Hike Chickadee Ridge near Lake Tahoe and hand-feed tame birds while soaking in incredible mountain scenery.
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A couple of weeks ago, we decided to hop in the car here on California and head up into the mountains. Once again, our destination was the stunning Lake Tahoe, right on the border of California and Nevada. The idea was to let the kids finally play in the snow, something we keep missing out on when we stay in California and skip the winter in Finland.
We honestly thought we had already seen everything Lake Tahoe has to offer, but to our surprise, we discovered an amazing new spot on the Nevada side at Mt. Rose. Hidden in the forest at Chickadee Ridge is a magical little place where wild birds are so tame that they’ll actually eat right out of your hand!
For the kids especially, this was an unforgettable experience, and we were so glad we went. Definitely something to add to any Lake Tahoe itinerary.
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States after Crater Lake, and the eighteen deepest in the entire world. It’s truly one of California’s greatest gems, famous for its turquoise waters, picture-perfect beaches, and the many ski resorts that dot its surroundings.
Sports fans might also know Lake Tahoe from history, as it hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.
For us, Lake Tahoe has always been a very special place. We’ve made countless trips there in both summer and winter, and it’s also where we got married. There’s so much to do at the lake, but the best part is how close you feel to nature everywhere you go.
Lake Tahoe sits in Northern California, about 200 miles (320 km) northeast of San Francisco. For a traveler, the lake two main hubs: South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe.
🥜 CHICKADEE RIDGE IN A NUTSHELL 🥜
🐦 What will you see there: Black-Capped Chickadees that will eat from your hand
🗺 How to get there: Turn to Highway 431 from Incline Village and follow the road to Tahoe Meadows. Then hike over the meadows to a forest behind it or book a guided tour from here.
📆 When to go: Birds are there all year around
🌾 What to bring with you: Snowshoes or skies for hiking, a sled for little ones and seeds for birds. Only use store bought small-shelled bird seeds and not bread, please!
🗝 Where to stay at: At North Lake Tahoe our favorite condo has been at Kings Beach and at South Lake we like this hotel.
🛷 What else is there to do: There are many fun winter activities at Lake Tahoe for families and great beaches and hiking at summer times.
Mt. Rose Sledding Hill
A friend tipped us off about a super fun and free sledding hill not far from where we were staying. Sure enough, just a 15-minuted drive away from our condo at Kings Beach, we found it on the map as Mt. Rose Sledding Hill.
The hill sits right along Highway 431, the road that winds its way up to Mt. Rose Ski Resort before continuing on to Reno, the little “Las Vegas” of Nevada. That means when you’re sledding here, you’ve officially crossed over into Nevada!
On the way up to Mt. Rose, make sure to stop at the roadside viewpoint called Lake Tahoe Scenic Overlook. The views over the lake are absolutely breathtaking. It’s one of those stops where you’ll want your camera ready.
The beauty of Lake Tahoe has been praised for centuries. Even the American author Mark Twain once wrote about its stunning scenery. He described the mountain air as pure and heavenly, saying it was the very same air the angles breathe. And honestly, we couldn’t agree more. Every time we visit Lake Tahoe, it’s the fresh mountain air that we love the most.
Mt. Rose Sledding Hill isn’t official, groomed sledding area. It’s just a wide, natural slope. But it’s huge, with plenty of space for everyone to spread out. We picked a quiet spot of our own, and before long, the snow had packed down into a perfect little sledding run.
One of the best things the hills is that different sections have varying steepness. That way, families with younger kids can stick to gentler slopes, while older kids (and parents!) can race down the steeper ones.
The tame birds of Chickadee Ridge Trail
Along with the sledding hill tip, our friend also told us about a trail across the road called Chickadee Ridge Trail. The path winds through open meadows, into a peaceful forest, and finally up to a stunning ridgeline with sweeping views.
There isn’t an official, marked trail from the sledding hill, but it’s easy enough to follow other hikers’ tracks through the snow over the Tahoe Meadows. We quickly figured out which way to go. Just head over where the forest starts.
If you’re heading there in winter, I definitely recommend bringing snowshoes or cross-country skis, especially if the snow is deep. They make moving around much easier (and it’s a great workout, too). We only had regular winter boots, but luckily the snow was packed down enough that we managed just fine.
Chickadee Ridge is a popular spot, especially on weekends, so you won’t be out there completely alone, and you don’t need to worry too much about losing your way. In fact, by midday the roadside parking area was already full of cars. Most of the people are there for the sledding hill but if you can, it’s best to arrive earlier in the morning.
The trail itself is about 2 miles (3,2 km) long and is rated moderate thanks to the uphill climb. At the top, you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views over Lake Tahoe. On a sunny day, it really doesn’t get more magical than that.
Chickadee Ridge is especially famous for its friendly little birds that will actually eat straight from your hand. The ridge is even named after them; the Black-Capped Chickadee, a North American songbird.
Almost as soon as the trail led us into the shelter of the forest, we began to hear their calls. All it took was holding out a handful of seeds, and within moments, a bird appeared. First there was just one… and then another, and before we knew it, there was a whole line of chicakdees waiting their turn.
For us, this was truly a magical experience, and the kids were absolutely thrilled. In fact, we came back again the very next day because feeding the birds felt so unique and unforgettable.
I never did figure out exactly why the birds here are so tame or when people first started feeding them, but the scientists have assured that it’s not bad for them. We do something similar in my home country, Finland, where we feed the winter birds. Chickadees mostly eat berries and seed, which can be harder to find during icy winter months.
If you are worried about how to find the birds, you can get a guided tour from here.
Where to stay at Lake Tahoe
That weekend at Tahoe, we stayed in a really lovely apartment on the north side of the lake, in the little town of Kings Beach. It’s right on the state border, though just barely still on the California side.
We honestly got so lucky with our place, as our unit was located right on the lakefront. If it had been summer, it would have been amazing to just stroll straight down for a swim. Right below our window there was even a small playground with swings and a slide, absolutely perfect for us with kids in tow.
Waking up in the mornings with a cup of coffee in hand and watching the sunrise over the lake was pure magic. It was kind of view where your soul truly feels at rest.
Most times we have stayed at South Lake Tahoe. Our favourite hotels there are The Coachman Hotel and The Tahoe Beach & Ski Club Owners Association, and we have also rented this super cute cabin that we really liked.
We like both South Lake Tahoe and North Lake Tahoe but they are very different. South Lake Tahoe has a bigger downtown and more bars and restaurants, when North Lake is great if you just want to spend time at your cabin and going out for activities.
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What a fun weekend it was again in Lake Tahoe and the mountain scenery. There’s just something about being in nature, it always gives you so much energy.
So if you’re heading toward Lake Tahoe, I highly recommend making a stop at Chickadee Ridge. We absolutely loved both the views and the birds!
🇺🇸 OUR USA TRAVEL RESOURCES 🇺🇸
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🚗 We use DiscoverCars for car rentals everywhere in the world.
🗺 When looking for tours we use either Viator or GetYourGuide. They are both great.
🎫 Ticketmaster is a reliable site to get concert and event tickets.
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📞 If you need a data package to navigate or make calls, Yesim works well for that.
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