North Lake Tahoe Real Estate- Lake Tahoe America’s playground

Lake Tahoe is 180 miles northeast of San Francisco, with access by major highways and airports on both north and south shores. Reno is within 50 minutes. Virginia City, the famed Ponderosa Ranch, the Carson Valley and many historic sites are within an hour’s drive.

Lake Tahoe is North America’s largest alpine lake, measuring 12 miles wide, 22 miles long and 72 miles around. It is the third deepest lake in the world with an average depth of 989 feet. The lake’s capacity is 122,000,000 acre-feet which is enough to cover the state of California with more than one foot of water. The Lake is two thirds in California and one third in Nevada. Because of several decades of stringent growth and development ordinances, the lake remains 99.7 percent pure. The average surface temperature of the water varies from 41 degrees in winter to 68 degrees in summer. The lake never freezes. Lake Tahoe’s weather forecasts 80 percent chance of sunshine in any season, low humidity, 40-50 degree average winter temperatures and 70-75 degree average temperatures in the summer. Average annual snowfall is 350 inches.

Long before white settlers arrived in the Lake Tahoe Basin, and for nearly 10,000 years, the lake was home to the Washoe Indian. They considered Lake Tahoe sacred - the water of life which fed all living things. The discovery of gold and silver in the Sierra, the arrival of the white man and the growth of towns and settlements in the late 1800’s, ended the era of the Washoe. Lake Tahoe became the favorite summer vacation spot for wealthy San Franciscans in the 1900’s, beginning the reign of tourism as the foundation of the lake’s economy.

Today, mild temperatures and the crystal clear lake encourage outdoor enthusiasts to sample Lake Tahoe’s many recreational activities: golfing, hiking, swimming, boating, fishing, camping, sailing, biking and horseback riding. And in the winter, Lake Tahoe proves its reputation as one the world’s finest year-around playgrounds with American’s highest concentration of ski resorts, including Squaw Valley/USA, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Alpine Meadows, Heavenly, Kirkwood and Northstar are but a few of the many major ski areas to choose from. Complete community services are available around the entire lake with a full range of fine restaurants, casino-hotels and top-name entertainment, convenient shopping, excellent public schools, colleges and an active arts community.

North Lake Tahoe Real Estate-Lake Tahoe More than a place A Lifestyle

The Lake Tahoe/Reno area is known for more than just exciting casinos, excellent dining, and exceptional weather. It’s also famous for being one of the nation’s most desirable places to reside.  With a tax and business climate as agreeable as the weather itself, it’s no wonder so many individuals and companies are moving to the area.

• Lake Tahoe is ranked by Rand McNally as the nation’s #1 location for outdoor recreation, including skiing, water sports, hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, golf, and tennis.

• Reno/Tahoe is the cultural center of the Sierra with an internationally acclaimed opera company, a symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, ballet, chorale, several repertory theatre companies, art galleries, museums and an active Young Audience program.

• The region also touts a strong educational record, with the best SAT and ACT scores in the state, and a national test ranking that is above-average.

North Lake Tahoe- A Little Strip of Paradise

In the summer enjoy hiking, biking, and all other summer activities in one of the most beautiful places on earth:  Lake Tahoe.

I choose to live in North Lake Tahoe because it’s the best of Tahoe without the busy tourist feel.  Incline Village is the pinnacle of that having a quiet relaxed pace and abundant nature as part of the design of the living style and design.  Incline Village is located about 25 minutes outside of Carson City, South Lake Tahoe, and Reno and is the perfect getaway location for second home owners and vacation home owners and a little strip of paradise for us full time residents.

North Lake Tahoe is known for one of the bluest lakes surrounded by scenic forest area.  Spend a lazy day on the beach (see me above), as an owner of a property in Incline you get access to three private beaches Incline Beach, Burnt Cedar Beach, and Ski Beach where you can launch your boat or water toys for free.  Included in your owning property in Incline Village North Lake Tahoe Nevada you have access to the Incline Village Recreation Center which has a gym, heated indoor pool, fitness classes, and a tennis club.  Spring and summer are the best time for golfing and owners in Incline Village get reduced green fees at the two local golf courses Championship Golf Course, and Mountain Golf Course which offer free Tee times after 5:00pm to locals.

North Lake Tahoe- Cool Facts About Lake Tahoe

LAKE TAHOE

Tahoe is a Washoe Indian word, generally believed to mean “Big Water” or “Big Blue.”  While no exact definition has ever been agreed upon, many have interpreted the word to man many things.  Mark Twain, while visiting Lake Tahoe in his earlier days, was said to have defined Tahoe as “Grasshopper Soup”.  Others have said the word means “Strong Water” or “Whiskey”.  Whatever the meaning, the word Tahoe has long had a mystical connotation, which is appropriate in describing the overwhelming beauty of the lake.

PHYSICAL

Elevation:  The surface elevation varies between 6223′ and 6229′ depending upon the snowpack and how much water is released through the Truckee River.  The highest peak on the Lake’s shoreline is Mount Tallac at 9725′, while the highest peak in the Basin is Freel Peak at 10,881′.  The lake itself is the highest lake of its size in the United States.

Location:  Lake Tahoe is located on the California/Nevada border, 198 miles northeast of San Francisco, 98 miles east of Sacramento and 58 miles southwest of Reno, Nevada.

Size:  The Lake Tahoe Basin, which area defines along the crest of the Sierra Nevada and the Carson Range, covers 482 square miles.  Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake on the North American continent.  It is 12 miles wide, 22 miles long, with a surface area of 198 square miles (70 of which are in Nevada).  The shoreline is 72 miles long while it’s maximum depth is 1645 fee.  The average depth of the lake is 989 feet.  Only two lakes in North America are deeper than Lake Tahoe-Crater Lake in Oregon (1930 feet) and the Great Slave Lake in Canada (2010 feet).  Lake Mead is backed up 227 miles by Hoover Dam into the Grand Canyon of the Colorado and is considered one of the largest man-made lakes in the world.  Lake Tahoe contains nearly four times the maximum capacity of Lake Mead.  The panama Canal average 700 feet in width and 50 feet in depth, yet such a canal could be filled by Lake Tahoe’s water and extend completely around the earth at the equator, with enough remaining in the lake to fill another channel of the same width and depth running from San Francisco to New York.

Volume:  Lake Tahoe contains an estimated 122,160,280 acre feet of water, enough to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches and Texas to a depth of 8 ½ inches!  On an average, 1.4 million tons of water evaporates from the surface of Lake Tahoe every 24hours, yet the lake level drops only one tenth of an inch.  The water which evaporates each day is enough to supply the needs of 3.5 million people per day.  The total evaporation averages more per day than the water released through the Truckee river Dam outlet; for example, the maximum flow through the gates at lake level of 6227.56 feet amounts to 1,464 cubic feet per second.  There are 63 tributaries draining into Lake Tahoe with only one outlet at the Truckee River.

Water Clarity:  Tahoe’s waters are among the purest in the world at 99.7% pure.  A white dinner plate can be seen 120 feet below the surface with little trouble.

Water Temp:  Lake Tahoe never freezes over due to the constant movement of water from the bottom to the surface.  This “turnover” allows an enormous mass movement of water, and keeps the lake ice free.  However, ice may form at times along the shoreline in small protected inlets.  During the summer, the upper 12 feet forms a layer that can warm to 68 degrees F., but below depths of 700 feet during the winter the temperature remains a constant 39 degrees F.

CLIMATE

Snowfall:  Lake Tahoe gets an average of 215.4 inches of snowfall, or a little under 18 feet.  Upper elevation can get between 300 and 500 inches per year.

Winds:  Winds are generally mild, 10-15 mph, out of the west and northwest.  During storm periods they can average 25-35 mph.

Sunshine:  The sunshine probability for the Basin is 84%, with at least 300 days of sun per year.

Dress:  Sweaters and jackets are almost always necessary in the evenings.  Winter means heavy jackets and warm boots and clothes, while summer days can be spent in shorts and t-shirts.

Population:  In the 1950’s there were 2,500 permanent residents in the Lake Tahoe Basin.  By 1999 that number had risen to 52,570 with 14,734 in Nevada and 37,836 in California.

North Lake Tahoe-Take A Sunset And Sunrise Hike In North Lake Tahoe

When I wake every morning in the summer I lace up my tennis shoes and take a hike.  Sometimes, I get up early enough to watch the sun come up behind Diamond Peak from one of my favorite meditative hiking spots.  If you want to get a breath taking view of the Lake with a 30minute or less hike that is of moderate difficulty I would recommend taking a walk up to the Stateline Lookout.  The Stateline Lookout is located behind the Biltmore Casino in Crystal Bay the small town next to Incline Village.  From Tahoe Boulevard you would turn onto Lakeview road and follow it up the mountain until you see a green gate.

Park near the green gate and walk the paved trail.  As you approach the summit of the trail there are paths where you can walk around the crown of the lookout and learn more about the area from informational signs that explain the history of the Tahoe area.  Along the way down the path you have many benches at scenic vistas to sit and enjoy the sprawling views of Lake Tahoe, Crystal Bay and Kings Beach areas.  At the end of the trail you get to the lookout area surrounded by granite border.  The lookout area is the best place to be at dusk or early evening as the lights of Kings Beach start twinkling and the last boats to dock come to the shore along the sunset rainbow sherbet colored waters. If you are at the Stateline Lookout Trail to watch the sunrise you want to be at the top by 6:30am in the summer and you will take the first trail that veers to the left off the main trail.  This side of the Lookout Trail will let you view Crystal Bay and the sun coming up behind Diamond Peak.  There are many benches that face the direction of where the sun will come peaking through.  Most mornings, a sliver of sunlight will advance on the sun and light the lake with shimmering light that dances on the water and announces the sun’s accent.

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful magical place that I wake up every morning grateful that I live in.  If you are interested in having your own piece of heaven in Lake Tahoe give us a call at 775-831-8100 and we would love to help you on your journey.

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