Lake Tahoe: Mt. Tallac & Mt. Freel

My friend Julie and I are both passionate about getting our families into the outdoors, but this trip was just the 2 of us. And without our kiddos in tow, we were able to hike faster and farther, covering over 23 miles on day hikes in 2 days.  

Day One

This first picture shows the incredible view from the summit of Mt. Tallac looking out toward Lake Tahoe.  The 360 degree views from this summit are all incredible. This was a 9 1/2 mile round trip, taking us about 6 hours. We got a late start (enjoying a morning of sleeping in just a little!) so it was a little hot for most of the hike, and the trail and summit were crowded.  

Most of what we had read about this hike rated it as difficult, but we didn't find it too hard.  Was I breathing heavy? Yes!  Was I slowing down on the steep parts? Yes!  Was I sweating? Yes!  Did it feel great and was it worth the climb? Indeed!

The trailhead is very well-marked, right across from Baldwin Beach.  Parking is limited, but my tiny car squeezed in.  This photo shows Mt. Tallac as seen from the beginning of the hike, which starts at 6,480 ft.  Mt. Tallac summit is 9,735, so we got to hike up for over 3,000 feet.  Only one part is steep with switchbacks.  


The great thing about this hike is that you get nice views all along.  You are at first along a ridge with views to Fallen Leaf Lake, and you pass Floating Island Lake and Cathedral Lake (2.3 miles in).  After Cathedral Lake the steep part of the hike starts, and you have great views of Lake Tahoe.  

This is the trail below the summit, looking back toward the Cascade Range. 

If you don't mind a crowded trail experience, or if you could get up here on a weekday or late season (Sept./Oct) to avoid the crowds, this is an awesome hike because of the incredible views and the wildflowers.  

Day Two

With the warm-up hike to Tallac, we were excited to do Mt. Freel next..  We heard it was longer than Tallac.  The route we took was at least 14 miles by our calculations of signs & maps.  Whereas Tallac was in the wilderness boundaries and dogs and bikes were not allowed, our trail to Mt. Freel was shared with bikes and dogs, but how sweet it was that there were way fewer people than Tallac. 

The first 4 miles of the trail
go up and down through trees.  From Armstrong Pass it becomes mostly uphill, through hill-sides of gorgeous sage, lupine, & other wildflowers, and neat rock formations. 

  

The last mile to the summit is the hardest. It is steep. As seen to the left, the trail is rocky and weaves in between low-growing brush,

then the last 1/2 mile is above the tree line. 

The views from up here on Mt. Freel were gorgeous - here's our Darn Tough feet looking at Lake Tahoe.  We could also see Mt. Tallac where we'd been the day before, so that was nice.  (When we had been on Tallac we had seen this peak where we now were resting!)

I really enjoyed the hike up to Mt. Freel.  It wasn't easy; we were both pretty tired and even stiff and sore that evening and the next morning.  But the trail scenery was superb, there were few people, and the view from the top was excellent.  

Tahoe is not an area I know very well.  I am used to the Sierras and Yosemite, but I really enjoyed Desolation Wilderness (for Mt. Tallac) and the views of Lake Tahoe and other ranges you can get from these 2 peaks we bagged!  I highly recommend either peak if you're in the area, or pull them both off in 2 days like we did!  We ended our weekend with Stand Up Paddleboarding on the lake- but that is an adventure for another post!