Marlette Lake
Photos Maps Summary: This is a nice mid-range hike up North Canyon to the scenic shores of the lake. Marlette Lake serves as the gateway to the famous Flume Trail mountain bike ride, which is one of the region’s finest. Therefore, this area is very popular with mountain bikers. Fortunately, hikers and bikers have been given separate trails to the lake, with the bikers taking the dirt road and the hikers taking the dirt single track. Equestrians are also a common sight along the trail and lake. There is catch-and-release fishing at the lake in the summer and colorful aspens in the autumn.Distance: 9.8 miles round-tripElevation Gain/Loss: 1,655' totalSeason: June through OctoberFees & Permits: None for dayhikersFinding the Trailhead: 39.1073 N, 119.9158 W (Spooner Lake parking lot). From the US-50/NV-28 intersection just off the eastern shore of Lake Tahoe, follow NV-28 north for ~0.6 miles. Turn right and drive to the Spooner Lake parking area (~0.2 miles). The trail starts off the northeastern side.
The Hike: The trail leaves the parking lot heading northeast and quickly comes to a road junction. Keep going straight and follow the road as it turns to the north. At ~0.3 miles another dirt road branches off to the right, stay straight. At ~0.7 miles the trail passes by Spencers Cabin. The trail crosses North Canyon Creek and intersects with a road coming in from the south at ~0.9 miles. Shortly after this find the North Canyon Trail (for hikers) to the left instead of going right and following the North Canyon Road (for bikers).The North Canyon Trail is off limits to bikes which can be numerous in this area, offering hikers an alternative. Follow the trail to the northeast and above the road for the rest of the way to the lake shore as it passes through open sections filled with mule ear and arrowleaf balsamroot and sections of mixed forest. At ~4.0 miles you will cross a side-trail which leads to the North Canyon Campground to the east. Just before this, the trail reaches its highest point (~8,160') after which it descends to the lake (~7,830'). At ~4.6 miles the trail reaches the lake shore. Turn right onto
the lake shore trail to cross over the inlet and to access the peninsula on the southeastern end of the lake, which represents the turnaround point of this hike (~4.9 miles from the trailhead).
