North Canyon Creek facts for kids

North Canyon Creek is a stream about 6.8 miles (11 km) long. It starts high up on Snow Valley Peak in the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Most of this creek flows through Carson City, Nevada, in the United States. It eventually flows into Lake Tahoe near Glenbrook on Tahoe's Nevada shore.

What is the History of North Canyon Creek?

The lower part of North Canyon Creek is also known as Slaughterhouse Creek on some maps. This name comes from a time when cattle were processed there.

How Logging Changed the Creek

From the 1860s to the 1900s, a lot of logging happened in the area because of the Comstock Lode mining boom. This had a big impact on North Canyon Creek. In 1870, a special channel called a flume was built in North Canyon. This flume helped move cut logs and bring water to Spooner Lake. From there, the lumber could be sent further east to Carson City.

A large company, the Carson Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company (CTLFC), owned much of the land around Spooner Lake and Glenbrook. They cut down huge amounts of trees along the east side of Lake Tahoe. By the 1880s, most of the forests were cleared. A railroad, the Glenbrook Railroad, also helped move logs from lower areas to Spooner Summit.

Where Does North Canyon Creek Flow?

North Canyon Creek starts on the western side of Snow Valley Peak, at an elevation of about 8,650 feet (2,637 meters). It flows south through North Canyon.

How Does the Creek Connect to Spooner Lake?

The creek flows past Marlette Lake to Spooner Meadow. Here, it gets water from Spooner Lake. Long ago, a man-made channel was built to send water from upper Secret Harbor Creek into North Canyon Creek. This increased the area that feeds water into North Canyon Creek.

North of where Highway 50 and Highway 28 meet, North Canyon Creek enters Spooner Meadow. It then receives water from Spooner Lake, which is a man-made reservoir. A dam was built in the 1860s to create Spooner Lake. Since the 1930s, people have used Spooner Lake to store water for farms and for fishing.

The Creek's Path to Lake Tahoe

In Spooner Meadow, North Canyon Creek turns west, then northwest along Highway 28. Finally, it turns southwest and flows down Slaughterhouse Canyon to Glenbrook and into Lake Tahoe. The creek flows through the Toiyabe National Forest and Lake Tahoe–Nevada State Park.

What Animals Live in North Canyon Creek?

Many different animals call North Canyon Creek home. Long ago, beavers built dams in Spooner Meadow. These dams would have helped keep the meadow watered. In the early 1900s, a rancher hired someone to manage the beaver population. This shows that beavers were once common in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Mammals You Might See

Today, you might spot many mammals around North Canyon Creek. These include:

• American marten
• Northern flying squirrel
• Douglas squirrel
• Allen's chipmunk
• Alpine chipmunk
• Golden-mantled ground squirrel
• Gray squirrel
• Snowshoe hare
• Mountain cottontail
• Bobcat
• Puma (also known as a cougar)
• Black bear
• Gray fox
• Mule deer
• Long-tailed weasel
• Coyote
• Raccoon
• Trowbridge's shrew

You might also see several types of bats flying around.

Fish in the Creek

The only fish found in North Canyon Creek recently is the non-native brook trout. Brook trout can eat and compete with the native Lahontan cutthroat trout. Spooner Lake is stocked with different kinds of trout. However, the native Lahontan tui chub has become the most common fish in the lake.

What Trails and Recreation are Near North Canyon Creek?

The Marlette Lake Trail in North Canyon starts at Spooner Lake. It goes north through beautiful aspen trees for about 4.5 miles (7.2 km). The trail climbs about 1,200 feet (366 meters) to a ridge that looks over North Canyon. From there, it goes down to Marlette Lake. You can also hike up the western side of Snow Valley Peak for another adventure.