What does autumn mean to you? Pumpkin spice, sweaters, and falling leaves? Come up to see the foliage at Lake Tahoe this year to get that fall fix. Here are a few of our favorite places to view those stunning fall colors:

Hope Valley

Take the scenic route on your next trip to Tahoe. Located just south of the lake, Hope Valley is one of the more photographed areas for fall foliage at Lake Tahoe. Grab a bite at Sorenson’s and then wander through the trails, enjoying the copses of aspen showing off their golden color.

Apple Hill

Yet another place where it pays to take the scenic route. Apple Hill, located south of South Lake Tahoe, offers not only rolling hills dotted with groves of aspens, but also orchards, vineyards, and all of the fall activities you can imagine. Pick a bushel of apples to take with you for your Lake Tahoe getaway, or enjoy a hayride as a respite from the drive.

Taylor Creek Visitor’s Center

Throughout the early fall, watch salmon spawn at the Taylor Creek Visitor’s Center. The streams are absolutely full of the salmon on their way upstream, and if you’re lucky, you might even see a bear fueling up for the winter ahead. The miles of trails around the Visitor’s Center are great for stretching your legs and taking in the fall color.

Fallen Leaf Lake

Also located in South Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake is a quaint and rustic community surrounding a pristine alpine lake. The aspens near the lake are stunning when they change. Enjoy the hike up to Glen Alpine Falls to get the full effect.

Barker Pass

Located on Tahoe’s magical west shore, Barker Pass and Ward Creek are great places to take in the foliage at Lake Tahoe. The creek explodes with fall color, and you can either follow the creek or take the road up on the side of the canyon, enjoying the fall colors as you go.

Flume Trail and Marlette Lake

Popular with mountain bikers and hikers alike, the Flume Trail up to Marlette Lake is a hidden gem for fall foliage. Start by enjoying the lower-elevation foliage around Spooner Lake, then head up a 3.5 mile ascent to Marlette Lake. This lake is rimmed with aspen trees, and is absolutely stunning in the fall. Definitely worth the work!

Mount Rose

The Mount Rose Meadows offers a leisurely walk through an expansive alpine meadow, perfect for taking in the fall colors. For those looking for more of a challenge, hike the five miles (10 mile round trip) up to Mount Rose Summit for panoramic views of Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Carson City as well as some foliage along the way.

We hope you make it up to peep some of that fall foliage on your next trip to Tahoe. Book direct at The Franciscan Lakeside Lodge and use promo code FALL17 to get up to 25% off your next stay.