With Lake Tahoe overrun by tourists, here’s an alternative in the Sierra Nevada foothills
Lake Tahoe is one of the West Coast’s premier summer destinations given all it has to offer. The scenic views, stunning hikes, beaches, casinos, water sports, golf and overall good vibes have perhaps made it too crowded during the warmer months of the year.
In fact, Tahoe recently landed on the “No List 2023” at travel website Fodors.com, which cited a “people problem” surrounding the largest alpine lake in North America.
“The leading threat to Tahoe’s famous clarity is fine sediment pollution running off our urban landscape, according to The League to Save Lake Tahoe,” the website said. “Heavy traffic crushes Tahoe’s roads into fine dust and debris and pumps tailpipe emissions into the air. When it rains or snow melts, stormwater transports these fine pollution particles into the Lake, clouding its cobalt blue waters.”
Which means vacationers or those looking for outdoor adventure in the region should consider alternatives. Fortunately, there are plenty in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills, including one that’s roughly the same driving distance from Sacramento: Arnold and the surrounding areas in Calaveras County.
Locals call the serene foothills of Arnold a “golden place” filled with sequoia trees offering a similar experience to Tahoe without the traffic, casinos and overwhelming crowds.
Just east of Arnold is the aptly named Big Trees State Park, where trees grow upwards of 100 feet tall while some have an estimated lifespan of more than 3,000 years. There are miles of hiking trails and access to the Stanislaus River.
“Calaveras Big Trees State Park is the only state park that protects groves of giant sequoias, so that’s a huge draw,” said Karri Pearcey of Big Trees. “To see giant sequoias elsewhere, you’ve got to go to a national park or a monument. We’re right here. We’re super easy to access, so we have a lot of really amazing giant sequoias.”
A short drive into the park leads to an off-shooting vista point where ice-capped mountain tops can be spotted from miles away on a clear day, without any buildings or roadways in sight. The park has summer-long programming for kids, including short hikes, education on local wildlife such as brown bears, astronomy discussions at the scenic overlook with clear skies, meadow walks and more.
The park also boasts about 120 camp sites that fill up quickly during the warmer months — but, like Tahoe, the temperatures rarely get above the mid-80s, even when it’s over 100 degrees in the Central Valley.
On the way to Arnold on Highway 4 is Murphys, a small town known for its wineries and artistic community. Murphys also features the Ironstone Amphitheater, a 6,900-seat concert venue that recently hosted country musician Hank Williams Jr. and has Patti LaBelle and Gladys Knight scheduled for Aug. 4.
Murphys is a former mining town with a population of about 2,000. It has one of the oldest hotels in the country, aptly named the Murphys Hotel, which opened in 1856 and was given historical landmark status. Some of the historical figures who have stayed there, according to the hotel, include Mark Twain, Susan B. Anthony, John Wayne and President Ulysses S. Grant.
The hotel has chosen to maintain its 19th century feel by not adding modern amenities such as TVs and telephones. “Historic” rooms have a shared bathroom down hallways and the hotel warns guests of noise coming from the saloon on the bottom floor.
Those looking for a cabin experience can find it in Arnold, which has over 300 listings on AirBNB for weekends in August, ranging from $50 to $359 per night, highly competitive rates compared to those around Lake Tahoe.
