Meeks Creek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meeks Creek |
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A beaver dam in Meeks Meadow with White-flowered bog orchid (Platanthera leucostachys) in foreground, 2010
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| Other name(s) | Meigs Creek |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | El Dorado County |
| City | Meeks Bay, California |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Rubicon Lake Desolation Wilderness 2,400 ft (730 m) 38°58′05″N 120°08′03″W / 38.96806°N 120.13417°W |
| River mouth | Lake Tahoe Meeks Bay, California 6,234 ft (1,900 m) 39°02′13″N 120°07′22″W / 39.03694°N 120.12278°W |
Meeks Creek is a stream that flows into Lake Tahoe from the west. It starts at Rubicon Lake in the Desolation Wilderness. The creek flows through several other lakes, including Stony Ridge Lake, Shadow Lake, Crag Lake, and Lake Genevieve. Finally, it reaches Meeks Bay on Lake Tahoe. The small town of Meeks Bay in El Dorado County, California, United States, is located where the creek meets the lake.
History of Meeks Creek
Meeks Creek and Meeks Bay are named after a person named John Meeks. He used to own the land around the creek. In 1862, John Meeks and his brothers harvested a lot of wild hay from the meadows near the creek's mouth.
Wildlife and Plants
North American beavers are helping to bring Meeks Meadow back to life. This meadow had become covered with too many pine trees. The beavers build dams, which create new wet areas.
This meadow is a great place to see wildflowers. It is easy to get to from the Meeks Bay Resort. You can see many beautiful flowers here, like mallow, iris, and lupine. The best time to see them in bloom is usually in late June or July.
Studies of nearby creeks have shown that beaver dams are good for the environment. They create more wetland areas and help reduce dirt and extra nutrients from entering Lake Tahoe. This helps keep the lake's water clear. The Washoe people, who lived in this area, have a special word for beaver, which is c'imhélhel.
Outdoor Activities
The Meeks Bay trail follows Meeks Creek. It starts just north of the California State Route 89 bridge over the stream. The first part of the trail is a gentle road that goes along Meeks Meadow.
If you keep going, the trail eventually connects with the Pacific Crest Trail. This famous trail runs between Phipps Peak and Middle Velma Lake. The full trail to Rubicon Lake is about 8 miles long. Shorter trips can take you to Stony Ridge Lake (6.3 miles), Shadow Lake (5.9 miles), or Crag Lake (5 miles). Crag Lake is a popular spot for a day trip and swimming.
The lower part of the trail, about 1.8 miles long, is also great for snowshoeing in the winter.
