Shirley Canyon Trail

Park in the main Palisades Tahoe parking lot and walk to the end of Shirley Canyon Road, passing some nondescript ski-area mechanics to the well-signed trailhead. The trail starts here and is quite beautiful right off the bat. Follow blue paint marks on rocks and enjoy the creek, which you'll come quite close to several times before getting to your first waterfall at .3 miles.Pass another nice waterfall at .8 miles. Many people turn around here, but the trail remains nice all the way to the top, so pressing on. Pass a very steep section up rock slabs and emerge into more open country. The views open up more, flowers are brilliant in the right season, and soon Shirley Lake will appear up ahead. Enjoy a cool dip in the water, a picnic on its shore, or simply a quick pause to take it all in. Next comes another steep ascent through bouldery mountain meadows to reach High Camp and the top of the Aerial Tram.