Best Snowshoeing Trails in Truckee & Lake Tahoe
For many reasons, wintertime can be particularly challenging for those in addiction recovery. You see less and less of the sun each day and are forced to stay indoors at times, making you vulnerable to winter blues. That is unless you live here in Truckee, California in the Tahoe National Forest where there are ample, year-round outdoor activities, like snowshoeing, for tenants of The Ranch to enjoy.
Snowshoeing is a slow-paced wintertime hike that requires a minimal amount of gear and allows one to connect with the natural world, which is a powerful way to support continued sobriety. Furthermore, there are substantial health and social benefits of outdoor activities including personal and spiritual growth, a better quality of life, and greater life satisfaction.
The following 5 trails are only a VERY limited selection of our area's massive trail system, so you will have to excuse the “microscopic” collection we pulled together.
Castle Peak - Located off of I-80 at the Boreal Exit, Castle Peak offers many places to explore on snowshoes. The varied terrain makes this spot an excellent choice for winter activities – snowshoeing, backcountry skiing, cross-country skiing, etc. Explore along the open valley or follow the well-worn trail to Castle Pass for stunning views of Donner Summit. *Parking: A SNO-PARK pass is required to park (get one ahead of time at Tahoe Mountain Sports) and parking capacity is limited on weekends.
Emigrant Trail - Pick up the Commemorative Overland Emigrant Trail off of Hwy 89, north of Truckee, near Prosser Dam. The trail takes you across gently rolling hills and open valleys. This quiet trail is great for wildlife watching, so pack a pair of binoculars.
Mount Rose - There are so many places to go snowshoeing in the Mount Rose area, and the options are endless. Popular spots include Tahoe Meadows, Chickadee Ridge, and the Tahoe Rim Trail. All can be accessed from NV 431, the Mount Rose Highway. Plus, Nevada Nordic grooms for free in this area and at Spooner Lake! The grooming is community supported by your generous donations.
Spooner Lake - An easy 2 mile snowshoeing loop is a great trail to take the whole family on. It’s also a great starting point for folks looking to snowshoe farther into the backcountry.
Donner Memorial State Park - Start at the Donner Memorial Visitor Center and grab a map of the park. Explore the winter trails along Donner Lake and take in the stunning views of snow-capped mountains around Donner Pass. You can turn this into a longer day by hiking into Coldstream Canyon.
Page Meadows - This popular snowshoeing area is south of Tahoe City on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Rim Trail takes you up into these beautiful meadows. There are quite a few interconnected trails in this area providing many options for adventuring on snowshoes.