Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Views · Wildflowers

This is a wonderful short family-friendly route, close to a major trailhead. The trail surface is smooth and well-maintained with bridges across the streams, there's almost no elevation change, and the scenery is beautiful. There are also interpretive signs along the way, and plenty to explore.

This isn't a great running trail, as all types of hikers young and old meander slowly along the path.

Start at the Tahoe Meadows Trail and look for the easily-found sign behind the bathrooms. You'll share the trail with the Tahoe Rim Trail for a short stretch, then branch off, continuing to follow the great signage along the way.

The trail will travel through meadow, then into forest, then back into the meadow, with views down the mountain and over the Tahoe Lake basin. The interpretive signs along the way point out key features of the habitats here, and keep visitors interested in the surrounding ecosystem. There are also plenty of wildflowers to be seen, and fish in the streams that you'll cross on well-built bridges.

Just keep following the well-marked trail, and you'll return to your starting point.

Look for fish in the streams, frogs along the banks, butterflies and birds. You'll most likely see many wildflowers as well.