Squaw Creek
Photos Maps Summary: This is an easy hike starting on the western end of Squaw Valley USA that follows beautiful Squaw Creek up to Shirley Lake. This hike is recommended during spring through mid-Summer to ensure plenty of water going over the many cascades of Squaw Creek. The first section of the hike is pretty popular in the spring and summer with much less people making the trek to Shirley Lake. There is also a lesser-known waterfall northeast of Shirley Lake that requires a short side-trip to see (novice hikers should probably not attempt this, but if you do try to see this waterfall be careful as the granite can be slick when wet and there are some dangerously steep sections).Distance: 4.7 miles round-tripElevation Gain/Loss: 1,450' totalSeason: mid-June through OctoberFees & Permits: None for dayhikersFinding the Trailhead: 39.1987 N, 120.2414 W. Take exit #185 (CA-89 south) from I-80 in Truckee and follow CA-89 south for ~8.4 miles and turn right onto Squaw Valley Road. Follow this for ~2.3 miles, follow the road as it turns sharply to the left and crosses over Squaw Creek, and after a further ~0.1 miles follow the road as it turns sharply to the right. Follow the road for another ~0.2 miles before staying right at the beginning of the loop. The trailhead is reached after a further ~0.2 miles (parking is off the side of the road southwest of the apartment building).
The Hike: The first part of the trail is easy and follows closely to Squaw Creek and its many small falls and pools. Here is where you are most likely to see other people (lots of others in the summer). The first of the larger small waterfalls is reached ~0.2 miles into the hike. As the trail continues up the southern side of the creek there are a couple more decent waterfalls. As the trail makes it way uphill it will move into the trees and then reemerge in the open before crossing a small creek at ~1.2 miles. Note that the Google map mistakes the course of Squaw Creek in one place where it looks like the trail crosses the creek when, in fact, it doesn't. However, this section of the trail is estimated and I may have made a mistake in its location (but the trail doesn't cross Squaw Creek). A little further past this comes the hardest part of this hike, climbing up an exposed granite face. The trail is sometimes hard to follow on the granite but in most cases it is marked by piled rocks (cairns). Once you've finished the only somewhat difficult part of this trail (the climb) you could take a side-trip to a pretty large waterfall along Squaw Creek to the northeast (or do it on your back towards the trailhead). Click on the link for the waterfall in the Summary for more information. Here, you are ~1.55 miles from the trailhead with a trail junction just east of Shirley Lake a further ~0.45 miles away. At this junction stay right to explore the northern shore of the lake or stay left to make your way around the southern and western sides of the lake to get a closer view (~0.35 miles from the junction) of Granite Chief to the west-southwest. The trail continues up to Granite Chief for hikers looking for more (~10.2 miles round-trip from trailhead). Shirley Lake is a small pretty lake that could offer a nice swim on a hot day.
