Lake Tahoe area waterfalls

Depending upon who you ask, or which source you "google," the 2017 water year in the Sierra Nevada mountains has produced between 164% to 188% of the "normal" snow year. Squaw Valley Resort, north of the Lake Tahoe basin, as seen, as of this writing FORTY-SEVEN FEET of snow this season! That's a lot of snow, and when the weather warms, the snow will melt, and provide California with about a third of the state's water.

Tuesday, May 09, 2017, I took a trip to the Lake Tahoe basin to enjoy the snow melt, in the form of waterfalls.

Photo: Eagle Falls, which is located on the California side of the lake, a little over 8 miles north of South Lake Tahoe. From the parking lot to the bridge over the falls, it's just a half mile hike, with an elevation gain of around 300 feet.

Photo: Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe, as viewed from the road, near the Cascade Falls parking lot. I wanted to hike to Cascade Falls today, but there was too much snow to hike in, unless you were wearing snow shoes. Fannette Island is in beautiful Emerald Bay.

Photo: Glen Alpine Creek thunders down the 75-foot Glen Alpine Falls, just west of Fallen Leaf Lake. You can drive the one-lane road to this waterfall, but keep an eye out for traffic, and be sure to use caution, and turnouts. Fallen Leaf Lake does have a couple of small subdivisions, and a marina at the west end of the lake, not far from the falls.

Photo: Bassi Falls, in all of its glory! If you plan to visit Bassi Falls, I would highly suggest a rugged vehicle, such as a 4x4, as the last mile your drive, before reaching the end of the road, requires a drive of over a mile up a steep, rutted and muddy dirt road. When you reach the end of the road, it's a gentle hike of about a half mile to the falls. As you get near the falls, the trail disappears, so keep an eye out for land marks and piles of rocks that mark the way back to where you parked your truck.

Bassi Falls is best viewed in the afternoon, as the bright sunlight makes the falls even more spectacular. If you want to get closer to the falls, you'll have to wade. Be careful, as the rock is slippery, and the shallow water is cold, and flowing swiftly.

Photo: These two young ladies are definitely enjoying the falls. I haven't seen this much snow melt for over 10 years!

Photo: Bassi Falls, as it thunders down Upper Bassi Creek. You can hear the roar of the falls a half mile away from your parked truck.

You can drive most of the way to Bassi Falls, but I suggest if you plan to drive on the dirt forest road that leads to the trail that you have a 4x4, as you'll most likely encounter ruts, washed out areas, and lots of mud. Be safe and enjoy!

Unlike Yosemite, Lake Tahoe isn't noted for spectacular waterfalls, but after a snow year such as 2017 has been, the waterfalls have put on quite a show!