Top Trails: Lake Tahoe by Mike White

Top Trails: Lake Tahoe by Mike White

Discover classic destinations and lesser-known jewels of the Lake Tahoe area through 59 incomparable hikes.

Lake Tahoe, the jewel of the Sierra Nevada, holds magic for anyone wishing to explore its surroundings: the splendid backcountry on the north side; the sedate western side; the picturesque and popular areas on the south side, including Desolation Wilderness and D. L. Bliss and Emerald Bay state parks; and the relatively undeveloped eastern side.

Follow award-winning author Mike White across some of the most awe-inspiring terrain on Earth. Top Trails: Lake Tahoe describes 59 can't-miss routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists. From an easy 2-mile amble along lakeshore cliffs to an overnight trek on the crest of the Carson Range, you'll experience the best of this beautiful region in eastern California and western Nevada. Explore the famed Rubicon Trail, Donner Pass, highlights of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Pacific Crest Trail, and more.

Inside you'll find:

• 59 favorite routes for hikers, backpackers, and cyclists
• Detailed maps and elevation profiles
• Trailhead directions and "don't get lost" milestones
• Key at-a-glance information, including trail length, difficulty, features, and facilities
• Expert trail commentary

Whether you're looking for a scenic stroll to entertain the kids or a challenging full-day adventure, there's a path for you near Lake Tahoe. For readers ready to hit the trail, this is the guide to have, and for armchair travelers, it's 59 journeys into wonder.

Mike grew up in the Portland suburbs, in the shadow of Mt. Hood. Hood (when the sky in the Pacific Northwest cleared sufficiently to allow shadows). His mother didn't drive, so she, like her small kid, walked everywhere. Mike began exploring further afield when he reached driving age, hiking, backpacking, and climbing in the Oregon and Washington Cascades. Throughout his time at Seattle Pacific University, he polished his outdoor skills even more.

Mike moved to the high desert of Reno, Nevada, after college, where he was captivated to the gorgeous and bright Sierra. This led to many wonderful adventures, including trekking expeditions to the four corners of his chosen state of Nevada. Mike left his last professional work (with an engineering firm) in the early 1990s and began writing full-time about the outdoors. The Trinity Alps, Luther Linkhart's classic book, was his first effort for Wilderness Publishing, and it was an update and enlargement of Luther Linkhart's classic guide.

Nevada Wilderness Areas and Great Basin National Park were his next books, followed by the Snowshoe Trails series and Top Trails Lake Tahoe. Mike has also written for Sunset and Backpacker magazines, as well as the Reno Gazette-Journal, and has contributed to Backpacking California. Mike shares his outdoor knowledge with students in Truckee Meadows Community College's hiking, backpacking, and snowshoeing classes. He and his wife, Robin, live in Reno with their two sons, David and Stephen, as well as their yellow lab, Barkley.