Susie Lake

Susie Lake is one of many Glacier-formed alpine lakes in the mountains at the southwestern end of Lake Tahoe. It can be reached by hiking the Glen Alpine Trail, which requires a wilderness permit, obtainable at the trailhead's self-serve area near Fallen Leaf Lake Fire Station. The hike itself is rated as moderate and covers about four miles in. Many visitors to this area chose to make Susie Lake their base camp for treks to other lakes in the area, such as Gilmore, Half Moon, Heather, and Aloha. Mt. Tallac can also be climbed nearby.

After the first mile, trail is single-track, rising steeply through the rocky landscape. Things to look for here include pristine wilderness, glacial footprints, and majestic scenery. One outcropping called Cracked Crag, for example, has trees clinging to its crumbling stone foundation high above the surrounding harsh environment. And, of course, there is the super-clear, ever-cold water of Susie Lake itself as an attraction.

One often-missed feature of Susie Lake is Susie Lake Falls. In June and July, the water gushes from the lake's outlet stream and pours down into Grass Lake below. The waterfall is at least 150 feet high, making for a spectacular sight. However, it cannot be seen from Susie Lake itself and requires hiking down from the outlet end to a distance away and below the falls. Trying to get close to the falls is extremely difficult and not advisable.