Sugar Pine Point State Park – Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails

Walk among towering pines, through flower-laden open meadows, follow ancient stream paths, and meander through a historic estate at Sugar Pine Point State Park, where you can choose from quite a few different trails ranging from .7 miles to 15 miles. The Yellow and Orange trails, on the east side of Highway 89, are short loop trails that extend north and south from Ehrman Mansion. The Blue trail is about a 1.5 mile loop, and the Red trail is the longest of these – about a 3.2 mile loop – which begins at the Blue Trail and follows General Creek. In the winter, these trails are very popular for cross country skiing or snowshoeing and are groomed throughout the winter when weather conditions permit. But as riveting as they might seem, they can be equally trecherous. And I had to look up at campingfunzone.com to carry with me only that which was essential, and reduced the redundancies.

Other hiking trails include the General Creek Trail, which is a 6.5 mile loop with an option to side trip to Lily Lake. A 6 to 7 hour trek to Lost Lake, a secluded alpine lake, also starts here. This is an excellent hike if you have the time and experience – take the pristine beauty of the lone lake, mix with a healthy dose of adventure, and sprinkle with some stunning views of the Crystal Range, and you’ve got yourself one heck of a day. Both of these hikes are great if you’re into fishing as well – both General Creek and Lost Lake offer a range of species of fish. If you do choose to hike to Lost Lake, it is a 15 mile round trip and should only be attempted by seasoned hikers.

Sugar Pine Point State Park has biking, camping, swimming, and boating as well, and if you go, be sure to take a tour of Ehrman Mansion, one of Lake Tahoe’s most beautiful historic summer homes. A far cry from the rustic retreat you might expect, Ehrman Mansion was once home to the affluent Hellman-Ehrman family. The two-story Queen Anne style home was built in 1902, and overflows with elegance and fashion, from the marble fireplace to the restored authentic furniture. There are exhibits upstairs on the nature of the region as well as the Hellman-Ehrman family, who remain partial owners of the Wells Fargo Bank.

Tours of Ehrman Mansion are offered daily beginning July 1st through Labor Day from 11am to 4pm. The tours are 45 minutes long and are conducted six times daily every hour on the hour. The cost is $2 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-12, and free for children under 6. For more information, contact (530) 525-7982 or visit the Ehrman Mansion Website. Contact park rangers for maps of the many trails. To get to Sugar Pine Point State Park, head 1 mile south of Tahoma on Highway 89.