Fallen Leaf Lake

Visited this beautiful place this June, it was a last spot in our Tahoe trip. Such an amazing ambiance. Clear turquoise waters, surrounded by forest and snowy mountains! Definitely planning to come back to see waterfalls and do kayaking.

Beautiful spot to see the sunset. Not too crowded and very close to where we were camping at Fallen Leaf campground.

Visited Fallen Leaf Lake during our Lake Tahoe trip, and it's a gem at 6377 ft above sea level. The one-way road, though underdeveloped, leads to breathtaking views. The Fallen Leaf Lake Store served as a perfect pit stop. The parking lot and marina offered easy access to the mesmerizing blue lake surrounded by snow-capped mountains.

For water enthusiasts, renting a paddleboat, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard is a must—nothing beats the experience of being on the pristine waters. Fishing is also an option for angling enthusiasts. The place offers hiking trails, a bonus for nature lovers. Do note that during winter, the roads are closed, so plan accordingly.

Overall, Fallen Leaf Lake is a tranquil escape with stunning scenery and various activities. A true gem in the Lake Tahoe region, especially if you appreciate serenity and picturesque landscapes.

This lake is absolutely stunning. Visited this place in mid-July summer 2023. It was amazing to see the clear, sparkling lake and snowy top mountains at a glance. A bit crowded, so if you want to get a good seat, arrive before noon at least. But I think most of people were from the campground right next to the lake. So, fortunately, on a Friday, free parking was easy peasy even though there weren't many parking spots outside the campground. You should walk 5-10 minutes to the lake. The water wasn't too cold for swimming.
And we got to see a mama bear and a baby bear up close here! They hung around the lake for about an hour. We got really lucky!🤩

Beautiful and serene spot. Within 10 mins walking distance from fallen leaf campground.

such a cute little campground. We camp here once or twice a year. The camp hosts are always so friendly and helpful. We love camping here. We like being just off the main lake. It is so peaceful and relaxing. Make sure you hit up the nature preserve. Nice little hikes.

The public area is… public. My recommendation, continue traveling as if you’re heading to Taylor Creek Visitor Center (which I do also recommend), pass that entrance, go over the bridge that goes over a Taylor creek, and then turn left at the snow park. Travel down that road. It’s open May through November. There’s areas where you can park, and walk down to the lake. In the Fall, the Aspen grove is spectacular when the leaves change. Also, follow the road, and if you’re adventurous, you might find the remains of Anita Baldwins Summer home. You can imagine how magnificent it must have been, with the remaining fireplace that is there.

Second time visit. Short hike to a little slice of heaven. It was pretty windy but totally swimmable. Water was warm and relaxing. Water was much clearer than the last visit a few years ago.

I read the previous reviews before visiting this lake, and I assure you it's really a hidden gem in the dense forest around South Lake Tahoe. It is not as commercialized as Lake Tahoe so you will most likely find lesser crowd, especially during morning hours.
There is very limited free parking space in front of the lake but if it's full, you might find it hard to even reverse your car.

Let me warn you in advance that the route to this lake is very narrow and Google maps wasnt very clear on it. A single lane used for 2 way purpose with the risk of falling off the cliff if driver isn't careful. Maybe that's why crowd is limited. However, other drivers were cooperative and we could reach safely. There's another overflow parking half a mile before. If you have a bicycle, park the car here and ride till the lake. Overall, its a must visit. Please reach early.

Kayaking and boating is cheaper here than in Lake Tahoe. Very few people mostly near the shore so you might have the deep waters to yourself. Water was crystal clear ideal for a swim. There's not much space to sit in front of the lake. Hardly any beach area. You may want to hangout in the cafe with lake view.

Really a hidden gem. Nice view in all seasons. Need pay $10 parking fee，if not camping there.

Update:
The first set of pictures I took then in May 2022.
I come back again in June 25,2022. The snow is almost gone, and it is very crowded now. The good side is that the water is much warmer and I can stand in the water and watch those tiny fishes come to bit my toes.

We went for a few hours and used the day parking area. It’s $10 per car and only about 20 spots available. It’s a camping area so it’s populated with people camping. We went on a Wednesday around noon and there was no one at the lake where we walked to. It’s about 10 min from the parking area and a very easy walk. The water is crystal clear and beautiful!!!

This is a beautiful Lake quite large for lakes of course it doesn't compare with its sibling Lake Tahoe just a few miles away. Finally flake is part of fallingly campgrounds. You'll want to visit here they do have day use picnic areas as well as over 200 camping sites. Very close to South Lake Tahoe and contiguous to camp Richardson's facilities. I had an enjoyable four nights day.

A tranquility beauty hidden at the end of narrow bumpy road along the lake. The narrow road has many turnout for two way traffic. Just drive with care. The boat rental is closed until next May. So is the store and cafe. The restroom is still open though. Thanks for the consideration of the owner.
This place has very few visitors. It's a place to calm your mind and gradually soaking in the surrounding beautiful nature. We walk back half mile along the road we came to take lots of pics. The road to Lake Lili is closed as firefighters wrapping up the small burnout in the area.

We literally had the entire lake to ourselves in October. The water is clear and amazing. It's just as cold as Lake Tahoe but on a sunny day it was perfect for paddleboarding, maybe not for swimming.

Visited fallen leaf lake a week ago, it is very beautiful. This is definitely a hidden gem, less crowded and more of nature.People were boating, kayaking, swimming, dog bathing and hiking.

We wanted to hike around the lake, there are various unmarked trail directions make sure you use trail apps, as those are not marked on gmaps. Trail we took went from inside the campground and after a small uphill climb you can see the lake and walk parallel to it. Whole hike was inside the forest. There would be no proper trail marks stay close to lake as much possible. At certain times we saw no one on the trail.

Water was calm, clean and cold. View was scenic. Even we spotted a bear bathing and crossing our trail. I would definitely recommend this place, makes you feel close to nature. Only sad part was tahoe wild fires due to which smoke had covered few mountains. Before planning to visit this place check news!

We did the Fallen Leaf Lake hike in 2022, and it was one of our favorite hikes in Tahoe. Saw a family of black bear, and the lake itself is beautiful. Trail offers scenery of the lake on the outbound, and a nice meadow walk on the way back.

Absolutely gorgeous! I highly recommend the 8 mile loop hike around the lake.

If you’re looking for something shorter, go to the south side and check out the falls. They’re about half a mile from parking.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can climb out onto the falls a little bit. Of course, I recommend good shoes and caution. However, it’s easy to find a safe place to stick your toes in the water.

Beautiful hidden spot. Great for hiking, you can hike right out to the water and dogs can swim! Drive all the way down to the end and theres a great cafe, store, and kayak rentals. Very gorgeous spot and worth the drive in. Would definitely return.

Stayed at the campground for the weekend. This is a really special place with this pristine lake that's worth visiting. I'll spend time here vs Lake Tahoe anyday... 😍

Very peaceful , enjoyed hiking and beauty of the lake and nature around