The Season Between Seasons
There’s a funny thing that happens in Tahoe after summer packs up and before ski season officially arrives. Everyone gets a little quieter about how good we have it.
Fall is Tahoe’s shoulder season, although calling it a “shoulder” feels a little unfair. The crowds thin out, and suddenly, an ordinary Tuesday starts looking like a very good reason to cancel whatever was on the calendar.
At Tahoe Beach Club, plenty is happening inside the Clubhouse all season long, but fall might be one of our favorite times to use the Club as a basecamp for everything happening beyond it.
Start with Hope Valley.
Every fall, the aspens turn the valley into one very convincing argument for packing lunch and disappearing for the afternoon. Gold, orange, and red take over the hillsides, and the drive over Luther Pass becomes part of the outing rather than simply the way to get there. Find a picnic spot, bring something good to eat, and accept that lunch may take significantly longer than planned.
In fact, you can leave the planning to the Club. Tahoe Beach Club’s fall calendar includes a casual Member hike through Hope Valley, giving everyone a good excuse to get out and see the colors.
Then there’s Taylor Creek, where fall comes with its own wildlife show.
Each year, Kokanee salmon make their way upstream to spawn, turning Taylor Creek bright red in places. The easy Rainbow Trail winds through forest, aspens, marsh, and along the creek, making this one of those rare outings that requires very little effort for a pretty spectacular payoff.
And we also can’t forget Apple Hill.
A little farther down the mountain, fall gets considerably more delicious. Orchards, cider, fresh-baked everything, and enough apple-related foods to make you question why we only devote one season to them. Even better, Tahoe Beach Club has a private Member shuttle headed to Apple Hill this fall, so nobody has to volunteer to drive. Your biggest responsibility for the day? Deciding how many cider donuts technically qualify as “some for the ride home.”
Yet, closer to home, fall is prime time for a walk around Fallen Leaf Lake, a bike ride through the changing landscape, or a wander through Rabe Meadow and down to Nevada Beach. And while summer tends to get all the credit for being on the water, early fall can deliver those glassy Tahoe days that practically dare you to take out a kayak or paddleboard one more time.
What’s great is Tahoe Beach Club puts you right in the middle of it. Sometimes that means heading out on your own; sometimes it means hopping on the Club shuttle, or joining fellow Members for a hike. Either way, there’s a whole lot of Tahoe waiting outside the gates.
They call it the off-season. At the Beach Club, we know better.
