If you're looking for a hike for Uncle Bill and Aunt Lucille from Ohio, this might well do the trick. Or if you're looking for something a bit more demanding, this could be it as well. In either case this can be a trek of about a half-mile or 3 1/2 miles with a 3 1/2 mile loop back.

Let's look at the shortie first.

Driving through South Lake Tahoe west take Highway 89 west when you come to the Y intersection where Highway 50 continues to Placerville. You'll pass Camp Richardson in a few miles and shortly after there's a sign for Fallen Leaf Road on the left.

Driving all the way to the south end of the lake can be a chore, particularly on weekends when flatlanders come and drive it not knowing that the uphill car has the right of way where the road is narrow.

So, instead take entrance to the Fallen Leaf Campgrounds, stop at the ranger station and tell the nice people there that you're just going to take a day hike. Follow the camp road to the day parking area. There you'll see a sign for the mountain trail.

That's the start. Elevation there is about 6,400 feet. The trail is well defined and at times borders Fallen Leaf Lake, or a small creek with lovely little falls and splashing water. The track is almost all plain dirt with horse droppings here and there.

About a half-mile in you'll come to the Fallen Leaf Dam, built in 1934. Here you're at 6,377 feet after having had a few ups and downs.

The view here is spectacular, Twin Peaks to the east, Echo Mountain to the west.

Crossing the spillway the trail leads to Cathedral Road and to branches which lead back to the lake. You can follow the trail along the lake and you'll find several ideal places for a picnic. Naturally, there is little elevation here at the trial follows the lake level.

Anywhere along here can be a nice place to stop and enjoy the lake, the birds, the mountain view. The return is just a retrace of the trail.

If you're looking for more effort, pickup Cathedral Road to its end about half-way along the lake at Cathedral Creek. There are homes here so tread lightly. You'll do some climbing here as the trail rises high above the lake and is rocky in places.

You'll wind up at the Berkeley Camp facility; walk right by to the marina at the end of the lake. There's a small store there where you can buy a snack, rent a boat or kayak or just loaf on the small beach.

Now you have a choice. If you were smart you had Uncle Bill retrace his steps, get the car and drive it to the marina. If not, well, it's just another 3 1/2 miles back to the campgrounds and possibly a half-mile to where you left the car. The walk back is along paved roads and offers some nice views of Fallen Leaf Lake and farther on of lush meadows.

It is possible to return along your original ascent and at a split pick up the trail from Cathedral Lake. Problem is this winds up on Baldwin Road with no easy way back to your trailhead. Of course, you could take the Mt. Tallac trail from Cathedral Lake ... but that's an another hike. Save that one for next time.