Fallen Leaf Lake Paddle
4 / 5
Fallen Leaf Lake sits right next to Tahoe, but it sees far less traffic. Fewer boats. Fewer people. Mostly trees and shoreline. Danny wanted to get on the water, and this was the vibe we were going for. We skipped the campground launch since we would have had to tote the kayaks a fair distance and drove to the marina a few miles away instead.
Marina at Fallen Leaf Lake
1 / 8
The lake started out relatively calm. The water clarity was excellent. Even with the surface moving, you could see straight through it to rocks in the shallows below. On one side of the lake, rustic cabins hugged the shoreline. We paddled the opposite side, where there were no homes except one lone cabin tucked into the trees. From a distance it looked abandoned. As we got closer, it clearly wasn’t. There were signs of occupancy, but no visible road leading to it. It seemed like the only way in was by boat. Perhaps someone prefers their solitude, aside from the occasional nosy kayakers drifting past. By the time we turned back toward the marina, the wind had picked up and the water got choppier. The return took more effort than the glide out. Nothing dramatic, just enough resistance to make us work for it.
Dinner that night was Tex-Mex at Element with live music. After a few hours on the water, it felt like a solid way to close the day.
Dinner that night was Tex-Mex at Element with live music. After a few hours on the water, it felt like a solid way to close the day.