Sweet Trail: Tahoe’s Sugar Pine Point

Sugar Pine Point names a forested promontory perched above the western shore of Lake Tahoe, and a state park that offers 10 terrific miles of trail.

Sugar pines are, alas, a bit scarce these days. In the 1870s, there was lots of logging in this part of the Tahoe Basin. But one of Lake Tahoe’s first residents, “General” William Phipps, protected his 160 acres--the homestead now called Sugar Pine Point--from logging.

Later, turn-of-the-century banker Isaias Hellman built what was called “the finest High Sierra summer house in California,” a mansion overlooking the lake in what is now Sugar Pine Point State Park. Now known as the Ehrman Mansion (for a later owner), the house is open for guided tours in summer.

While the state park has about two miles of lake frontage, most of the park--and the best hiking--is inland along General Creek.

The parks in the Sierra District (around Lake Tahoe) manage to maintain a fairly active interpretive program, including some guided hikes. Call (916) 525-7232 for more information and a schedule.

Directions to trail head: From Tahoe City, drive nine miles south on Highway 89 to Sugar Pine Point State Park. The park is some 18 miles north of the community of South Lake Tahoe. Once inside the park, head for General Creek Campground. The trail, a dirt road closed to vehicles, begins at Campsite 150.

The hike: The wide path leads west along the north bank of General Creek. At a signed junction, you’ll spot a trail leading down to a bridge crossing the creek. This bridge, and another two miles farther along General Creek Trail, allow a pleasant loop trip without getting your feet wet.

The trail meanders through stands of Jeffrey and lodgepole pine, and across meadows seasonally sprinkled with lupine and aster.

A bit more than two miles along, when you reach the second footbridge, you can loop back to the trail head via a path on the opposite side of General Creek. Soon after passing this bridge, General Creek Trail dwindles to a footpath, and another half-mile brings you to a signed junction with a side trail leading to Lily Pond. It’s a three-quarter-mile ascent to the pond.

General Creek Trail continues meandering above the creek. About 3 1/2 miles from the trail head, you’ll exit the state park and enter El Dorado National Forest. After more meandering, the trail crosses General Creek (no bridge this time), turns south, then east, and after a mile crosses the creek fed by Lost Lake and Duck Lake.

The trail turns south again and climbs steeply to shallow Duck Lake. Lost Lake, another quarter-mile, is a bit more dramatic than Duck and offers good swimming. On your return to the trail head, you get a good view of Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe / General Creek Trail Where: Sugar Pine Point State Park. Distance: 4 1/2 mile loop, with 300-foot elevation gain; to Lily Pond, 6 1/2 miles round trip, with 500-foot gain; to Duck Lake, 14 miles round trip; to Lost Lake, 14 1/2 miles round trip, with 1,3000-foot gain. Terrain: Lush mountain meadows ringed by aspen and lodgepole pine. Highlights: Creekside picknicing; an escape from Tahoe crowds; a jumping-off place for longer treks into Desolation Wilderness. Degree of difficulty: Moderate to strenuous. For more information: Contact Sugar Pine Point State Park, P.O. Box 266, Tahoma, Calif. 94733, (916) 525-7982.