Fallen Leaf Lake

Located one mile south of Lake Tahoe near the California and Nevada border, Fallen Leaf Lake (6,377 feet) is a great location for recreation, relaxation, wilderness and retreats.  The lake is aligned north to south and is oval in shape.  It is 2.9 miles long and .9 wide.  At its deepest, Fallen Leaf Lake is 415 feet deep at with the average depth of 240 feet.  Swimmers take note - the bottom falls away rapidly at the shorelines everywhere except the northern end of the lake.

Fallen Leaf Lake was created by glaciers flowing down the Glen Alpine Valley.  Evidence of its glacial past exists in the northern end of the lake where visitors can view a terminal moraine.  The lake is surrounded by Cathedral Peak and Mount Tallac (9,735 feet). Fallen Leaf Lake is located within the National Forest System and managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

The lake is fed by Glen Alpine Creek at the south end of the lake.  Spring snow melt feeds much of the lake with cold water and tapers off in late summer and fall.  It takes 8 years to cycle entirely new water in Fallen Leaf Lake.  This is extremely fast compared to Lake Tahoe which exchanges every 700 years.  The lake is home to good water quality due to lack of development with visibility ranging from 40 to 50 feet.  In fact the water is potable and some residences surrounding the lake use it as a water source during winter months.

Fallen Leaf Lake is known for great water activities including water skiing, sail boating, kayaking, wake boarding, and rowing. You'll also find that fishing is popular for brook and rainbow trout.  During your stay at our California retreat center, you'll be able to enjoy all of these water activities with great access from our boat dock.