Skiing Blackwood Canyon

Lake Tahoe / Truckee

Ski of the Month

Skiing at Blackwood Canyon

An almost flat, picturesque ski or snowshoe waits you at Blackwood Canyon! Encased with trees dressed in winter snow on either side of the trail, Blackwood Canyon provides an easy outing right at the Lake.

Blackwood Canyon was created by glacial advances during the Pleistocene period. What remains is a beautiful, relatively flat canyon floor flanked by steep ridges as you go further into the canyon. Blackwood Creek flows through the canyon to Lake Tahoe for most of the year.

To access Blackwood Canyon, just take State Route 89 south from Tahoe City for 4 miles. After passing Sunnyside, you will come to a bend in the road that curves to the left. In the middle of the bend there is a right hand turn for the SNO-PARK parking lot. The plowing and parking in the SNO-PARK is maintained from November 30 to May 1 each year. You will need to get a SNO-PARK permit to park or you may be ticketed (about $87). SNO-PARK permits can be purchased for $5 for the day or $25 for the season. You can get these at Mountain (Ace) Hardware in Truckee (open 7 days a week) near the Safeway. You can also purchase SNO-PARK passes on-line at

http://www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1233

The trail to Blackwood Canyon begins just as the short access road leading to the SNO-PARK starts to curve to the right. The trail in winter is actually the paved road that runs through Blackwood Canyon in the summer. Snowmobiles are allowed in the SNO-PARK and on the trail. However, my experience is they quickly zip past you with a friendly wave and smile, never to be seen again. Apparently they go deep into the park to race around, so once they passed me I could not see or hear them again. Two of the times I went to Blackwood Canyon this winter the parking lot was deserted. The third time snowmobile trailers flooded the parking lot, so I parked on the access easement near State Route 89.

When you reach where the creek crosses the trail there is a bridge you can ski across. From there the trail heads up towards Barker Pass. Most of the trail up to Barker Pass is lined with trees so there may not be any views till you get to the Pass.

On the way to or from Blackwood Canyon, an absolute must detour and stop is the Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet. Located about 300 yards south from Tahoe City on State Route 89 on the right hand side, there are delicious homemade pastries, great coffee, sandwiches, and more. You can take the food and drinks to go, or you can relax in their intimate dining area complete with gas fireplace. There are also men’s and women’s restrooms available for customers. Sure beats the outhouse located at the end of the SNO-PARK parking lot!

The Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet is one of the last true “Mom and Pop” operations at Lake Tahoe. In May of 1977 Peter and Helen Vogt moved to Lake Tahoe with their two little girls and opened the Tahoe House Restaurant. Peter and Helen were originally from Switzerland and brought with them a love of European Style breads and pastries. Now how good is that! Open 7 days a week, the Tahoe House Bakery and Gourmet is a must stop!