Photo Essay: Summer in Truckee, California

If you've spent any time here on my blog or follow me on social media, then you know that I obsess over love Lake Tahoe. Lake Tahoe is arguably the most beautiful corner of America. After all, it is North America's largest alpine lake, set against the backdrop of the Sierra Nevada mountains and surrounded by ski resorts and some of America's most beautiful trails. So what's not to love? However, summer is hella busy around Lake Tahoe. Fourth of July weekend alone sees upwards of 250,000 people around the lake. That's more than the entire population of El Dorado County, which touches Lake Tahoe. And it's for this, and many other reasons, that during summer, I like exploring the nooks, crannies, towns, and other waterways beyond Lake Tahoe, not the least of which is Truckee, California.

Just a few miles north of Lake Tahoe, Truckee is one of my favorite corners of California. Some would even argue that it's one of the most important corners of California, steeped in history, where you'll find one of the world's longest hiking trails, the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), old petroglyphs left by Native Americans, remnants of the first transcontinental highway and transcontinental railroad, and a memorial and museum for what's arguably America's most infamous pioneers, the Donner Party.

But what I love most about Truckee is that even on the busiest weekend, winter or summer, you can feel like you're so off-the-beaten-path. This ranges from climbing Castle Peak to exploring the lift-access trails around Northstar California to stargazing at Donner Summit to getting on a different body of water, like Donner Lake or the Truckee River. Below, find a few of my favorite photos from summer in Truckee, California.