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WELCOME to Adventures

IN EL DORADO COUNTY

➤ Beyond Beyond the Apple Pie ➤ Gone Gone Fishing ➤ High High Country Calling ➤ Spirit Spirit of Winter ➤ Take Take a Hike!

2026

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

BEYOND THE APPLE PIE

There’s a lot more than apples growing in the hills above Placerville.

10 GONE FISHING

From quiet foothill shores to sparkling Sierra lakes.

14 HIGH COUNTRY CALLING

Alpine lakes, granite peaks and adventure in every season.

21 FALL COLOR

Scenic drives, hiking trails and small-town charm as the season changes.

SPIRIT OF WINTER 26 THE AT SIERRA-AT-TAHOE

Skiing, riding and mountain memories on Highway 50.

30 SNOWSHOEING

Discover a quieter side of winter in El Dorado County.

34 TAKE A HIKE!

Explore El Dorado County on trail at a time.

2026 Edition

WELCOME toAdventures in El Dorado County 2889 Ray Lawyer Drive, Placerville, CA 95667 530-622-1255 • Fax: 530-344-5092

Publisher: T. Burt McNaughton Creative Director: Letty Bejarano-Carvajal tbmcnaughton@mtdemocrat.net lettyb@mtdemocrat.net Contributing Krysten Kellum Advertising/Marketing: Ian Balentine Photographers: Shelly Thorene ibalentine@mtdemocrat.net Pat Dollins 4

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

WELCOME to Adventures in El Dorado County is owned and published by the Mountain Democrat. All rights reserved, ©2026. Reproduction in any form, in whole or part, without written permission is prohibited. All content included in this magazine was deemed accurate at the time of printing Mountain Democrat and is subject to change.

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

Beyond the Apple Pie Photos courtesy of Pat Dollins

There’s a lot more than apples growing in the hills above Placerville — and that may be the best reason to keep coming back. WHEN AUTUMN REACHES THE FOOTHILLS, Apple Hill seems to announce itself. The air turns cooler. Orchard leaves begin to change. Pumpkins appear beside country roads, farmstands fill with produce and bakery ovens work overtime. And then there are the apples. Fresh apples. Caramel apples. Apple cider. Apple butter. Apple turnovers. Apple fritters. Apple doughnuts. And yes — apple pie. Mention Apple Hill and almost everyone has a memory. Maybe it’s the smell of a warm apple doughnut. A pie balanced carefully on someone’s lap for the drive home. A child carrying a pumpkin that is clearly too heavy. Or that annual family photograph where everyone is smiling except the person who just spent twenty minutes trying to find a parking space. Some traditions are worth a little traffic. 6

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FALL TAKES CENTER STAGE

Autumn may be Apple Hill’s headline act, and with good reason.

The orchards change, the harvest comes in and familiar country roads take on the feeling of an annual celebration. Families return to favorite farms, discover new stops and carry home boxes filled with apples, baked goods and things they had absolutely no intention of buying. But fall offers much more than pastry. There are pumpkins, flowers, crafts, nature trails, children’s activities, wineries, hard cider and plenty of reasons to spend an entire day exploring rather than making one pie run and heading home. We said beyond the Apple Pie. We did not say without the Apple Pie. Let’s not get ridiculous. But here’s the thing about Apple Hill: The apples are only the beginning. Mountain Democrat

What started in 1964 with 16 apple ranches has grown into an association of more than 50 family farms and agricultural businesses offering everything from berries, vegetables and flowers to wine, hard cider and Christmas trees. Autumn may be the season that made Apple Hill famous. It is not the whole story.

WAIT … APPLE HILL ISN’T A PLACE? Technically, no.

Apple Hill is the name created for the association of growers in the Camino and Fruitridge area — not the name of a town or geographic region. The growers created the brand when they organized in 1964 to encourage people to visit their farms and experience local agriculture firsthand. Of course, try explaining that to someone who says they’re “going to Apple Hill.” We all know exactly where they’re going. And that is part of what makes it special.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE PRODUCE This is the part of the story we should not lose.

Apple Hill is not really about apples. Or wine. Or pumpkins. Or Christmas trees. It is about farms. The association began because a small group of growers understood they were stronger working together. More than six decades later, that cooperative idea still connects dozens of independently operated farms and agricultural businesses. Some have been passed through generations. Others represent newer chapters in the county’s agricultural story. Collectively, they preserve something increasingly unusual: the opportunity for people to meet growers, walk onto farms and see where local food actually comes from. When you buy a box of apples or a jar of jam, there is another story behind it. Someone grew it.

Over the decades, individual farms connected by country roads have collectively become one of El Dorado County’s most recognizable traditions.

FOLLOW THE GRAPES

Here is where the grown-ups get their turn.

Wine grapes have become an important part of the agricultural landscape surrounding Apple Hill, and several wineries are members of the Apple Hill Growers. El Dorado County’s modern wine story is particularly interesting because orchards and vineyards are not separate chapters here — they overlap. Today, a drive through Apple Hill can just as easily involve a tasting room as an orchard. And then there is hard cider. Which, when you think about it, is simply an apple that decided to grow up.

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

WHEN THE PUMPKINS DISAPPEAR …

Just when you think the season is finished, somebody pulls out a saw.

Christmas-tree farms extend the Apple Hill experience into late fall and winter, and some allow families to choose and cut their own trees. Suddenly, the annual Apple Hill trip changes again. Instead of apple boxes in the trunk, there is a tree tied to the roof. Instead of pumpkins, there are wreaths. Instead of cider to cool you down … Well, actually, there is still cider. Cider apparently refuses to leave.

SUMMER GETS FIRST BITE

Autumn may attract the biggest crowds, but the farms are busy long before the first fall apple pie comes out of the oven.

Summer can bring berries, peaches, plums, vegetables and flowers. Some farms offer U-pick experiences where visitors can gather their own produce or cut bouquets directly from the field. Summer also has one enormous advantage: It does not necessarily look like October. You can slow down. Wander. Talk to the person who grew what you are buying. Actually see the scenery instead of the bumper directly in front of you. They are not attractions that magically appear when the leaves turn. They are working farms. Things are growing here throughout the year.

PICK SOMETHING YOURSELF

There is something wonderfully satisfying about picking food directly from the plant. Maybe it is because most of us normally “harvest” our strawberries from aisle four.

At various times of the year, Apple Hill farms offer U-pick berries, flowers, apples, pumpkins, vegetables and other seasonal crops. What is available naturally changes with the harvest. For children, that is entertainment. For adults, it can be a reminder that food comes from somewhere — and agriculture remains a living part of El Dorado County.

TAKE THE LONG WAY

Maybe the best way to experience Apple Hill is to stop trying to “do Apple Hill.”

Do not race from famous stop to famous stop, checking everything off a list. Turn down a road you have not driven before. Visit a smaller farm. Walk through some flowers. Taste something. Buy something grown nearby. Sit under a tree. Let the kids get dirty. Have a glass of wine. Take home vegetables you had absolutely no intention of buying. And yes — get the pie. Because after more than 60 years, perhaps the real success of Apple Hill is not that people keep returning for apples. It is that they keep returning. Different season. Different farm. Different generation. The same winding roads through the foothills. And there is always something else growing around the next bend.

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Gone Fishing

Fishing From quiet foothill shores to cool Sierra lakes, sometimes the best way to discover El Dorado County is one cast at a time.

here is something wonderfully optimistic about fishing. Every cast begins with the possibility that this might be the one. Maybe the line suddenly tightens. Maybe the rod bends and the quiet morning becomes considerably less quiet. Or maybe absolutely nothing happens. And somehow, that’s OK too. Because fishing has never really been only about catching fish. In El Dorado County, it can mean watching the sun come up over a mountain lake. It can mean teaching a child how to bait a hook, launching a boat while everyone else is still asleep or finding a shady place along the shore and discovering that several hours have disappeared. The fish? Well, they’re almost a bonus.

You don’t necessarily need an elaborate boat filled with electronics and enough tackle to open a sporting-goods store. Sometimes a rod, a little patience and a spot along the shoreline are enough. That’s particularly important when you’re introducing children to fishing. Adults may appreciate solitude. Children generally prefer results. And snacks. Definitely bring snacks.

FOLLOW THE ROAD INTO CRYSTAL BASIN

START CLOSE TO HOME

From Highway 50, Ice House Road leads into a remarkable concentration of lakes and reservoirs in the Eldorado National Forest.

Tucked into the forest near Pollock Pines, the lake offers that wonderful feeling of getting away

Ice House Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir and smaller waters such as Gerle Creek Reservoir turn the drive into part of the outing: pines replace pavement and buildings, and the water begins

For many residents and visitors, Jenkinson Lake at Sly Park is an easy place to begin.

without requiring an expedition to get there. Fishing, boating, camping and shoreline recreation make it an approachable place for a day around the water.

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

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appearing between the trees.

You cast. Wait. Cast again.

Ice House and Union Valley offer larger-water experiences with boating and fishing opportunities. Gerle Creek provides a quieter alternative, including non-motorized boating and an accessible fishing platform.

And for a little while, nothing else particularly matters.

That’s one of the pleasures of exploring this part of the county.

FISHING THROUGH THE SEASONS

You can have a destination in mind and still discover another place along the way.

THE EARLY BIRD GETS THE ... FISH?

Ask enough anglers about the best time to fish and you’ll eventually receive enough opinions to fill another magazine. But there is something undeniably special about getting there early. The lake can be almost perfectly still. Morning light reaches the tops of the trees before touching the water. Boats haven’t begun moving across the lake.

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That may be the real secret of fishing. It gives us permission to sit still.

Because Welcome follows El Dorado County throughout the year, fishing gives us another way to watch the landscape change. Spring brings warming foothill days while snow still covers the Sierra. Summer opens more of the high country and turns mountain lakes into weekend destinations. Fall brings crisp mornings, changing light and quieter shorelines. Winter changes the equation again as snow and seasonal road conditions affect higher elevations. The fishing changes. The scenery changes. But the ritual remains remarkably similar. Rod. Line. Water. Patience.

WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

TAKE SOMEONE WITH YOU

There are people who fish because they love catching fish. There are people who fish because they love boats. And there are people who fish because someone once took them fishing.

one that got away was unquestionably larger than anything anyone actually landed. And strangely, with every retelling ... it gets a little bigger. That’s allowed. Fishing stories have their own rules.

That last group may be the most important.

BEFORE YOU CAST

Grandparents teach grandchildren. Parents take children. Friends invite friends. Someone shows someone else how to tie a knot, cast a line or hold a fish for the obligatory photograph. Years later, the details may blur. But people remember who took them. They remember the lake. They remember the morning. They remember being together.

SOMETIMES THE STORY GETS BETTER

Of course, every fishing trip eventually produces a fishing story. The fish was enormous. The line nearly broke. The

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THE BEST CATCH OF THE DAY

Eventually, every fishing day ends. Lines come out of the water. Tackle gets packed away. Someone asks what’s for dinner – which can be an awkward question depending on how successful the fishing was. But maybe you watched the sunrise. Maybe you discovered a lake you’d never visited before. Maybe your child caught a first fish. Maybe you sat beside someone you care about and actually had time to talk. Or maybe you spent half a day doing practically nothing. The Sierra will still be there tomorrow. So will the lakes. And somewhere beneath that water is undoubtedly an enormous fish waiting for you. At least ... that’s the story you’re going to tell…

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High Country Calling Alpine lakes, granite peaks and Sierra adventures reveal a different side of El Dorado County in every season.

THE HIGH COUNTRY CHANGES WITH THE SEASONS

here comes a point on almost any drive into El Dorado County’s high country when you feel the landscape change. Leave the foothills behind and follow Highway 50 east as the road begins climbing through the pines. Placerville gives way to Pollock Pines. The forest grows taller. Granite begins appearing between the trees. The air changes. What waits farther uphill depends on when you go. Spring arrives slowly, following the snowline toward the peaks and filling creeks with cold runoff. Summer opens the lakes, campgrounds and high trails. Fall sharpens the air, quiets the roads and brushes pockets of the forest with gold. Then the first snow begins covering familiar ground and the mountains change all over again. That constant transformation is one of El Dorado County’s great gifts. You don’t have to board an airplane or plan an elaborate vacation to find alpine lakes, granite peaks, forest campgrounds and trails leading deep into the

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Sierra Nevada. Sometimes all you have to do is keep driving uphill.

FOLLOW THE WATER Water shapes the high country in every season. In spring, melting snow gathers in creeks and spills over granite. By summer, reservoirs and mountain lakes become natural gathering places for camping, paddling, hiking, fishing and wonderfully unproductive afternoons beside the water. When fall arrives, the same shorelines grow quieter and the light becomes softer. Turn off Highway 50 toward the Crystal Basin and an entirely different part of El Dorado County begins to unfold. Forest roads lead toward lakes and reservoirs tucked among tall pines and granite ridges. Wrights Lake may be one of the most picturesque examples. At nearly 7,000 feet, it sits beneath forested Sierra ridges and provides access toward Desolation Wilderness. The quiet water, granite and tall pines make it equally appealing for an active day or an afternoon spent doing very little.

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The experience changes with the calendar. Early in the season, lingering snow and runoff may still shape where you can go. During the warmer months, trails and campgrounds come fully alive. Later, cool mornings and fewer visitors give the lake a different kind of beauty. This is the sort of place where an ambitious morning hike can turn into a long afternoon beside the water. Nobody needs to apologize for changing plans. That’s part of being in the mountains.

INTO DESOLATION Beyond the lakes and campgrounds lies something wilder: Desolation Wilderness. The name sounds forbidding. The landscape is anything but ordinary. Granite dominates the scenery. Alpine lakes mirror the sky. Trails climb through forests before opening onto expansive views that make the rest of the world seem very far away. For hikers and backpackers, Desolation can provide the kind of adventure people travel hundreds of miles to find. But the wilderness deserves preparation in every season. Permits are required for day and overnight visits, and overnight use is subject to destination-zone quotas during the busier part of the year. Conditions can change quickly. Snow can linger well beyond spring at higher elevations, afternoon storms can appear during warmer months, and autumn temperatures can drop sharply after sunset. Those realities aren’t reasons to stay away. They’re reminders that this is still genuinely wild country – and that’s precisely why it is worth protecting.

the car, even when the foothills feel warm. Then see where the day takes you.

WHEN THE ROAD BECOMES THE ADVENTURE There is another side to El Dorado County’s high country that isn’t quiet at all. The Rubicon Trail is internationally known among four-wheel-drive enthusiasts, crossing rugged Sierra terrain on its route between the Georgetown side of the county and Lake Tahoe. This is not a casual dirt road. The Rubicon has earned its reputation precisely because it is difficult. Proper equipment, experience and preparation matter, and seasonal conditions can completely change the challenge. But you don’t need to drive the trail to appreciate what it represents. It is another expression of the same thing that draws hikers, campers, paddlers and photographers into the mountains: the desire to see what is beyond the next ridge.

THE ROAD TO TAHOE Keep climbing Highway 50 and eventually the forest begins giving way to some of the most dramatic scenery on the route. The road rises toward Echo Summit. And then comes that moment. Lake Tahoe.

FIND YOUR OWN VERSION OF THE HIGH COUNTRY Not every mountain adventure needs to involve carrying a backpack into the wilderness. One person’s perfect day might mean hiking several miles before breakfast. Someone else’s might involve a folding chair, a sandwich and a lake. Families can camp beneath the pines. Paddlers can explore quiet water. Anglers can search for the right shoreline. Photographers can chase morning light across granite and forest. The season may help make the decision. Spring rewards waterfall watchers and anyone willing to check conditions before setting out. Summer offers the greatest variety of open roads, trails and campgrounds. Fall belongs to cool-weather hikers, photographers and travelers who prefer a little more quiet. And sometimes the best plan is barely a plan at all. Pick a destination. Pack lunch. Bring more water than you think you’ll need. Toss an extra layer of clothing into www.mtdemocrat.com

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Even people who have made the drive dozens of times can find themselves looking twice. The blue water. The mountains. The sweep of the Tahoe Basin below. The view never stays exactly the same. Spring may reveal snow-covered peaks above emerging forest green. Summer brings long days and brilliant blue water. Fall adds crisp light and early hints of snow. Winter turns the entire route into another world. Yet the journey matters as much as the destination. Highway 50 isn’t merely the road to Tahoe. It is a thread connecting dramatically different landscapes – from Gold Country communities and pine forest to granite peaks and alpine water.

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Photo by Philip Reedy / Story by CaliforniaFallColor.com

Fall color

is just around the corner

hen it comes to predicting fall color, it’s anyone’s guess whether it will be early or late. There is no science yet to predicting fall color. It appears generally due to the change in light. In fall color’s case: Less is more. Less light, more color. Less of the sun’s warming rays means colder days, but it is the reduction in light (shorter days) that is the trigger, not the cold. Only when the cold persists is it a trigger to different behavior. Cold affects color, but mostly as to its intensity. Warm days and cold nights are the ideal mix for vibrant fall color. The worst condition for lustrous color is overcast. To be intensely colorful, deciduous trees need clear warm days and long, clear, cold nights.

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Reports from sources such as the Farmer’s Almanac are calling for an El Niño winter this year, favoring wetter-than-normal conditions across much of the southern United States. This means there could be a milder and delayed start to winter, allowing for a lengthened fall. “Fall 2026 is shaping up to be a season of dramatic transitions across the United States. The season will begin with widespread warmth in September before a cooling trend takes hold, gradually sweeping from north to south as autumn progresses,” Farmer’s Almanac states.

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Photo courtesy Pat Dollins

Water is a big driver for vibrancy and length of season and when we have an extremely wet winter, spring and summer, colors can show late because the leaves are so wellnourished that they continue to produce food (chlorophyll) as long as they can. Less water, colors show sooner. Small pops of color are already being spotted around the Eastern Sierra, which is the area that usually begins to turn first in California. So it seems that the season is right on track, but we’ve been fooled before. In 2025 we had a long and glorious autumn season, but don’t bank on that every year. The biggest disappointment people voice is that they waited too long for a location. Make sure you bookmark CaliforniaFallColor.com as your planning tool. Below is the typical progression of color throughout the state, which we expect to hold true this year. Use the site to look for the most spectacular locations from past years, then go to those locations within a week this year. You’re probably gonna see beautiful fall color. But wait a month and you surely missed it. • Late September to late October: the Eastern Sierra (Inyo and Mono counties, US-395);

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Photo courtesy Pat Dollins

• October: the Nort hern Sierra (Hope Valley/Carson Pass, Lake Tahoe, CA-89); • October: Southern California’s mountains (San Bernardino, San Gorgonio, San Jacinto and Laguna mountains, Angeles National Forest); • Mid October to early November: the Shasta Cascade (Plumas County, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, Trinity Alps, CA-299, Redding, Chico); • Mid October to early November: the North Coast (Redwood National & State Parks), Elk rut late September to mid-October; • Late October to early November: California’s vineyards (peaking by grape variety); • Mid October to mid-November: Central Coast (wineries, Salinas Valley, Monarch butterflies); • Late October to mid-November: Gold Country (Calaveras Big Trees SP, Apple Hill, wineries, Highway 49 and its chain of 1850s Gold Rush towns);

• Mid October to Thanksgiving Day: Western & Southern Sierra (Yosemite National Park, Kings Canyon & Sequoia National Parks); • November: the Central Valley (walnut and pistachio orchards, pumpkin patches, corn mazes, wildlife refuges); • November to early December: California’s urban forests (Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Stockton, Modesto and arboreta and botanic gardens); and • December: The Deserts and Coastal Islands.

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The Spirit of Winter at

Sierra-at-Tahoe

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat

A longtime Highway 50 favorite where first turns and lifelong traditions meet

estled among the pines above Echo Summit, Sierra-at-Tahoe has introduced generations of families to winter in the mountains. The resort sits about 12 miles west of South Lake Tahoe, close enough for an easy day on the slopes yet removed from the bustle around the lake. That location has long been part of Sierra’s appeal. For travelers arriving from Placerville, Sacramento and the Bay Area, it is the first major Tahoe ski resort reached along Highway 50. The lifts are only steps from the parking area, allowing visitors to spend less time navigating a sprawling village and more time enjoying the mountain. A mountain with room for everyone Sierra-at-Tahoe spans 2,000 acres, with 50 trails and 2,212 vertical feet of skiable terrain. Its treelined slopes include welcoming beginner areas, broad groomed runs, terrain parks and advanced routes such as Huckleberry Canyon. The variety allows friends and family members with different experience levels to share a day at the same mountain.

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Learning has always been central to Sierra’s identity. Gentle terrain gives newcomers space to practice their first turns, while lessons help skiers and snowboarders build confidence before exploring more of the resort. More experienced visitors can seek out steeper pitches, powder-filled glades and the mountain’s playful natural features. The experience is relaxed rather than formal. Rental equipment, lessons and slopeside services make the resort approachable for someone trying the sport for the first time. On the same day, longtime locals and elite athletes may be riding nearby. That mix is part of Sierra’s character: people come with different skills and different gear, but everyone is there for the simple pleasure of sliding on snow.

WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

Area Ski Resorts in and around El Dorado County tain Moun

crat

Demo

2010

Palisades Tahoe – Alpine Lodge Formerly Alpine Meadows Ski Resort 2600 Alpine Meadows Road Alpine Meadows, CA 96146 800-403-0206 PalisadesTahoe.com Boreal Mountain California 19749 Boreal Ridge Road Soda Springs, CA 95728 530-426-3663 RideBoreal.com

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Diamond Peak Ski Resort 1210 Ski Way Incline Village, NV 89451 775-832-1177 DiamondPeak.com Donner Ski Ranch 19320 Donner Pass Road Norden, CA 95724 530-426-3635 DonnerSkiRanch.com Heavenly Mountain Resort 3860 Saddle Road South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 775-586-7000 SkiHeavenly.com Homewood Mountain Resort 5145 West Lake Boulevard Homewood, CA 96141 530-525-2992 SkiHomewood.com

Northstar California Resort 5001 Northstar Drive Truckee, CA 96161 530-562-2267 NorthstarCalifornia.com Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort 1111 Sierra-at-Tahoe Road Twin Bridges, CA 95735 530-659-7453 SierraAtTahoe.com Soda Springs Mountain Resort 10244 Soda Springs Road Soda Springs, CA 95728 530-426-3901 SkiSodaSprings.com Sugar Bowl Resort 629 Sugar Bowl Road Norden, CA 95724 530-426-9000 SugarBowl.com Palisades Tahoe – Olympic Valley 1960 Olympic Valley Road Olympic Valley, CA 96146 800-403-0206 PalisadesTahoe.com Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort 11603 Snowpeak Way Truckee, CA 96161 530-587-9444 TahoeDonner.com

Kirkwood Mountain Resort 1501 Kirkwood Meadows Drive Kirkwood, CA 95646 209-258-6000 Kirkwood.com

O P E N D A I L Y : 1 0 A M - 6 P M

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Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe 22222 Mt. Rose Highway Reno, NV 89511 775-849-0704 MtRose.com Mountain Democrat

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Snowshoeing in and around El Dorado County A simple way to discover Tahoe’s quieter winter landscapes

hen snow settles over the Sierra, familiar trails become an entirely different landscape. Forest roads soften into white corridors, meadows open beneath broad skies and lakefront paths grow quiet. Snowshoeing offers one of the simplest ways to step into that winter scenery. The sport requires less specialized technique than skiing, and modern snowshoes make it possible to travel over snow that would otherwise make walking slow and exhausting. Beginners can start on level, well-traveled routes, while experienced visitors can seek longer forest outings, higher viewpoints and backcountry terrain. Around South Lake Tahoe and the Highway 50 corridor, possible routes range from groomed recreation areas to ungroomed public trails. Conditions can change quickly, however. A mellow path in firm morning snow may become soft and tiring by afternoon, and a familiar summer trail may be difficult to follow once signs and landmarks are buried.

CHOOSE THE OUTING THAT FITS THE DAY For a first trip, choose a short route with easy navigation and a dependable parking area. Packed routes near established recreation sites are usually the most comfortable place to learn. Snowshoes are especially useful after a storm or whenever boots begin sinking several inches into the snow. Poles with snow baskets improve balance, particularly on rolling terrain. Waterproof boots, warm layers, gloves, eye protection, water and high-energy snacks make even a brief outing more enjoyable. Because winter days are short, start early and allow more time than the same distance would require in summer.

Moonlight outings can be beautiful on open, familiar routes, but they require additional preparation. Carry a headlamp even when the moon is bright, stay with a partner and avoid unfamiliar terrain after dark. A guided trip is a sensible choice for anyone new to winter travel.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Snowshoeing is not automatically safe simply because it feels like walking. Steep snow-covered slopes can present avalanche danger, tree wells may form around evergreens and weather can erase tracks within minutes. Stay away from frozen lakes and streams unless a responsible agency has specifically confirmed that the ice is open for travel. Before leaving, check the forecast, road restrictions, avalanche information and the managing agency’s current alerts. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. Do not rely on a phone alone: cold drains batteries, and service is unreliable in many mountain areas. A paper map or downloaded offline map is a useful backup.

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat

Here is a list of websites that you will find informative and helpful as you pursue your goal of participating in the snowshoeing experience here in El Dorado County. FOR SNOWSHOE RENTAL AT TRAIL LOCATIONS adventuremountaintahoe.com/ Just off Highway 50 at Echo Summit sierraattahoe.com/events-activities/ snowshoeing discoverechosummit.com/ Covers Highway 50 from Pollock Pines to Echo summit. discoverechosummit.com/winter/cross_ country.html camprichardson.com/recreation/ winterspring-recreation viator.com/tours/Lake-Tahoe/South-LakeTahoe-Snowshoe-Rental/d816-6186SHOE FOOD CONSIDERATIONS camprichardson.com/the-resort/ restaurants/beacon-bar-a-grill skisnowboard.com/resorts/ heavenlyskiresort/cross-country/ SNOWSHOEING FOR KIDS tahoekidsguide.com/Snow_Shoeing.html

GUIDED SNOWSHOE TREKS tahoeadventurecompany.com/ourtrips/ winteradventures/snowshoeing/ hopevalleycrosscountry.com/56-2/ PLACES TO CHALLENGE YOU trails.com/tcatalog_trail. aspx?trailid=SGS020-032 WINTER SNOW CONDITIONS AND ROAD CONDITIONS sierraattahoe.com/mountain/conditions dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/tahoe.htm skilaketahoe.com/blog/snow-conditions/ winter-driving-tips-lake-tahoe virtualtahoe.com/SkiTahoe/Weather.html tahoebest.com/weather/ ski conditions and highways OUTFITTERS lakeoftheskyoutfitters.com/winter/321051 mtnmikeslaketahoe.com/gear.htm

adventuremountaintahoe.com/

tahoepowderhouse.com/cross-country-skissnowshoes-rental-rates

SAFETY PREPARATION AND ADVICE redfeather.com/safety.html

FOR SNOWSHOEING TIPS AND MORE backpacking.net/winter.html#tips

wta.org/hiking-info/basics/winter-safetytips

ksl.com/?sid=27782027

rei.com/learn/expert-advice/snowshoechecklist.html THE EL DORADO NORDIC SKI PATROL WEBSITE ednsp.org for the latest in snow and highway conditions as well as current avalanche dangers if any. PERMITS ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=26911 ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1233

KAYAKING, SUP, & RAFTING EQUIPMENT. SALES & RENTALS, ONLINE & IN STORE.

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LAKE NATOMA PADDLE RENTALS Black Miner’s Bar Rentals, Classes, Event Hosting for SUP, Canoe and Kayak

SNOWSHOEING SITES FOR BEGINNERS camprichardson.com/recreation/ winterspring-recreation adventuremountaintahoe.com/ crescentmoonsnowshoes.com/learn/tips/

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

Take a Hike!

Photo Courtesy Betty Sederquist

Discover El Dorado County One Trail at a Time

Photo by BLM

pring arrives in El Dorado County a little at a time. Grasses turn green in the foothills, oaks leaf out, and wildflowers appear along roadsides and trails. Higher up, the Sierra holds on to winter. That gradual change gives visitors many ways to enjoy the season, from a short riverside walk to a full day exploring Gold Country. FOLLOW THE TRAIL TO CRONAN RANCH

WHERE A RIVER CHANGED CALIFORNIA

Near Pilot Hill, Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park offers rolling hills, oak woodland and broad views of the South Fork American River. Its network of roughly 12 miles of trails includes routes for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. In spring, take your time: the appeal is as much in the green hills, birds and wildflowers as it is in reaching a destination. Choose a route that suits your ability and bring water.

In Coloma, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park pairs a spring outing with a chapter of California history. James W. Marshall found gold here in January 1848, setting the Gold Rush in motion. Today the museum, historic buildings, mill replica and monument help visitors understand that moment. Allow time simply to walk beneath the trees and listen to the river. The landscape gives the story a sense of place that a textbook cannot.

TAKE THE BACK ROAD TO MAGNOLIA RANCH

A RIVER TO RESPECT

Just north of Coloma along Highway 49, Magnolia Ranch offers a quieter outing. The approximately 2.5mile Gerle Loop winds through oak woodland and open hills with views toward the river. Mostly gentle terrain makes it a good choice for a shorter walk, while connections to other trails allow a longer day outside. It is the sort of place you might have passed many times without realizing what waits just off the road.

Spring runoff makes the South Fork especially striking, but the water can be dangerously cold and conditions can change quickly. Check current river guidance before visiting. Stay back from unstable banks, supervise children closely and use proper safety equipment for any water activity. If you want to raft or kayak, an experienced local outfitter can help you choose a trip suited to the day’s conditions.

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat

MORE THAN ONE GOLD RUSH STORY The Gam Saan Trail between Lotus and the Coloma area points to another part of the region’s past. Its name means “Gold Mountain” in Cantonese, a reminder of the Chinese immigrants whose lives and labor shaped Gold Rush California. The trail invites a longer look at the many histories woven into this landscape.

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MAKE A DAY OF IT Start with a walk at Cronan or Magnolia Ranch, then spend the afternoon in Coloma. Pack lunch, wear comfortable shoes and bring an extra layer. Spring weather can change, and the best stops are often the ones you did not plan. Follow a trail, watch the river from a safe place and enjoy a part of El Dorado County that feels new again each year.

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat

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WELCOME Adventures in El Dorado County

It’s a GREAT DAY in El Dorado County Come live your BEST LIFE in the Foothills!

Call Realtor, Sally Long Johns for Guidance on Selling Acreage • Homes • Commercial Referrals • Estate • Equestrian • Probate • Divorce • Short Sales or Buying to Build • Risk Management Mountain Democrat

SALLY LONG JOHNS

2010

2011, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025

DRE#01308662

(530) 306-0821

SallyLongJohns@yahoo.com

WELCOME — Adventures in El Dorado County

Mountain Democrat