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Whether spring, summer, fall or winter, beautiful Paige Meadows boasts the area’s best wildflower hikes, bike trails and cross-country skiing. During autumn, the aspen trees that surround the 1.4 mile circular loop, display a beautiful red, yellow and shimmering gold.
Paige Meadows consists of five interconnected trails. Each offers incredible mountain and meadow views, with access to the backside of Alpine Meadows. From Ward Canyon, the trail ascends into an open meadow. You will find small lakes during spring, and perfect snow conditions for cross-country skiing in winter.
The main trail makes a large loop around Paige Meadows with several interconnecting trails that meander through the forest. Each leads back to the main trail. One can hike the entire loop in a little over an hour and it is considered a moderate hiking or biking trail.
Access to Paige Meadows
From Highway 89 on the west shore, the trail can be accessed via the Ward Creek Tahoe Rim Trail on Ward Creek Boulevard. You can also turn onto Pine Avenue above Sunnyside and follow Tahoe Park Heights Drive up to Silver Tip Drive in Talmont Estates. There is a parking area at the end of Silver Tip Drive.
For a longer hike, follow the Tahoe Rim Trail from Tahoe City, which intersects with the Paige Meadows trails to the north and west. This is a more challenging hike and increases the loop to 5.1 miles.
Paige Meadows History
You will find many groves of aspen trees on the very west of the large loop. Look for the carvings on the trees that date back to when the Basque immigrants lived in this area.
During the 1890’s, many of the Basque sheepherders came here from Spain and France. They would bring their sheep into the Tahoe National Forest during summer. At the west end of the meadow, you can still find one of their hand-built, traditional brick ovens.
They baked bread in these ovens and the one in Paige Meadows is so well-built that it looks like it could still be used today.
Summer Wildflowers
During summer, the meadow is best known for amazing wild-flower hikes. You will find wild columbine, lupine and even wild and white lilies. Sage, paint brush, wild daisies, mule’s ears, yarrow and wild daffodil are other flowers that bring amazing color to the grassy meadow and forests.
At the very west portion of the loop, you can cross a babbling stream and find trails up into the Alpine Meadows back country, behind the Scott Chair. On the other side of Ward Creek Boulevard, there are trails up to Ward Peak and amazing views of Twin Peaks.
There are many trails within Paige Meadows and the surrounding areas. One can even access the Pacific Crest Trail from a hike that leads out of the Shirley Chair in the Alpine Peaks neighborhood.
The neighborhoods of Talmont Estates and Alpine Peaks are popular because of their ease of access to Paige Meadows. Contact me today for more information about available homes in Lake Tahoe and Truckee.
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