Top-5 Best Fall Running Spots in Lake Tahoe:
As we enter September and are just three weeks away from the official beginning of fall, my mind has already started thinking about my favorite places to explore as the temperatures cool down and the leaves begin to change colors! While you really can’t go wrong on choosing a great place to run or hike in Lake Tahoe, here are my top-5 favorite places to run in the Fall (in no particular order):
- Page Meadows
I lived in Tahoe City for five years and ran in Page Meadows a lot, but there is no better time to run there than in the fall! The leaves are absolutely beautiful and there’s something magical about traversing the meadow in the cool, calmness of autumn. The Tahoe Rim Trail runs right alongside the meadow, but there are trails that run through it as well. This area is most easily accessed from the Ward Creek trailhead. Highly recommend.
- Desolation Wilderness
Minnesota is referred to as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but I always feel that way about Desolation. There are so many incredibly beautiful and serene lakes to experience in this wilderness area. One of my personal favorites is Fontanillis Lake, which can be accessed by the Eagle Falls trailhead in Emerald Bay. Another favorite is Lake Aloha, which can be accessed from the Echo Lakes trailhead in South Lake Tahoe. There’s no wrong answer for how to explore Deso (as the locals call it)!
- Big Meadow
Yet another of the wonderful meadows Tahoe has to offer! Big Meadow, as the name implies, is bigger than Page Meadows but also sits in the Tahoe Rim Trail. There is a large trailhead with lots of parking available, and the meadow isn’t far from the trailhead. Of every option listed here, this is the most beginner friendly.
- Warren Lake
The purple, orange, and pink wildflowers are popping around Warren Lake this time of the year! The trail down to the lake is a bit strenuous, but all the more secluded and worth the trip! However, if you don’t want to go all the way down to the lake, the views from up above are still epic!
- Frog Lake
Talk about an incredible spot! Utilizing the Warren Lake Trail, you climb up until you intersect the Red Dot Trail, which will take you all the way down to Frog Lake. Once there, you will take in beautiful views of the lake along with the 1000’ high Frog Lake Cliff hovering behind it. And, if you’re so inclined, you can stay at the Frog Lake Backcountry Huts while you’re there!
I recently told a friend that the options in this region are endless for great places to run and hike, but if you aren’t sure where to start, these choices are a great place to get started. You may be exhausted afterwards, but I guarantee this: you won’t regret the adventure!
