Lake Tahoe Water Trail and Tahoe Adventure Company
Despite legislative delay, plans continue
By Joanna Hartman Sierra Sun September 5, 2007
The dream of a kayak and canoe trail around the shores of Lake Tahoe continues to move forward, despite recent delays in California legislation.
Assemblyman Ted Gaines, R-Roseville, scored an apparent victory in April when his Lake Tahoe Water Trail Bill, AB 1227, passed through the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.
Sponsored jointly by the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee and the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, the assembly bill would have authorized the creation of a kayak and canoe trail around the 72-mile perimeter of Lake Tahoe.
But the bill has since been waylaid and will likely be re-introduced by a new legislator next year, said Executive Director Patrick Wright of the California Tahoe Conservancy.
At a Tahoe City Public Utility District board of directors meeting Tuesday evening, Wright explained that even though a state mandate would have to wait another year, water trail plans are moving forward.
With or without enabling legislation, government agencies and interested parties have started to collaborate on how to establish the water trail.
What's a water trail? A water trail is mostly defined by public access points, officials say.
Not too different from the Tahoe Rim Trail, advocates want to see an official water trail around Lake Tahoe.
The designation gives it the extra footing it needs for tourism.
"The idea of easy access for portable boats to Lake Tahoe is one that has just exploded," said Sue Rae Irelan, recreation specialist with the California Tahoe Conservancy.
A map of public access points, campgrounds, lodging and points of interest already exists. It was created a few years ago by the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee - a group of volunteers dedicated to coordinating information about nonmotorized boat access points around Lake Tahoe.
But signage, directions and more official information would come with the water trail if mandated by the state.
"Kayakers as a whole are a pretty conscientious, respectful group of people. With a trail designated with where you can and can't go, kayakers, I think, would obey that," said Kevin Hickey, owner of Tahoe Adventure Company and a kayaker.
"I can't really see a reason not to have a [designated water trail]," he added.
Promoting sustainable recreation
Kayaking is exploding in popularity, the sport's advocates say, and a sanctioned water trail on Lake Tahoe would provide an opportunity to explore the shoreline with access points, resting places, campgrounds, lodging, points of interest and other facilities accommodating kayakers and canoeists.
Chesapeake Bay, Lake Champlain, rivers in Pennsylvania, and the San Francisco Bay are among the few places with designated water trails.
"It's one thing to have a trail network, it's another to have this designation," said Wright about the state legislation. "It makes all the difference to the tourism industry."
Kayaker Kevin Hickey, owner and director of Tahoe Adventure Company, agrees. "As kayaking itself has been growing as a sport, there are other water trails that exist and are very popular and successful as far as people using them," he said in a phone interview Wednesday. "We should be promoting sustainable recreation ... Getting out on the lake paddling is an awesome way to see Tahoe."
Advocates say that an organized trail with signage and directions would address anticipated problems between motorized and nonmotorized boats, although it wouldn't restrict either group's use of the lake.
"This is not an attempt to produce preference to one user group over any others," said Sue Rae Irelan, recreation specialist with the California Tahoe Conservancy. Additionally, a state designation can help significantly when it comes to funding, advocates say.
"If this is official through the state of California, it allows us to compete better for implementation money," Irelan said. "And it charges us to make sure we work with all the interest groups in the basin."
Beginning in 2003, volunteers formed a nonprofit organization, the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Committee, in an effort to coordinate information about nonmotorized boat access points around Lake Tahoe. They also produced in 2005 a trail map and trip-planning guide that are for sale throughout the region.
"A lake like Lake Tahoe is the perfect venue for a water trail - it's scenic, it's a lake whose water quality is threatened," Hickey said. "I think promoting nonmotorized recreation is certainly helpful for that cause."
- The Tahoe Daily Tribune's Adam Jensen contributed to this report.
Visitors Love To Adventure With Us
"We recently went to Lake Tahoe for R&R. I love to hike and decide to hire a guide for one day. Tahoe Adventure Company was wonderful their customer service and guides are very professional. Our guide Robin new about all the flowers, trees, wildlife and brought a book so we could look up flowers, fish, trees and more. She even brought a picnic along for the day! I would recommend Tahoe Adventure Company for anyone interested in hiking, and water activities. When we return for future summers in Tahoe we will be booking more hikes with Tahoe Adventure Company!" -Tracy M
"I went out on the Sunset~Full Moon tour with TAC this week and it was just an exceptional experience, one I'll cherish for a long time. Safe and socially distanced, a great group of folks all visited easily which I attribute to our guide Tyler. He was so welcoming to all of us from the get-go. Organized. Streamlined. Professional. Lots of good information about the lake, the area, and just great upbeat vibes all around. Thank you, TAC!" -Cheryl L.
We had 2 tours with this company both were perfect. The kayak tour guide was really informative, funny, and friendly. Made the experience better then if we were to just rent a kayak at the beach. The 2 hour kayak trip felt like 30 minutes we were having a lot of fun. The hiking tour guide was great as well she made sure no one was left behind and kept us entertained the whole hike she was also very informative, funny and friendly the 4 mile hike was much better having someone experienced showing us what every plant and landmark was and supporting our group along the way. If you make your way to Tahoe definitely book with these guys you won’t regret it.
"My family of 6 visited in July and booked a multi sport tour. We kayaked for about two hours in the am. Our guide Joel was great. Knowledgeable about the lake and it’s history. He set a good pace with breaks as we needed them. We ate a basic lunch of turkey sandwiches and then headed to Squaw valley for hiking. Very nice scenic hike at the right level for our group. Lots of wild flowers. It would have been hard to follow the trail without a guide. The company was great about answering all my questions and returning phone calls. One suggestion would be to provide a wider variety of snacks and drinks. Some gourmet touches to lunch like local homemade cookies would have been nice. We have had this with other tour companies. We would definitely book another trip." Larry F.
-- Larry F.
I wanted to let you know that the vendor you had suggested when I first talked with the Northstar group sales office a year ago, Tahoe Adventure Company, was terrific. The two events we did with him ....Orienteering + Kayaking...were fun, community building, and a learning experience. Many people within our group voiced their appreciation for he and his staff. -Clark Family Reunion
-- Clark Family Reunion
"I ended up doing the Discover Paddle boarding tour after my other one had to be cancelled. I was just happy to get on the water, and appreciated everything Katie did to accommodate me last minute. I’ve done SUP before, so the instructor Crystal was ok with me being a little on my own if I wanted. We had the perfect weather for SUP, so it was a relaxing and enjoyable two hours. I loved chatting with Crystal and the rest of the people on the tour. I will definitely look to book another tour when I come back." Sammi R.