Rangers Lead Free Weekend Hikes : Tahoe Parks Not Asleep Under Blanket of Snow

Picture this: You roast hot dogs around a campfire, then cruise on cross-country skis around a snowy meadow under a full February moon over the Sierra Nevada. You end the idyllic evening with a dip in a hot spring.

This is one of the 26 free weekend hikes that state parks rangers around Lake Tahoe have planned for fall and winter. The summer park crowds might be gone, but state parks are not idle when the snow flies.

Five state parks around Lake Tahoe, part of the Sierra District of the state Department of Parks and Recreation, began their fall and winter hike schedule Oct. 19 with a difficult, five-mile trek to the top of Hawkins Peak, south of the lake.

Series Ends April 12

The series ends April 12 with an easy four-hour driving and walking tour, with snowshoes or cross-country skis, to learn about the history of the Donner Camp, near Truckee north of the lake.

In between are easy, moderate and difficult hikes that include mountain and lake scenery, railroad and Donner Party history, cross-country skiing lessons, winter animals and an overnight survival lesson in a snow cave.

Beginning in January, most of the hikes require snowshoes or cross-country skis, which can be rented at Truckee or Tahoe City. There are no hikes scheduled in December.

At least two rangers, trained in the area’s natural and human history, go on each hike. More are added if more people show up; some hikes have attracted as many as 100 people, said Betty Keechler, administrative supervisor for the park district.

The most popular hikes are “the ones that combine hiking with history,” she said. “Anything to do with the Donner Party always gets a big crowd.”

During the winter of 1846-47, 81 immigrants, led by George and Jacob Donner, were forced to winter near what is now Donner Lake and Donner Summit, east of Truckee. Thirty-six died from cold and starvation amid accusations of cannibalism.

“I’ve noticed a definite increase in public interest in history in general in the last couple of years,” she said. “The Donner Party they just adore.”

Donner Camp history tours are scheduled Jan. 11 and April 12. On Jan. 12 and March 16 are snowshoe “survival hikes” tracing part of the escape route of the Donner Party members who were able to reach help in Sacramento and exploring how the stranded pioneers passed the long winter.

Also popular are hikes Nov. 16 and April 5 to learn about railroading in the Sierra Nevada. The November hike is on foot; the April one on snowshoes. Both also include a talk at the Donner Memorial State Park Museum, three miles west of Truckee, with slides about railroading equipment used in the snow.

The cross-country skiing hikes range from sessions Jan. 5, Jan. 18, Jan. 26 and March 15 to introduce beginners to the sport with an easy, two-mile, no climbing practice walk to difficult ski hikes Feb. 8 and March 9 up steep mountains.

The evening hike Feb. 22 begins with a hot dog roast around a campfire at Grover Hot Springs State Park, four miles west of Marleeville, an hour’s drive south of Lake Tahoe. The hikers on cross-country skis will coast one or two miles around Hot Springs Meadow under a full moon, with the ranger pointing out star constellations and coyote serenades. The evening ends with a dip in the hot springs pool.

A more arduous outing is planned March 22 and 23: an overnight survival hike at Sugar Point State Park. Hikers will travel four miles, then sleep in a snow cave to learn and practice survival techniques.

Keechler said most of the hikers are young adult couples, but several of the hikes attract families. Most participants come from the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and the Reno-Carson City area, she said.

Sugar Pine Point and Grover Hot Springs state parks are open all winter for camping.

“We don’t get heavy use in the winter. You get some people camping, but we’re never full,” she said.

More information can be obtained from the Sierra State Parks District in Tahoma, along the west shore of Lake Tahoe.