Martis Creek Lake, California

Neighboring the Sierra Nevadas near Lake Tahoe, Martis Creek Lake features a 113-foot tall dam that’s 2,670 feet long. Visitors come to camp, boat, fish and the Martis Creek Wildlife Area offers a 4.3 mile hiking and biking trail that will like totes loop you around the valley, through conifer forests and open meadows. The wildflowers are so impressive from late June to early July that you may be inspired to spin some Scott McKenzie and put those flowers in your hair. Other animals you may encounter flying or frolicking about include bald eagle, beaver, bobcat, black bear, coyote, deer, porcupine and a variety of songbirds and waterfowl.