Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Lake Tahoe Basin, Nevada · 6,976 ft
Typical peak
Sep 24 – Oct 2
low confidence in typical timing.
Best light
Best at sunrise
Aspen riparian stands ringing a small lake on the Nevada shoulder of the Tahoe basin, with Jeffrey pine holding the slopes dark behind them. A flat two-mile loop keeps water on one side the whole way, so the same grove can be worked backlit and front-lit in one morning.
Seasonal model estimate. Timing remains uncertain; check recent reports before traveling. Source: seasonal timing model. Calculated .
Crowds
high
Busy through peak. Be parked before sunrise or expect to walk in.
Getting there
Off US-50 near Spooner Summit at the junction with NV-28. A two-mile trail circles the lake and the park is the portal to the Marlette Flume Trail and 13 miles of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Entrance fee.
What turns here
- quaking aspen
- Jeffrey pine
- lodgepole pine
Color progression
Typical peak Sep 28Typical color progression for Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. No change from Aug 21 to Sep 7. First color from Sep 7 to Sep 16. Approaching peak from Sep 16 to Sep 24. Peak from Sep 24 to Oct 2. Past peak from Oct 2 to Oct 12. Bare from Oct 12 to Oct 26.
Leaves are typically down on Nov 1, 2026. Color starts around Sep 7.
This season so far
First frost
Oct 13
2 nights at or below 32°F since Aug 1.
Last 14 days
51°F / 37°F
Average daily high and low.
Modeled weather for these coordinates from the Open-Meteo historical archive, Aug 1 – Oct 31; not a station record. Reported peak is the median date of approved peak-color reports.
Plan the light
Spooner Lake, Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on September 28, 2026, the center of its typical peak window.
| Event | Time |
|---|---|
| First light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 6:26 AM |
| Sunrise Rises E · 92° | 6:52 AM |
| Morning golden hour ends 35 min of low, warm light | 7:28 AM |
| Solar noon Highest sun, flattest light | 12:50 PM |
| Evening golden hour starts 35 min before sunset | 6:12 PM |
| Sunset Sets W · 268° | 6:47 PM |
| Last light (blue hour) Sun 6° below horizon | 7:14 PM |
Times in America/Los Angeles · day length 11h 55m · computed from NOAA solar equations.
Local terrain can hide the sun; allow extra time to reach your viewpoint.
Which way to point the camera
Sun rises E, sets W.
Aim within 45° of the sun for translucent leaves. Turn your back to it for flat, accurate color.
Shooting conditions
Glassy water, wind blur, and what the cloud will do to your light.
Recent reports
What people actually saw here. Been recently? Add yours.
Nearby locations
Within 100 miles in a straight line; road distances can be longer.