Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail

The Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail is located near Mt. Rose Summit southwest of Slide Mountain between Reno and Incline Village in Nevada. It is referred to as Tahoe Meadows Nature Trail in Mike White's hiking guide Afoot & Afield (Trip 15, pages 260/1). This well maintained trail (wheelchair accessible) is a 1.2 mile loop, part of it on the Tahoe Rim Trail (TRT). The trail wanders through pine forests and on bridges and boardwalks over sensitive, marshy meadowland. 

The Tahoe Meadows and nearby areas are good sites to watch birds such as the red-tailed hawk, mountain bluebird and Clark's nutcracker. The local wildlife is explained on interpretive panels along the loop trail. Beautiful wildflowers such as meadow penstamon, monkeyflower, elephant head and shooting star can be discovered on this alpine meadow. And there is more to discover, which you need to interpret yourself.

In winter and early spring, Tahoe Meadows is a popular place for snow shoeing, cross-country skiing and paraskiing. 

Getting there
You'll find the Tahoe Meadows Trailhead about half a mile southwest from the Mt. Rose Summit parking area along State Route 431 (Mt. Rose Highway). Trailhead and loop trail are south of the highway. The TRT passes right through the parking lot, parallel to the highway. The loop starts about 0.1 mile east of this trailhead. Alternately, you can access the loop by parking at the Summit trailhead, cross the highway there and walk south on the TRT.

References and related websites
[1] Trail Information - Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop Trail: tahoerimtrail.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=174&Itemid=207.
[2] Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail (Tahoe Rim Trail): www.localhikes.com/Hikes/TahoeMeadowsInterpretive_6720.asp.
[3] Weekend Hike - Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail: www.weekendhike.com/2009/07/tahoe-meadows-interpretive-trail.html.
[4] EveryTrail - Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Loop: www.everytrail.com/guide/tahoe-meadows-interpretive-loop.
[5] Lahontan Audubon Society - Tahoe Meadows and Upper Ophir Creek: www.nevadaaudubon.org/birdingguide/birdingareas/tahoemeadows.html.