Secret Snow-white Beach

Cross Country Skiing to Kiva Beach in South Lake Tahoe

03.09.2017

Greater California

Ready to hit the snow and the beach? An easy kick-and-glide from Emerald Bay Road to Kiva Beach leads through a snow-white postcard to the vast blue of Lake Tahoe. For novice cross-country skiers, it doesn’t get much easier than this 2-mile (round-trip) adventure. You can even forget all your stuff—rentals are available at nearby Camp Richardson. From Hwy. 89, set out through the pine forest, following existing tracks heading northeast or carving your own freshies.

After about 20 minutes of gliding, your ski tips will touch the lake’s shoreline. Wrapped in its wintertime garb, Lake Tahoe looks a lot different than it does in its summer bikini. You’ll see no motor boats, jet skis, or paddle boards—just the empty immensity of Big Blue. Ski along the shoreline as far you wish: Head right to the gorgeous lakefront mansions of the Tallac Historic Site (some date back to the late 1800s), or head left to Tallac Point with its head-on view of 9,738-foot Mount Tallac.

Trailhead: From the Y in South Lake Tahoe, drive north on Hwy. 89 for 2.5 miles to its junction with Fallen Leaf Road and Heritage Way. Park near this junction in pullouts on the right-hand side of Hwy. 89. Rent gear at Camp Richardson. Note: Check weather report before embarking on this adventure.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

Napa's Wild Side
It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.
View
Been There, Dome That
Surrounded by granite domes, craggy peaks, and miles of hiking trails, the High Sierra landscape of Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park is famous for good reason. For a truly grand view, take a short hike to bold—and bald (except for snow at times)—Lembert Dome.
View
Wapama Wows
Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.
View
Muir Woods Through the Backdoor
A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.
View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

Inn-spiration Point!
For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.
View
A Thousand Steps to Paradise
A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.
View
Sponsored
Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula
The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.
View
Lookout for This View!
Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!
View