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If you don't know where Cascade Lake is: If you're driving south on Highway 89 toward
South Lake Tahoe, there's an amazing stretch
of road just past Inspiration Point -- you're on top of a ridge heading straight toward Lake
Tahoe, with Emerald Bay on the left, and Cascade Lake on your right.
I'd visited Cascade Falls several years earlier, back in 1999. But that was in
late November, when snow covered the ground, and icicles formed in the creek.
Today was a warm day in June, and while snow still clung to the higher reaches of
the surrounding mountains, there was none to be found on the trail today.
When I had come last time, the trailhead parking was closed because of the onset of winter. I
made the mistake of parking at Inspiration Point today, even though the trailhead parking
was open. To be honest, we had planned to hike to Eagle Falls/Eagle Lake, but the parking lot
for that hike was completely full. So we went for Cascade Falls instead.
The Bay View campground was nearly empty, a far cry from D.L. Bliss, where we were staying.
At the trailhead, there's a place to register for permits for those heading into the
Desolation Wilderness (to the right). But if you're just going to Cascade Falls, you don't need
to register.
Cascade Lake
The trail winds its way slightly uphill for a short time before reaching a ridge above Cascade
Lake. To the left looms Lake Tahoe itself. The trail heads right, up and down rocky terrain,
with the lake below and mountains above. Soon we could see Cascade Falls in the distance,
flowing briskly into the west end of Cascade Lake. The trail then continues around the edge
of Cascade Lake, toward the top of the falls.
Cascade Lake
The trail pretty much disintegrates into a patchwork of use trails and rocks at the top of the
falls. Basically, just wander around, marveling at the fast-flowing Cascade Creek. As you might
guess, you can't really see the falls from the top very well. But it is a nice place to watch the
creek rushing by, and take in the views of the mountains and Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe. We
sat down on the rocks for a little snack and watched several groups of hikers come and go,
some of them dousing themselves in the water.
Cascade Falls
Cascade Falls
After our break, we headed back the way we came. As the afternoon wore on, shadow started to
overtake the falls. This is a hike probably best done in the morning, since the falls face east.
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