View from the top

A view of Lake Tahoe from Stateline Lookout.
see all photos »

I knew it was a pretty lake - deep blue, clean water.  I had even swum in it the day before.  But, Wow! My first view from high above the lake was truly a memorable experience.

My brother and I and a colleague of my husband decided to visit Stateline Lookout, California/Nevada, on the north tip of Lake Tahoe.  We had a guidebook that provided directions: "From Highway 28 on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, turn north on Reservoir Drive just east of the old Tahoe Biltmore Casino. Turn right on Lakeshore Avenue and left on Forest Service Road 1601 (by the iron pipe gate). Park in the parking lot just below the lookout."

Wow!

My brother admiring the spectacular lake view.
see all photos »

Reaching the lookout site is easy, but the guidebook didn't mention that Forest Service Road 1601 would likely be closed!  So we walked up from the "iron pipe gate" about a mile to reach the lookout. It is uphill but not too steep, and the road is paved, so the walk is not at all treacherous. And the views are worth the walk, believe me.

The lookout is the site of an old fire tower, where lookouts used to watch for signs of forest fire.  The tower was removed after modern technology improved the methods for early detection of forest fires.  Superb views of the lake are available at every turn and there is a self-guided nature trail, located by the lookout, explaining the history of the north shore of Lake Tahoe.