Fallen Leaf Lake
Trailhead · 6,377 ft · Lake Tahoe corridor
Fallen Leaf Lake sits at 6,377 feet on the Lake Tahoe corridor's southwest flank, a glacially-fed alpine reservoir sheltered from the main lake's afternoon wind by ridgeline to the east.
Morning calm gives way to reliable afternoon wind funneling off the open lake to the east. The 30-day average wind of 11 mph masks gusts reaching 35 mph by mid-afternoon. Water temperature remains near freezing through spring; air warms slowly above 30 degrees only in late morning. Crowds stay light except weekends immediately after Highway 89 snow clearing.
The past 30 days averaged 11 mph wind with peaks at 35 mph; typical for this elevation and exposure. The week ahead will track similar patterns: calm mornings, stiffening afternoon wind, and temperatures holding in the upper 20s to low 30s. Use the chart below to spot the narrow windows of low wind and moderate crowds.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Fallen Leaf Lake
Fallen Leaf Lake occupies a narrow canyon on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, accessible via Highway 89 north from South Lake Tahoe or south from Tahoe City. The trailhead sits roughly 2 miles up Fallen Leaf Road from Highway 89; parking fills by late morning on weekends. The lake drains north into Fallen Leaf Creek, which feeds the Upper Truckee River system. Elevation gain from trailhead to the shore is modest, making this a destination for hikers, scrambler, and anglers rather than peak-baggers. The corridor sees steady use from late May through early October; winter access requires snowshoe or cross-country skis.
At 6,377 feet, Fallen Leaf Lake experiences high-Sierra weather patterns tied to spring snowmelt and summer convection. The 30-day average temperature of 29 degrees reflects late-spring conditions; by midsummer, midday highs reach the low 50s, though mornings remain near freezing. Wind averages 11 mph but peaks at 35 mph in afternoon funneling from the open lake basin to the east. Crowding scores averaging 10 out of 100 mean quiet weekdays and moderate-to-busy weekends in June and July. Smoke from Tahoe Basin fires typically appears in late July through August, reducing visibility and air quality; September clears rapidly once marine air dominates.
Fallen Leaf Lake suits paddlers, anglers, day-hikers, and photographers seeking alpine water without the crowds of Lake Tahoe's public beaches. Experienced paddlers target calm mornings before wind rises; skip afternoon excursions entirely unless you accept strong headwinds on the return. Anglers work the inlet streams for cutthroat and mackinaw in June and July. Day-hikers split time between the shoreline and the ridgelines above the canyon, where views extend west to the Sierra crest. Parking constraints mean arriving by 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday; weekday visits after 10 a.m. typically find space.
Nearby alternatives include Cascade Lake to the north, which sits higher and experiences more wind, and the Tahoe shoreline itself, which offers warmer water and more facilities but crowds ten times larger. Desolation Wilderness lies west of the Sierra crest divide; access is typically from trailheads on Highway 50 or 89 at higher elevations. The Upper Truckee River watershed offers lower-elevation creek access and gentler conditions in spring melt. Visitors combining Fallen Leaf Lake with a Lake Tahoe loop should plan the Fallen Leaf portion for early morning and reserve afternoon for sheltered bays on the main lake or lower-elevation activities.