Fallen Leaf Lake
South Lake Tahoe (near Camp Richardson) · near South Lake Tahoe · Sierra Nevada / Yosemite
Kayaking & SUP
At a glance
- Best season
- June–September · Calm mornings · Cold alpine water
Permits and booking
- Permit
- No permit. $5 launch fee at the marina/boat launch. Drive the narrow access road slowly and courteously. Near Camp Richardson and Baldwin Beach in South Lake Tahoe.
What is here
- Wildlife
- Bald eagles · Ospreys · Trout · Deer on shore · Backed by Desolation Wilderness peaks
Worth knowing
- Good for a first timer
- Yes
Kayaking & SUP detail
- Nickname
- Tahoe's Quiet Little Sister
- Water types
- alpine-lake
- Exposure
- sheltered
- Sup friendly
- Yes
- Wetsuit
- Cold alpine water (50s–low 60s°F). Short summer outings usually fine without; carry a dry bag and consider a spring suit for longer paddles.
- Tidal note
- No tides; sheltered by its small size and mountain setting. The access road is narrow and requires patient, courteous driving — go slow. The boat launch has a $5 fee (includes a rinse of your gear) and is also a cafe/store/rental hub.
- Intl tip
- Fallen Leaf is minutes from Baldwin Beach and the Emerald Bay area (this guide) in South Lake Tahoe. Camp Richardson's historic resort and ice cream are nearby. Combine with the Mount Tallac trailhead (the peak rises right above the lake) for a paddle-and-hike day. Take the access road slowly.
The guide
Fallen Leaf Lake is Lake Tahoe's quiet little sister — a smaller alpine lake tucked just south of the big lake near Camp Richar…
In the Guidebook
Everything above is yours for free. The written guide to Fallen Leaf Lake — what it is actually like, and what we would tell a friend before they went — comes with the Guidebook.
Getting there
- Coordinates
- 38.893, -120.057