://tahoetrailguide.com/hiking-tahoe-meadows-via-mount-rose-highway-sr-431/
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