If you didn’t catch our most recent Friends of Element featuring Elizabeth Carmel, co-owner of Carmel Gallery with her husband Olof, we learned that Truckee and the surrounding areas offered her such beautiful landscapes that she was able to adjust her focus in life from town management to being a professional photographer. And today she was kind enough to offer up her top 5 spots in the Truckee-Donner locality to capture some of the wall enhancing images Elizabeth loves to capture.
Whether you are handy with the lens yourself or just another smartphone aficionado, these locations are easily accessible and will make your friends think you backpacked for multiple days in order get the shot. One location actually does involve the ability to load onto a chairlift or snowshoe, but it’s totally worth is as Sugar Bowl has at least 6 picturesque spots worth a gander as well.
1. Top of Sugar Bowl Overlooking Donner Lake
Pro Tip: Best when the snow is plastered on the trees after a snowstorm
2. River Autumn Along West River Street
Pro Tip: Shoot from the pedestrian bridge after a snowstorm.
3. The Euer Valley in Tahoe Donner
Pro Tip: Head out on the first clear morning after a snowstorm.
4. Sagehen Meadows
Pro Tip: The best is during spring when the Camas Lillies are in bloom
5. Downtown Truckee
Pro Tip: head up to the Cottonwood – Hilltop Lodge around golden hour and wait.
Bonus Photo Spot
For scenic shot that is perfect at any time of the day or night then head up Old 40 to catch a view of Donner Lake from the Rainbow Bridge. There’s ample parking along the road as well as a parking lot on the south side of the bridge. However, make sure you plan ahead as this road experiences regular closures. To keep up to date just text “Old40” to 855-835-5599 to be notified every time the road opens or closes.
