Tahoe’s Time

It’s Tahoe’s time to shine. Lake Tahoe often gets missed because it follows peak in the Hope Valley. As Lake Tahoe comes into its own, there’s still enough color in the Hope Valley to attract those looking for densely lush color. So, Lake Tahoe gets overlooked.

Color spotter Clayton Peoples, lives within striking distance (Reno), so he has the advantage of getting up to the lake fairly often and notes that Tahoe’s mix of vegetation and elevations, from lake level (6,200′) to the rim, complicate assessing peak, as a variety of tree at a lower elevation may be peaking, while a different variety, higher up, might not.

He mentions the predominant tree at lake level, the black cottonwood, which are now Patchy, as are the lake’s white and mountain alder, willows, and mountain and rocky mountain maple that grow on slopes surrounding the lake. Clayton estimates a week to two before they peak.

Yet, Quaking aspen at all elevations are peaking. A few holdouts remain, “but the majority are sporting yellow, orange, even red. Aspen near CA-89, west of Taylor Creek are holding onto their leaves better than usual, and are at full Peak. This is also true of those along Luther Pass, between Meyers and the Hope Valley,” he asserts.

And, as reported yesterday in Tahoe Nevada Peaks Red, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is now at Peak and glorious.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

This means it’s Tahoe’s time. To see Tahoe’s aspen at their best, go now, but you can expect to enjoy seeing lots of other foliage (cottonwood, maple, alder, willows) at peak in the coming two weeks.

• Lake Tahoe (6,225′) – Patchy to Peak (10-100%) GO NOW!