Lupine dotting South Shore landscape

By Kathryn Reed

It wouldn’t stop. The lupine just kept going on and on and on.

Instead of pedaling through our favorite patch of wildflowers two weeks ago, we walked our bikes because the water on the trail was midway up our calves.

Lupine are more prolific this summer. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The appropriate superlative has not been created to describe this lush, picturesque, tranquil, gorgeous and mesmerizing sea of purple.

What is spectacular about the field of lupine is how much of it there is this year. All this water is allowing flowers to pop up in places not before seen as well as in greater quantities.

We aren’t ever quite sure how to get to the lupine because of all the trails that exist in this area. That’s also one of the fun things about riding mountain bikes on the north side of Fallen Leaf Lake – all the routes make it an adventure each time.

One of the benefits of all the water was not too many mosquitoes were out. But as the water dissipates, the skeeters are bound to be a nuisance, especially for anyone lingering to take photos.

Not only was the section of trail where the lupine are under water, but other parts also required either finding a completely different route or walking our bikes around the obstacle.

Leading up to Fallen Leaf Lake is Taylor Creek – normally a rather subdued body of water that eventually flows into Lake Tahoe. Not earlier this month. It was raging like a river.

Getting there:

From South Lake Tahoe, go north on Highway 89. Turn left on Cathedral Road, which is just beyond Fallen Leaf Lake Road.

The trail starts as a road, but then up a bit a dirt trail veers off to the left.

I’ve never found the lupine patch the same way – so good luck.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photos to enlarge.)