South Lake Tahoe photo ops

I'll be spending a week in South Lake Tahoe, CA starting next week,

and I was hoping some of you could direct me to some of the nicer

places to photograph while there. I should be able to sneak away

for a few hours each morning while the family sleeps, but I don't

want to spend that time just driving around. I'm mainly interested

in landscape photography, but I could be persuaded to consider other

subjects as well.

 

Thanks

Curtis, depends on what you're after--lake, forest, granite or meadow? For lake views, the road that circles the lake has opportunities as does Fallen Leaf lake. To get some elevation take Kingbury Grade or better yet the cable car at Heavenly Valley. If you can get to the top of Monument Peak(quite a hike from the top of the cable car, there might be 4WD tours that will get you closer or hire a horse & guide at the stables by the airport) will give you a panorama of the lake, surrounding mountains, the desert(this is really cool in winter!) Also Caples Lake on the road to Kirkwood(I think its Hwy 88) is nice. There is a beautiful meadow where you turn on to 88 from the road to Christmas Valley & Meyers. Granite is everywhere! For architecture, try nearby Genoa, Nevada. Work up an appitite, theres lots of good places to eat. You'll actually save $ shooting LF here, since film is cheaper than playing slots or blackjack and your chances of winning(with photography) is greater!---Cheers!

Take highway 50 west to 89 south to 88 west to get to Hope Valley, Caples Lake, Kirkwood, and Silver Lake. This is a pretty area. The edges of the Desolation Wilderness are also gorgeous. You can drive to Echo Lakes and take a boat taxi across the lakes. Probably the most easily accessed "beautiful spot" is Emerald Bay. You'll likely recognize it from the many published pictures out there (<a href="http://www.mikenortonphotography.com/emerald%20bay%20lake%20tahoe%206.jpg">here's an example randomly chosen from a Google search</a>). There are a couple of trailheads that get you above the bay in a pretty short hike. Hope this helps....

I lived most of my adult life at Lake Tahoe, albeit on the other, not-so-crowded, side of the lake. Here are some of my favorite places:

 

Emerald Bay. The mouth of the bay on either side is great, as is Eagle Falls, Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm, etc. If you get some morning clouds then sunrises can be really spectacular. Shortly thereafter the bay will fill with boats this time of year.

 

East Shore. There are some wonderful stretches of rocky shoreline beginning in the area of Zephyr Cove and extending North all the way to Crystal Bay. Nice early in the day as it is the only time the lake is flat and because you can look across the lake at West slopes catching the early morning light.

 

Highway 89 south of the lake between Luther Pass and Hope Valley and then west on 88 to the Carson Pass/Kirkwood area. Beautiful subalpine scenery.

 

Mt. Rose Highway between Incline Village and Reno. The Tahoe Meadow area near the top has nice views of the lake and, though it might be a bit late, good wildflowers. You have to hike a short distance from the car to get the nice views. The first mile of the hike to Mt. Rose has wonderful views and is a gentle hike.

 

A note about photography at the lake shore. The lake is very, very big. Those peaks across the way, which stand out in your mind's eye, don't stand out so well on film. My best results have usually been with longer lenses, except at Emerald Bay where wide angles work well. For near/far compositions along the shore I have almost always needed long lenses on a view camera.

 

Gary DeWitt

Just south of Lake Tahoe on US395, take hyway 88 over Carson Pass to Jackson, then 49 south to Angel's Camp, the NE on 4 over Ebbett's Pass then north to Makleeville via 88 and back to 395 where you started. You will see country most people don't know. Unspoiled wilderness adjacent to the Passes. I quarrantee many photo sites.

Bob

Don't forget about Virginia City, it's not too far away from Lake Tahoe. Take the drive over the mountain to Virginia City.

Thanks everyone for your answers. You probably saved me several hours of mindless driving around.

Curtis,

There is a nice walk through meadows to Nevada Beach, just into Nevada past the Casinos. Turn left on Kahle Drive and park. You can also take a right at Kahle drive and go up the hill to the county park. There's a trail on the North side of the soccer field that leads into a stream environment with groves of aspens, some rock, and a few peeks at the Lake. Also, try the Zephyr Cove area, another 5 miles North (or East) on 50. Watch out for the no parking parking lot next to the diner, they tow. There's a bunch of boats in the cove that are interesting, and reach out into the Lake a bit.If you look on the maps for the Tahoe Rim trail it's really not too hard to get on; access on all the highways leading out of the basin, some, like Kingsbury Grade and Luther Pass, are probably pretty close to where you will be staying. Have a good stay.