Discover Lake Tahoe

Sponsored by The National Forest Foundation

• Location: California
• Travel Type: Walking
• Trip Time: 1 hour
• Language:

On this walking tour, you will explore the natural and cultural histories that have shaped, and been shaped, by the stunning landscape of Lake Tahoe. We hope you enjoy this tour, brought to you through an incredible network of partners including the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, The National Forest Foundation, The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, the Great Basin Institute, generous contributions from the Tahoe Fund, and additional support from numerous other organizations and individuals.

Descending into the Lake Tahoe Basin means entering the heart of the Washoe ancestral territory. As the traditions explain, the Washoe did not travel to this area from another place. They were here in the beginning and have always lived here. The plants, animals, medicines, and Washoe people grew here together, their culture and traditions “evolving” in unison with the natural cycles around them. As you walk through this landscape and learn about the natural history and cultures that have come to occupy the area, consider too, the human condition that has been in place since the beginning of time.

Chartered by Congress, the National Forest Foundation, or NFF, was created with the mission of bringing people together to restore and enhance our national forests and grasslands. A key goal of the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California is to reconnect Washoe communities with their lands and to educate people about their culture. With these goals in mind, NFF and the Washoe Tribe have partnered to produce this audio tour, adding culture, diversity, and capacity to help steward this landscape and share the unique Washoe language with the world. We are proud to provide this tour in English, Washoe, and Spanish. Navigate back to the home screen to download the language that feels right to you.

Whatever language you choose, let the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and this guided tour help you explore this fascinating location and serve as the starting point for your Lake Tahoe adventure!