The short list
| Hike | Length | Surface | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Shore Trail | 3 miles one way | Paved, flat | Families, bikes, strollers |
| Chimney Beach and Secret Cove | About 2.4 miles round trip | Dirt, steep on the way back | A beach day on foot |
| Monkey Rock | About 2.5 miles round trip | Dirt, steady climb | A lake view in an hour |
| Flume Trail | About 14 miles one way | Dirt, cliff edge | Mountain bikes, with a shuttle |
| Mt Rose summit trail | About 10 miles round trip | Rocky, to 10,776 feet | The big day |
| Tahoe Meadows | Short flat loops, 8,700 feet | Dirt and boardwalk | Kids and wildflowers in July |
When does the snow melt?
The Mt Rose sensor tells us when the high trails open. This table shows each winter, from the first day with 12 inches or more on the ground to the last.
| Winter | First day with 12 inches | Last day with 12 inches | Days with 12 inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-19 | Nov 28, 2018 | Jul 1, 2019 | 216 |
| 2019-20 | Nov 26, 2019 | May 23, 2020 | 180 |
| 2020-21 | Nov 17, 2020 | May 7, 2021 | 172 |
| 2021-22 | Oct 24, 2021 | May 25, 2022 | 213 |
| 2022-23 | Nov 7, 2022 | Jul 4, 2023 | 240 |
| 2023-24 | Nov 18, 2023 | Jun 2, 2024 | 196 |
| 2024-25 | Nov 22, 2024 | May 30, 2025 | 190 |
| 2025-26 | Oct 14, 2025 | May 16, 2026 | 173 |
A typical winter first reaches 12 inches on Nov 15. Last winter, the snow reached that mark on Oct 14, a month early. It fell below that mark 2 weeks ahead of a typical year. The deepest snow since 1998 was 232 inches on Feb 21, 2017.
Snow left on the trails
| Date | Winters with 12 inches or more, out of 27 |
|---|---|
| May 15 | 22 |
| Jun 1 | 12 |
| Jun 15 | 7 |
| Jul 1 | 4 |
East Shore Trail
The paved, nearly flat trail runs 3 miles from the Incline Village end of SR 28 to Sand Harbor. Bikes, strollers and leashed dogs can use it. The trailhead lot at 1102 Tahoe Blvd charges by the hour. Full guide: East Shore Trail.
Chimney Beach and Secret Cove
Park in the Park Tahoe lot on SR 28. It costs a flat $12 from 7 AM to 7 PM. The trail runs about half a mile to Chimney Beach and on to Secret Cove, with 272 feet of climb. It is steep on the way back. Guide: Hidden Beach, Chimney Beach and Secret Cove.
Monkey Rock
The short, steep trail climbs from the Tunnel Creek trailhead to a granite rock shaped like a monkey, with a wide view of the lake. It is about 2.5 miles round trip. Dogs on leash.
Flume Trail
The bike route runs from Spooner Lake north along the cliffs above the east shore to Tunnel Creek. About 14 miles one way. Most riders use a shuttle.
Tahoe Rim Trail, Mt Rose segment
The trail starts at the Mt Rose Highway summit, 8,911 feet, and climbs to 10,776 feet. About 10 miles round trip. In 12 of the last 27 winters the sensor still held 12 inches on Jun 1, and the summit holds snow longer.
Tahoe Meadows
The flat loops at 8,700 feet across the highway from the Mt Rose summit trailhead are good for kids.
Before you go
- Smoke: check the fire and air page.
- Snow: high trails can hold snow into June. See the snow report.
- Roads: Mt Rose Highway for the summit trailheads.
