Martis Creek Lake is an often overlooked small park and day use area with minimal development. The area is part of a larger wildlife management area that includes hiking and bicycling trails.
Nestled between the more popular areas of Lake Tahoe and the town of Truckee, Martis Creek Lake Is a reservoir formed by an Army Corps of Engineers-built dam. Butted up against the base of the mountains just behind the Truckee Airport, the lake is a quiet area where you can swim, paddle, or fish along the calm grassy banks. Below views of the Northstar Ski Resort mountain and slopes, The area is popular for birdwatching, as many species nest and drink from the wetlands at the lake's edge and a variety of animal are present in the area.
While at normal summer levels, the lake typically covers and area of about 70 acres, however at the dam's full capacity, the water can rise to cover over 10 times that. At usual, it's a small shallow body of water that attracts those looking for a quiet escape during the area's tourist season, or child friendly fishing and wading.
Boating is restricted to non-motorized craft. There are a few covered picnic tables and vault toilets around, but that is the extent of the area's development. There is also no natural shade. The lake is a self-sustaining trout fishery, and all trout caught must be released back into the water.
Martis Creek Lake is open from the last Saturday in April until November 15th annually, and closes for the winter. Day use hours are dawn until dusk.
An equally off-the-beaten-path feature is the adjacent Alpine Meadow Campground that sits along the road into the lake area.
Comments
Sign In and share them.