Woods Lake in Winter

Snowshoe to Woods Lake in Tahoe

Powder up for a snow-filled adventure to frozen Woods Lake. This 4-mile (round-trip) out-and-back in the Carson Pass takes you through gently rolling hills, across snow-covered meadows, and alongside meandering streams. Start your journey in the Meiss Meadow Sno-Park. Cross the highway and follow the trail through Meiss Meadow with Round Top Peak looming in the distance.

The path veers to the east into red and white fir forest. The trail is well marked: blue diamond trail markers hammered into trees let you know you’re on the right path. The route parallels the highway for 1.25 miles before heading south across a concrete bridge and following along Woods Lake Road (which goes directly to the lake in the summertime).

You’ll know you’ve reached the lake when you see the “Woods Lake Picnic Area” sign. The picnic area might be hard to find under the snow, but you can usually see BBQ pits peeking out from the powder.  The lake freezes over in winter and gets cloaked with snow.

If not for an unfrozen section where the lake meets the stream you might think you’d hit a snowy meadow. Be smart and careful: Do not to head too far past the tree line; the ice might not be stable. It’s best just to enjoy the setting safely. Snowy granite cliffs rise above the south side of the lake and trees poking out mark a small island that you can swim to in the summertime. Return the way you came.

Park at the Meiss Meadow Sno-Park; permits required. Permits can be purchased online or from a local vendor, $5 a day or $25 for the season (can be used at any California Sno-Park). Snowshoe rentals available at Hope Valley Cross Country in Hope Valley ($30/day) or Mountain Mikes in South Lake Tahoe ($16/day). Make sure to wear appropriate waterproof gear and gloves. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View