On the north side of the bridge, you can park and hike a short distance to Lily Lake, a small but photogenic lake literally cupped in the mountains. Opposite the creek, parallel to the road, is a jumbled mountainside of loose boulders and stones, wonderful for casual rock hopping.Ī concrete bridge marks the end of the driving portion of the road. The road continues west, paralleling Glen Alpine Creek, for another mile or so to Lily Lake. Across the creek, you can also see private homes-people fortunate enough to be able to look out on the waterfall any time they want. From the top, the view of the rapidly cascading water as it falls down the lush canyon is noteworthy. You can park off the road here and hike down to the base of the waterfall. While the falls aren't nearly as large as 500-foot Horsetail Falls (which are located at the south end of the Desolation Wilderness, visible from Highway 50, near Twin Bridges), they are, nonetheless, impressive and beautiful. The first waterfall you reach, before arriving at Lily Lake, is aptly named Big Falls, a 75-foot spill that cascades over rock slabs that resemble steps. The joyous, rolling waves of falling water are an impressive and unexpected sight. Frankly, even if Fallen Leaf Lake didn't exist, the waterfalls would be worth a visit. This road leads to Lily Lake, a trailhead for hiking into the Desolation Wilderness and to the pair of waterfalls. In the winter, the lodge is closed but you can park and enjoy the marvelous views.Ībout a half mile from the end of the road, which comes to a dead end, you can turn west on another narrow (all the roads around here are extremely narrow, so be careful while driving) paved road, lined by large log railings. While much of the lake is private property, you can continue to drive to the lake's west end where, in the summer months, Fallen Leaf Lodge offers accommodations and a marina. Rather than enclosing the lake, the reflection of the surrounding mountains seems to enlarge the scene. I think it is the "mirror effect" of Fallen Leaf Lake that makes the view so remarkable. As you drive, you can see incredible scenery, including Cathedral Peak (the southern shoulder of Mount Tallac) rising over the lake, its 9,785-foot crown mirrored in the lake's crystal waters. The road narrows as it reaches the east end of the lake and, after passing into a residential area, you catch your first glimpse of the lake. About three miles from the turn-off, you travel by a lovely aspen grove and open meadow, both of which are spectacular in the fall, when the aspen leaves have turned gold. ![]() The drive from the highway to the lake is pleasant, passing through large pine trees. The entrance to the 206-unit campground, which is open from May to October, is located about a quarter of a mile north of Fallen Leaf Lake Road, off Highway 89. ![]() Forest also operates a developed camping area at the northeast end of Fallen Leaf Lake. Forest Service Visitors Center and Tallac Historic Site. A marked and paved road is located directly across the highway from the entrance to the U.S. ![]() In fact, if not for a fluke of nature, namely a small stretch of land that separates Fallen Leaf from Tahoe, the area could easily have been another Emerald Bay.įallen Leaf Lake is located five miles west of Highway 89, immediately north of Camp Richardson on Lake Tahoe's southwest shore. Two of the more accessible and scenic waterfalls in this region are Big Falls (also known as Lower Glen Alpine Falls) and Modjeska Falls (also called Upper Glen Alpine Falls).īoth of these falls are part of the Glen Alpine Creek system, a snow melt and spring-fed stream that flows into Fallen Leaf Lake and eventually into Lake Tahoe via Taylor Creek.įallen Leaf Lake is a picturesque, alpine body of water that rivals Lake Tahoe in beauty. ![]() In Nevada, where water is a precious commodity, it’s always a special treat to stumble on a waterfall-even if it’s just over the border in California.
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