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Reno, Lake Tahoe and a road question

Discussion in 'Non-Vegas Trip Reports' started by crapsaddict, Jun 3, 2014.

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  1. crapsaddict

    crapsaddict Tourist

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    My Trip Report

    Had been to Reno and Lake Tahoe twice in my lifetime, probably about 35 and 25 years ago for the national bowling tournament. Had been to Vegas twice already over the winter so decided to try Reno and Tahoe again. One thing I now realize is that I had one faint memory from those trips and that was it. Was at GSR playing craps and noticed the chandeliers, asked if this was the Old MGM and was told that it was, I stayed there on my last trip when it was new. That was it for memories. Generally had a real good time, especially liked the Peppermill and the El Dorado on the "strip". Dealers were very friendly and limits were low and yet the places were relatively upscale. One thing that I thought was funny was when they asked you if you were here for the bowling tournament and you said no even though you flew in to get there, they kind of looked at you like, well how come you are here then? They must not get many regular tourists, even though the places were fairly busy. Watched a few old videos on youtube of Reno from late 90's and it is amazing how much change there has been even since then.
    Have a question about driving to Lake Tahoe. Came down from Reno on the western side of the Lake. Probably about 5-10 miles before getting there on highway 89 I came upon a short stretch of road that was just a narrow 2 lane blacktopped overpass over a deep ravine (not sure if that is the correct term) with no rails on either side. It was very scary since I had not been on anything like that for quite a while. Later I asked a craps dealer at Harrah's about that and he seemed like he knew what I was talking about. I asked him how do you go over that in the winter, and he said that part of the road is shut down at that time, but I do not remember having any other road option, though I easily could have missed it. I have since watched some youtube road trips around there and also tried to follow the road thru google apps and can't see where I was. Does anybody know what I am talking about and do you know where it is, or what it is called or where I possibly could get a picture of that? Thanks
     
  2. Carole

    Carole Low-Roller

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    I am pretty familiar with area and the only place I can think of is the very windy tight turns on 89 not to far past emerald bay. If you are driving on 50 there is the drive over echo summit that is very much a 2 lane road with a very deep valley. The most direct route from reno to tahoe is 395. I would be interested in knowing where this is.
     
  3. JSR1968

    JSR1968 Low-Roller

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    The only road that I know of that is on the west side that is close to the lake is highway 89. It is entirely two lanes from the 89/US50 split to Tahoe City. It is definitely closed in the winter. My favorite route from Reno to Tahoe is Mt. Rose Highway (431). It has some GREAT views!
     
  4. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    That's right... the comment coming down from Reno on the west side puzzles me, cause the roads from Reno come down on the north-eastern side???
     
  5. JSR1968

    JSR1968 Low-Roller

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  6. TIMSPEED

    TIMSPEED Money’s on the way, with CashNetUSA

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    EDIT: I just realized where you're talking about and it IS on the west side of the lake on Highway 89...it's right between Emerald bay and Fallen Leaf Lake...yeah, that is a weird little overpass kinda thing (it's not an overpass, it's just like a slope/canyon on BOTH sides of the road)
    Let me see if I can get a google image...
    EDIT2: This link should be it on google maps/streetview It's Emerald Bay Road.
    https://www.google.com/maps/@38.948908,-120.091916,3a,75y,251.18h,80.63t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1snx-LGhkaAELZ9BqsZJbwnQ!2e0
     
  7. crapsaddict

    crapsaddict Tourist

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    Thanks for the replies guys, I had an interesting time driving down to Lake Tahoe, a lot of it had to do with me not being that prepared ahead of time. Had a lot of time to kill since I was staying in Lake Tahoe 3 nights, and I like to see the area wherever I go, so I figure if I get a little off the track, I just get to see a little more of the area. I realized about an hour before I had to leave to go to the airport that I really had not mapped out the route I was going to take, so I took a quick look on google maps to write down the main roads and go from there. When I left Reno I went on west 80 and after a few miles I saw a little development on the side of the road called Boomtown, so I pulled in there to look around. Not much was going on in the casino part since it was middle of the afternoon on a tuesday, and I did not realize how small some of these places were. Before I left I talked to a young guy that was in charge of the arcade for the day and double checked that I was going the right direction etc., and he assured me that I was and very shortly I was going to run into 89 by the agriculture station (was is that place anyway?). I get into my car expecting to see the turnoff in maybe at most a mile or so, and was starting to wonder what was going on when in reality it must have been close to 15 miles before that turnoff came. Then when I got to the place where I needed to turn left to go into the main part of Lake Tahoe, I did not turn as there seemed to be more going on straight ahead on the road and surely if the casinos were left, there would be some big billboards advertising them on the way (there wasn't), so I got to see some of the big mountains on the way to sacramento until I realized I had to be past my destination. It took me quite a while before I could even find a spot to pull off that road to even ask somebody where the hell I was lol. Looking back I am glad that happened, I never would have guessed that road between Tahoe and Sacramento was nothing but mountains, at least the first part of it.
     
  8. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    I'm going to Truckee/Northstar next month. Can't wait. I might go over Ebbetts or Carson on the way up. Adds loads of time but the drives are so awesome. Take the VW instead of the Ridgeline, spin up the turbo a bit. LOVE the Sierra!
     
  9. Sonya

    Sonya Queen of VMB

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    California has agricultural stations at the borders. They ask if you are bringing in any plants, fruits or veggies. They had a nasty fruit-fly infestation that happened when I was a teen and now they check.

    They took my grapes on my last trip because I bought them at a farm stand, not a grocery store. :(
     
  10. CalifLovesVegas

    CalifLovesVegas High-Roller

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    Go over Ebbetts ONLY if the weather is stellar. Its a long & winding road, and a white knuckler if the weather is iffy.
    If coming from Sacto, the straight shot is 50 thru Placerville, were talking SOUTH Lake Tahoe, right?
    I was just there about a week ago. Weather very nice. Hardly any snow left on the tops.
    Then headed to Reno via 395 thru Carson City. Took about hour and a half from SLT.

    Have fun Golfing? in Truckee Ken.
     
  11. crapsaddict

    crapsaddict Tourist

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    Sonya I figured it probably was something like that, but when I came up to the guy he just kind of gave me a blank stare and waved me thru
     
  12. JSR1968

    JSR1968 Low-Roller

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    I have driven over Carson quite a few times (used to ski Kirkwood a lot). I haven't driven Ebbetts before but imagine it is similar. Either way you are good to go!
     
  13. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    I've crossed probably every trans-Sierra/Cascade road in the state at some point. But with getting to Tahoe and/or Reno the 50 and 80 certainly are the default, and when we were down south, 395 of course.
     
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