Walk along the lake at dawn and other Tahoe City, CA Off The Beaten Path Tips

Lake Tahoe sits at 6229 feet altitude. It is a natural lake surrounded by dramatic mountain peaks as high as 12,000 feet. Often people assume that the lake was created like Crater Lake - by a volcano that blew its top and filled up with water. Not so with Lake Tahoe. The Tahoe Basin was created by volcanic activity when mountains were formed that caused the basin to fill up with snowmelt. However there never existed a Mount Tahoe that ever blew its top.

Numerous beach access points are all over the shore. Take a walk at dawn and you'll likely be treated to a beautiful sunrise.

I took this picture on a lovely October morning as I was making a phone call to New York City, and was immediately treated to the sight of a bear walking along the bluff several dozen feet away.

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Most people come to Lake Tahoe in the winter for skiing or in the summer for outdoor summer activities. One of my favorite times for Tahoe is in the fall.

Why? Tahoe, being in the Sierras, gets four seasons, and that can't be said of most parts of California. The fall colors are gorgeous, and this year I managed to make it to Lake Tahoe for peak foliage.

Another reason fall is such a great time for a visit is the lack of crowds. Traffic is lighter. It is easier to make the drive from the Bay Area to Tahoe. Restaurants are easier to get into. Accommodations have a high vacancy rate -- in fact, most places offer major discounts in the room rates in the fall.

I have visited Tahoe two autumns in a row now - in mid October. The weather was beautiful during both visits. Not too cold and not too hot.

Perfect. And perfectly beautiful.

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