Sage Hen Creek Wildflowers Hike

A Real Estate Newsletter for my Clients and Friends

Lake Tahoe / Truckee

Suggested Hike of the Month

Wildflowers at Sage Hen Creek.

Sage Hen Creek is a delightful hike anytime in the spring, summer, or fall. At the time of this writing, May 12, 2010, there is still snow on the ground. In late May or early June this year, the weather should warm up and the flowers should be beautiful! Try to take this hike if you are up!

The hike follows the creek, making it a relatively flat, shady hike. At a leisurely pace we took about 1.5 hours round trip. We hiked from the trailhead at highway 89 to a flat meadow near the eastern tip of Stampede Reservoir. We were happily surprised that there were no mosquitoes. In the early spring, Sage Hen Creek can be loaded with wildflowers. Some years they can cover the ground like a carpet. In 2009 we hiked around May 15 and caught the end of the floral bloom. Every year the timing is different by a few weeks.

To get to Sage Hen Creek from Highway 80, take the Truckee Highway 89 north exit towards Sierraville. In a few miles Highway 89 goes downhill and crosses Alder Creek Road, where you need to reset your odometer to zero. Continue driving past Alder Creek Road and remain driving on Highway 89 north. Exactly 4.9 miles from Alder Creek Road you need to slow way, way, way down! Here you will come to a very short, tiny, flat concrete bridge (you will hardly notice it, there are no signs or markings). At the 55 mph speed limit if you blink once you will zip right past it. At the north end of the concrete bridge turn right into a dirt area that can be used for parking. At the east end of the dirt area is a path which is the unmarked trail head. On weekends in spring the parking area can be crowded, so you may want to arrive early, such as before 9am.

Enjoy the photos that follow.

Crimson Columbine flower at Sage Hen creek