Eagle Falls: Lake Tahoe at its Finest
Climbing down to Eagle Falls
We found some magnificent views!
One of the best places to appreciate the sublime beauty of Lake Tahoe is from Eagle Falls, located on the southwest end of the lake. In addition to offering magnificent views of nearby Emerald Bay, the falls are quite spectacular.
The falls are easy to find, located adjacent to State Route 89, about. To get there, you basically park in one of the nearby lots and walk toward the sound of rushing water.
Eagle Creek pours out of the trees from the western side of the highway and flows under the road. The creek spills over a steep, granite bench to Lake Tahoe below.
Because of the above average snowfall last winter, Eagle Falls is bigger than normal. In fact, I’ve never seen so much water in the falls. Water has spread over the rock shelf at the head of the falls, covering boulders and trees that are usually on dry land.
The creek’s waters are intensely cold and fresh. From the top, you can look over the edge and see the creek waters spilling down the hillside.
Last weekend, my son, daughter and I had a chance to marvel at this raging torrent of water. The creek poured over the rocks with such intensity that there was actually mist in the air.
Because of the size of the falls, we couldn’t jump over them (as in drier years) or easily wade through them. To get to the other side, we had to walk back to the highway, cross over the stream, then wind our way through the rocks on the opposite side of the creek to find the best viewing spots. But it was worth it.
As we sat on the rocks, listening to the rushing water and the birds, looking out at Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, we talked about how beautiful it was and how we could sit there forever.
What a great place.—-Richard Moreno
