Driving route round Lake Tahoe

[k8atu]

Hi guys....

Have a mate here from UK and we want to do a driving couple days on the twisties around Lake Tahoe, leaving SF East Bay and returning to same....

Can anyone recommend any routes (with Google map info) to take us around the lake on some diamond roads and bring us back??

Thank you so much in advance,

Kemal (Non-Cali local from the UK :-))) )

[ckissick]

There's really only one road around the lake. But you could take detours away from the lake. A side trip to Markleeville and/or Kirkwood is a good one.

[tobluforu]

Yep, one road around the lake with lots of turn offs if you want to go up the hills, or down closer to the lake. If you go on the weekend be prepared for a lot of traffic at certain times of the day. Take 50 up, it's a lot of fun a certain spots.

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by k8atu

Hi guys....

Have a mate here from UK and we want to do a driving couple days on the twisties around Lake Tahoe, leaving SF East Bay and returning to same....

Take highway 50 when you get to Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, it's a two lane road with twisties all the way. From the "Y" I like going up by Emerald Bay clockwise around the lake and back home on 50.


Cheers,

Joe

[Quicksilver]

The best road I have EVER driven is California State Route 4 that goes from south Lake Tahoe towards the southwest.. It is marked "No vehicles over 22 feet" and it looks like someone just drove a bulldozer around large rocks and trees.
https://maps.google.com/
Check it out in street view.

Just an amazing drive. (Road is closed in winter)

[Chuck.H]

Joe writes:
Take highway 50 when you get to Sacramento to South Lake Tahoe, it's a two lane road with twisties all the way. From the "Y" I like going up by Emerald Bay clockwise around the lake and back home on 50.

I "JUST" did this exact drive with my GF and I highly recommend this route - the views of the lake are stunning even before you get there on 50. Time it so you arrive at the north shore at lunch, there are lots of lake front places to eat there. It could easily qualify for the best drive in the USA IMHO, in competition with the Blue Ridge Parkway and the PCH south of San Francisco.

Sadly, I did not have my 911, had a rental car :-(

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 339k miles

[cpa]

Kemal
I vote for staying off of the interstates if you can and take route 4 out of Stockton thru Angels Camp and Murphys, it' great California historic mining area and beautiful driving. If you have time stop in some of the wineries and surley stop at Caleveras Big Trees Park. Head thru Markleeville and hit South Lake Tahoe. Get off the beaten track and head for the higher ground to see the sights from the ridge trails. Head north on the west side it's the most populated and lots of places to stop and enjoy. Good weather and not so crowded this time of year. I hope you have a couple of days. Enjoy...

[Matt Monson]

You've got a couple of days? Here's what you want to do then. Don't worry about driving all the way around Lake Tahoe. Just come back via 50.

Drive out through Livermore 580 and grab the 205 to Manteca. From there, get on Hwy 120, East. Take that until you hit Hwy 108 and go over Sonora Pass. That will come out at Hwy 395. Take 395 North until you hit 89. Take 89 until it splits and go East on 88.

From there take 206 North to 207 and go up the Kingsbury Grade, which will drop you at Lake Tahoe. That's where you hook up with hwy 50.

Depending on how much time you have, from there, you either drive partway around the lake and return to SF via Hwy 50. Or if you still have some time, continue around the lake onto 89 again and go past Emerald Bay and around to Tahoe City. From there 89 splits away from the lake to the North and dumps you on I-80, which will also take you right back to SF.

Another detour you can take, if you want to get off the interstate and have the time, is on your return, grab Hwy49 in Auburn, take it south through gold country until it dumps you out at Placerville on Hwy 50 and then continue on with your westward journey back to SF.

[dave 911]

Man, you guys really know how to make a Californian-that-now-lives-in-Ohio homesick. Those routes you are describing are awesome!

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by dave 911

Man, you guys really know how to make a Californian-that-now-lives-in-Ohio homesick. Those routes you are describing are awesome!

Tell me about it. I actually had to stop and think for about 10 minutes about what route I would take if I only had one loop to do. I left in 2001, but spent the decade prior driving those roads 30 or 40 times a year to rock climb, ski and mountain bike. I've been up and down every single one more times than I remember. It was hard to choose. Though that's the beauty of it. If the OP takes any of the routes suggested he'll have a great time. Hwy 4 is a wonderful hwy. Anywhere on 49 is great. There's really not a bad road between I-80 and Hwy120. Anywhere they go will be lots of fun.

Regards,

Matt

[Chuck.H]

After we did the Tahoe loop, we took 395 down to Lee Vining, and then drove thru Yosemite, which is equally stunning, stayed in the Valley a few days, then back to SF...

Chuck.H
'89 TurboLookTarga, 339k miles

[JerryL]

+1 on missing the CA area and that part of the country.
The twisties have been covered, if at the south end of the lake from memory heading up the west side not far up take a left up to Falling Leaf lake incredible high mountain lake going up to the tree line. you come to a camp ground (state forest) but continue to the left west i guess and take the ride up to the end of the lake, just stunning, there was a boat launch and you could get a beer. this is not the place to run hard but relax and see the country around you.
I used to camp and take a canoe up there, not far off the loop the lake flows into a river that gos into the big lake, you will drive over it if you miss the turn.
An awsome time of the year to be there, there should be some Konokiee (sp?) salmon in the river running in both lakes.

Enjoy

[Josh D]

The Rubicon Trail near Lake Tahoe shouldn't be missed! Oh, wait. Guess you need a Jeep for that!