With summer nearly here, and the mountains finally snow free at moderate elevations, I finally got back into the big mountains for some real high altitude hiking! I chose to spend my Memorial Day Weekend hiking in Lake Tahoe, and the first hike I completed was High Meadows to Cold Creek Trail.
Miles/Elevation:
8.1 miles
1,480 feet vertical gain
About Lake Tahoe:
If you’re from California, you’ve almost certainly heard of Lake Tahoe, or maybe just Tahoe. It’s basically a cult out here, and especially in the Bay Area, it’s a crazy popular getaway for people during all parts of the year. Skiing, hiking, boating, you name it and you can probably do it up in Tahoe!
The largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe itself is about 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, with a maximum depth of over 1,600 feet! This is a big lake in an otherwise dry state, and that is part of the attraction! While the brilliant blue waters stay cold pretty much all year, warm summer days make swimming attractive for thousands.
Situated in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the lake is obviously the centerpiece, but there are a number of cities and towns that surround the star attraction. South Lake Tahoe CA and neighboring Stateline NV make up the largest “urban” area, and a number of smaller towns are situated along the remaining shores of the lake. These smaller towns include Meeks Bay, Tahoma, Tahoe City, Dollar Point, Incline Village, and more.
While there are a number of California and Nevada state parks that manage land in the Tahoe Basin, the main land manager is the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. A part of the National Forest system, the Tahoe Basin Management Unit encompasses over 150,000 acres of public land, much of which is open to all sorts of recreation.
For the most part, you will not encounter parking fees in the national forest land around Lake Tahoe. However, if you venture into some of the state parks that ring the lake, be prepared for parking fees and restrictions.
Getting There:
To access the High Meadows to Cold Creek Trail, you will first need to get to Tahoe. If you are coming from within California or Nevada, driving is probably your best bet. If you are coming from farther away and need to fly, the closest somewhat major airport is Reno, a bit over an hour away. Bay Area airports may offer cheaper flights, but you will then have a four hour drive to deal with.
Once you have made it to the city of South Lake Tahoe, the trailhead is very easily accessible. The trailhead is called the High Meadow Trailhead, and should show right up in Google Maps. From Heavenly Village, it is just over 10 minutes away.
The trailhead is in a residential neighborhood, and most parking is done on the side of the streets. All of the roads are paved to the trailhead, but if you want to cut out about half a mile each way, there is actually an advanced trailhead about half a mile up a gravel road. Sedans and other cars could probably get there, but I elected to park where the pavement stopped.
High Meadows to Cold Creek Trail:
High Meadows Road:
From the trailhead, you have a choice of which trail to take uphill and which to take downhill. I elected to stay on the forest road for the uphill climb, and descend down the Cold Creek Trail. The main reason for this was that I like to get my climbing done sooner rather than later, and the forest road got all the climbing done in about 3 miles, while the other route would spread the climbing over about 5 miles. I chose the steep climb, but it also made the descent easier on my knees!
Always follow basic trail etiquette when on trail!
While I did not know this when I started hiking, there is an advanced trailhead about half a mile up the road, so you may have cars driving past you as you hike. This was a bit annoying, but not really a big deal.
After the advanced trailhead, the road continued on, winding through the woods. There isn’t really a lot to tell about this part of the hike. It’s on a forest road. It’s in a forest. It goes mildly uphill. It doesn’t have a lot of views. Really it’s a slog.
You’re in bear country, so be sure to always be bear safe!
About a mile in, the incline of the road picked up markedly, and the real climbing of the day began. From roughly mile one to mile three, you will gain about 1,000 feet of elevation. This isn’t really a crazy steep incline, but it was my first day at elevation, and I haven’t been hiking everyday, so it definitely got my lungs burning!
Always be sure to follow the 7 Leave No Trace Principles when in the outdoors!
The key is to maintain a steady pace, and find your rhythm where you can control your breathing and exertion. If you are going fast to the point of needing to stop every five minutes, you should really slow down! I’m generally pretty bad at setting a sustainable pace for myself, but since I didn’t have my mountain lungs yet, I didn’t really have a choice!
An awesome hike in the foothills below Tahoe is the Stevens Trail. Check out our write up here!
After just over three miles, you will reach the zenith of the day’s hike. It’s always exciting to reach the day’s high point, but this spot isn’t very exciting. There are views of Freel Peak and Jobs Sister through some trees, but that’s about it. Keep hiking to get to the real payoff!
The hike to Fordyce Falls near Spaulding Lake is another good hike to consider!
From the highpoint, the road turns left and begins hiking downhill. It won’t take long for you to notice the namesake of the road you are on. The High Meadows quickly come into sight, and it’s pretty cool to see honestly. The trees give way to green grass. Streams meander through the grassland, and the views open up spectacularly!
From the High Meadows, you will be treated to the real prize of the day, incredible views of Freel Peak and Jobs Sister. These are the two highest mountains in the Tahoe area, and they stand spectacularly above you from this vantage point! This is a great place to take it all in, set your pack down, and enjoy a break!
The Cold Creek Trail:
From the High Meadows, the best way to descend is via the Cold Creek Trail. As opposed to the road you came up, this trail is a classic Sierra single-track hiking trail, complete with the granite pebbles and sand that you’ll find everywhere in the range!
The descent is gradual, and the trail makes for really nice walking. There are a couple of sections where you might need to pick your spots and watch your step, but it’s generally smooth sailing back down towards town.
On your left, Cold Creek will be keeping you company, as long as it hasn’t dried up before you got there! The creek is generally obscured by brush and trees, but you’ll hear it more than you’ll see it!
After about three miles of descending the Cold Creek Trail, you’ll come to an intersection. Ahead of you, the Cold Creek Trail continues, and to your left, a bridge crosses Cold Creek.
MAKE SURE YOU CROSS THIS BRIDGE!
I know you’ve been hiking on the Cold Creek Trail, but if you want to get back to your car, you need to turn left and leave the Cold Creek Trail from here. Cross the bridge. Immediately after crossing, the trail doubles back upstream, and then switches back to continue downhill.
If you head directly away from the creek, you will end up back at the High Meadows forest road. The shortest way back is to take the single track Columbine Trail Connector which will spit you out right at the trailhead. This trail can be a bit hard to find, but worst case scenario take the road back and add on maybe a quarter mile!
Topdown Lifestyle Rating: 8/10
This is a very nice hike with fantastic views at the end. The Cold Creek Trail is a classic Sierra Trail, and makes for really nice walking. However, I can’t say this is a great hike because nearly half of it is on a forest road. Not only do you hike on a forest road, but during that section there are no good views, the road is really steep, and you may have cars passing you for parts of it. Because of that, this is a trail I recommend if you are in Tahoe, but it is not a classic, can’t miss, Sierra hike.
Pros:
- Great views at the meadows of major peaks
- Easily accessible
- Smooth, easy walking
Cons:
- High Meadows Forest road is uninspiring
- First half of hike is an uneventful slog uphill
- Busy
Alternative Hikes:
Tahoe Mountain Loop – California
Star Lake Trail via High Meadows Trail – California
Freel Peak, Job’s Sister, and Jobs Peak Loop
When to Visit:
While the Lake Tahoe area is a haven for athletes at all times of year, hiking is best done here in the warmer months. Tahoe is famous for its massive snowfall, so trails can be snowed in into the summer.
This hike isn’t super high up, so it should be accessible reliably by June, and most years likely by May. While snow is always a possibility in the mountains, major snowfall generally does not happen until late in the autumn, often November or later.
This hike can be done anytime there isn’t a ton of snow on the ground, and even then could make for a nice snowshoe hike or cross country ski outing! I would personally recommend this hike as well as the broader Tahoe area anytime between June and October.
Links for Further Reading:
High Meadows to Cold Creek Trail – California
David Stincelli
June 27, 2022I have been hiking up to High Meadows for some 50 years. As I am getting on in years I was giving an opportunity to hitch a ride up and walk back. After romping around our old stomping grounds (the meadow was very wet and my boot s filled up with water with every step. In fact, I tripped when crossing Cold Creek and my face landed on a sharp knarly branch coming out of a low stump. Facial wounds have a tendency to produce copious amounts of blood and I was quite a sight. We decided to hike back down on the trail that follows the creek. This was new to us but we thought it would be more scenic. It was, however, it was a little tricky as it was somewhat slippery and difficult for me. I am not sure if it was designated a mountain bike trail, however, they were coming down a break neck speed and the trail was narrow to a point that the riders flying by made it less than enjoyable. All and all I still had a good time visiting the place we used to backpack too and stay for a few days many moons ago. In fact, one of my friends who went had never been there, however, her husband who had died a couple of years before it was one of my buddies that turned us on to the trail decades ago and we took her up there as she had heard so much about it. It was a beautiful day and after tending to the hole in my cheek and taking a long soak in the oversized tub at the motel six we had a wonderful evening.
Kathy
July 25, 2023How long did this hike take?