Price who, along with her husband, ran the Fallen Leaf Lodge among other business ventures and were early pioneers of this region after Nathan Gilmore. James was told the legend of Doolagoga by Mrs. It’s more commonly referred to as “The Lake of the Sky.” The first documentation of the legend of Doolagoga came in the 1915 book by George Wharton James titled The Lake of the Sky, Lake Tahoe, in the High Sierras of California and Nevada. Historical remnants of this resort still exist today. It’s entirely possible that Gilmore could’ve also named Fallen Leaf Lake as he did settle a mile or two above the lake where he built his famed resort. He brought with him Angora sheep to graze near his land in Tahoe, which is how Angora Peak, Angora Lake and Angora Ridge got their names.Īdditionally, Gilmore is said to have come up with the names Glen Alpine, Modjeska Falls, Lily Lake and Susie Lake. Gilmore is also credited with naming several locations, peaks and lakes in this area. However, we don’t know how Gilmore discovered the springs or why he even came to this region in the first place. This was most likely prior to Brewer’s arrival in Tahoe as Gilmore discovered the mineral springs by this year. Nathan Gilmore is credited with first discovering and settling the Fallen Leaf Lake region of Tahoe by 1863. Nathan Gilmore, the First Settler of this Region Some historians speculate that Brewer or a member of his surveying team could’ve named the lake. long, deep blue, towards summit of Pass.” Several pretty little lakes near the ‘Fallen Leaf’ lake, 1 ½ – 2 m. In his Field Notes, dated August 20, 1863, Brewer made the following comments about the lake: “Climbed Pyramid Peak…. His notes and journal have been published into books, which provide incredible details about the state in the 1860s. Brewer who was a member of Josiah Whitney’s team that made the first geological survey of California in 1860.īrewer would end up spending four years exploring and surveying California. In Barbara Laekisch’s book Tahoe Place Names: The Origin and History of Names in the Lake Tahoe Basin, the earliest known documentation of the name “Fallen Leaf” was in 1863 by William H. Through historical accounts and resources, we can piece together two prominent theories as to why the lake was named Fallen Leaf. Fremont “discovered” the Lake Tahoe region, scholars and locals are still debating the origin of the lake’s name. How did this lake get the name Fallen Leaf? One of these mysteries is the origin of the lake’s name. In addition to all of the wonderful recreational activities and historic landmarks, Fallen Leaf Lake is also known for a few mysteries that are still studied and debated by visitors, scholars and historians to this very day. Francis of the Mountains chapel, and the nearby Angora Lakes. It’s also a launching pad to other nearby points of interests and adventures like the Glen Alpine Trail, the historic Glen Alpine Springs Resort, the charming St. The lake offers plenty of recreational activities with camping, hiking, and fishing. Instead, we have a picturesque oval shaped lake that’s roughly 2.9 miles long, 400 feet at deepest point, and snuggly positioned below Desolation Wilderness and Mt. If the glacier would’ve continued onwards, then Fallen Leaf Lake would’ve turned into a bay like nearby Emeral d Bay. A terminal moraine is noticeable at the north end of the lake, which is the closest side to Tahoe. Although overshadowed by Tahoe’s magnificence, Fallen Leaf Lake also offers plenty of history, adventures, beauty and mystery.įallen Leaf was formed by a glacier that stopped short of converging onto Lake Tahoe. Fallen Leaf Lake is often referred to as the sister lake to the region’s most prominent landmark – Lake Tahoe.

Fallen leaf