The day’s plan was set and off we went. On this particular journey we are hiking Spooner Backcountry in search of “Monkey Rock”. The sky was a clear blue and the temperature was in the mid 80s. The drive from Reno up to the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Incline Village took approximately 45 minutes. Once Lake Tahoe came into view, I knew we were getting close.
Lake Tahoe is the largest Alpine lake in North America. It’s vast shoreline straddles the California and Nevada state lines.
My name is Anthony and I will be your guide throughout this exciting and very picturesque adventure. The mountainous landscape is blanketed with a variety of pine trees, various rock formations and lots of amazing views. Sit back and enjoy our tour of Spooner Backcountry and Monkey Rock.
Once we parked - you should purchase at least 2-hours of time - we started up the trail. If you decide to go up early, The Tunnel Creek Café serves food from 8 to 4. They also offer food to go if you would like to eat in the woods.
I definitely recommend appropriate attire which includes hiking shoes, clothes that cover up against ticks, sun screen and plenty of water. Take a few energy bars or some snacks as well.
There are no motorized vehicles allowed on the trail. Besides hikers, there are plenty of bikers. If you decide at the last moment to ride, you can always rent.
Let’s not forget the occasional one-wheel mountain boarder. It seemed pretty obvious this wasn’t his first trip up and down the trail. I was actually impressed by how this guy maneuvered his way around the hikers. The trail seems to be well maintained and is an easy walk for the most part.
Depending on the time of day, there are a few shady spots along the trail. However, the sun will dominate most of your hike. During our walk up the main trail, we experienced different degrees of inclines. We had to make adjustments to our pace on several occasions.
It wasn’t to often but when it came time to take a breather and get out of the sun, we found a shady pine tree. I had to remember that not more than a day ago, I was at sea level. At times, I found myself needing to take deeper breathes and watch my pace. But all-in-all, I managed to keep up pretty well.
While walking along the main trail, there were several opportunities to take in the fabulous panoramic views. The lake’s various shades of blue were glistening under the cloudless sky. The Sierras were standing profoundly at the foot of the lake. It was a glorious site.
As we climbed higher in altitude and the weather got warmer, I started to feel the drag on my body. The sun was beginning to reach its high noon position. The people who got an earlier start were beginning to come down, as we were still hiking towards our first destination.
The trails were not marked very well. However, we came upon a small sign with an arrow pointing left. Underneath the arrow the words ‘Monkey Rock’ were inscribed. The second part of our journey was approaching. This was music to my ears.
Little did we know that the hardest part of our adventure was still ahead of us. The next trailhead was much steeper than the one we were on.
The time has come to test our endurance and willpower. We had a mindset to conqueror the steep terrain that is ahead us. I said to myself, “Let’s do this!”
The trail itself was fairly easy to maneuver, but the real obstacles were the incline and elevation. In the beginning, the climb was steady and our pace was consistent.
As we got higher up, we were having to stop more frequently and catch our breath. The upside was having the opportunity to enjoy the scenery and reach our destination.
After wandering around for a bit and asking for directions, we finally found what we came to see. There it was in its truest form, Monkey Rock was everything we imagined. Come to find out, the trail leading up to this local landmark is called Tunnel Creek Trail.
Our lovely niece climbed down to the animated rock formation to pose. This gives an idea how large it really is.
While being perched on the rim of a mountain, we took advantage of the fabulous views that laid before us. This was truly a spectacular place to see one of God’s most amazing creations.
The video below will provide up-close footage of our day’s journey. It will hopefully give you some type of idea what we saw and experienced. We hope you enjoy the video and look forward to seeing you on our next adventure!
I would like to extend a special thank you to Mitzi Anne McGarr and Alex Hilton for their help in making this trip a success. Love you both!
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publisher: You, Me and The Dock
