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Lake
Tahoe Information
Lake
Tahoe is one of the most popular tourist destinations in
the country. Tourists flock here for the amazing skiing
and snowboarding in the winter, and the summer months are
equally as popular with endless recreational activities
to participate in. Below are just a few of the attractions
and recreational activities Lake Tahoe has to offer.
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| LAKE TAHOE
SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING: |
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Some
Tahoe resorts receive over 500 inches of snowfall each
year and still maintain an average of three hundred days
of sun. This is truly a favorable balance of nature.
photo courtesy
of Kirkwood |
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| Snow
Beach at Heavenly is a great place to soak in the sun
with a burger and a beer on those spring days. Deep snow
pack enables Tahoe resorts to operate at 100% through
the warmer spring months. |
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Rugged
challenging terrain inspires some of the best skiers and
snowboarders in the world to live in Lake Tahoe. Lake
Tahoe is in an ideal location for snow enthusiasts to
enjoy world class resorts while remaining close enough
to enjoy the rest of the west coast.
photo courtesy
of Kirkwood |
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| LAKE
TAHOE HIKING AND SNOWSHOEING TRAILS: |
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| Scattered
across the Lake Tahoe Basin are hundreds
of miles of hiking trails
with varying difficulties from from
easy to strenuous. Trails lead through
unspoiled wilderness area protected
by the U.S. Forest Service to amazing
waterfalls, peaks, lakes, and more. |
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| Eagle
Falls: This hiking trail follows
waterfall and leads down to Emerald
Bay where the historic Viking home is.
There is a large beach and a with a
great swimming hole. |
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| Horse
Tail Falls: This is a long
steep hike to an enormous waterfall.
Trail head is located near Sierra at
Tahoe heading west on Hwy 50 towards
Sacramento. Parking is located near
the Twin Bridges recreation sign. |
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| Tallac
Trail Head:
There are varying degrees of difficulty
for this hiking area. Several trail
head options lead to the top of the
tallest peak in Tahoe, MT Tallac |
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| Fallen
Leaf Lake Falls: This
is a very simple hike to some gorgeous
waterfalls and open meadow areas. The
short hike leads to other trail heads
that are more difficult. |
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| Tahoe
Rim Trail:
Tahoe rim trail is appropriately named
for how it follows the shoreline or
"rim" of Lake Tahoe. This
trail has many access points along its
72 mile circumference. |
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SNOWSHOEING
is becoming an extremely popular
we inter activity. There is a very
quick learning curve with this sport
allowing for beginners to enjoy this
sport right from the start. The Lake
Tahoe Basin has a plethora of designated
snowshoeing area, however any trail
that is great for hiking will be equally
enjoyable on the snow with a pair
of snow shoes. |
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| Snowshoeing
at Kirkwood:
Climb steep hillsides on this more advanced
terrain. This is a great alternative
to cross country skiing or alpine skiing
and snowboarding. Phone: 209-258-7248 |
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| Snowshoeing
at Sierra:
Sierra-at-Tahoe manages three miles
of groomed snowshoe trails that wind
through the alpine forest to scenic
vistas. Phone: 530-659-7453 |
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| Camp
Richardson Snowshoeing Center:
Camp Rich offers 35 kilometers of terrain
for all skill levels. This is one of
the most popular and most centrally
located snowshoeing destinations. There
are 20 kilometers of groomed trails,
10 kilometers of skating lanes and marked
snowshoe trails that have beautiful
lake views. Phone: 530-542-6584 |
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| Snowshoeing
at Spooner Lake:
At Spooner Lake snowshoers will discover
the most stunning views of small lakes
and mountain peaks. This snowshoe and
cross-country ski area is located on
9,000 acres. Phone: 775-749-5349 |
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| LAKE
TAHOE MOUNTAIN BIKING: |
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Lake Tahoe is a very popular mountain biking destination for
all skill levels. Bike paths, dirt roads, single tracks and
bike parks are prominent in the Lake Tahoe basin, and are maintained
by the parks service and its adoring travelers. There is a variety
of scenic beginner rides and more advanced terrain including
steeps and rocky precipices. Some ski resorts also operate there
lifts in the summer months for mountain biking and hiking.
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| Fallen
Leaf Lake: 5 mile ride with great views
of Mt Tallac and Fallen Leaf Lake. Great for beginners
and scenic purposes |
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| Coral
Loop: 6.5 mile single track ride with a
moderate elevation change. Great for intermediate
riders. |
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| Angora
Lakes: 7 mile with moderate elevation change
leading to serene alpine lakes. Great for intermediates
and hikers. Truly one of the most beautiful places
in Lake Tahoe. |
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| Clark's
Trail: 5 miles with very technical lines.
This advanced trail over looks Fallen Leaf Lake
trail and Fallen Leaf Lake |
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| Mr.
Toads Wild Ride: 8 miles with technical
lines and elevation changes up to 2500 feet. This
is a world class mountain biking trail for advanced
riders. |
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| Tahoe
Rim Trail - Kingsbury south: Long 20 mile
ride over looking Tahoe with lots of elevation and
terrain variations. |
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| Fountain
Place: This
is easily accessible from Highway 50. Simply take
Pioneer Trail one mile to Oneidas Road. Follow Oneidas
to the end and you'll find many different trails
to choose from. |
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| Twin
Peak:
Access this short ride of Lake Tahoe Boulevard approximately
2 miles from the intersection of Highway 50 and
89. This is a great trail for a daily routine. |
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| Genoa
Peak: This is an intermediate ride along
a ridge line with scenic views of the Lake Tahoe
Basin to the west and Carson Valley to the east.
Follow North Benjamin off Kingsbury Grade to the
top where you'll see a trail head leading to Genoa
Peak at (9,150'). |
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The
Rubicon Rubicon
Famous
for being a world class OHV road, The Rubicon also
offers a a variety of biking opportunities from
loop rides to difficult peak climbs. Follow Highway
89 north of Tahoma and turn west onto McKinney-Rubicon
Springs Road. |
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Kirkwood
Kirkwood's lift-accessed mountain Mountain Bike
Park opens in July (weather permitting) and closes
in September. Hours are from 9am to 4pm Saturday
and Sunday. (800) 967-7500 |
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Northstar
Northstar
offers lift access to more than 100 miles of marked
trail and a world class Mountain Bike Park. Call.(800)
GO-NORTH for more information. |
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Nevada
Shoreline
This is an easy four mile trail that follows the
beach and shoreline, passing Chimney Beach, Secret
Harbor and Whale Beach. Find this amazing ride by
begriming at the paved parking lot on Highway 28,
2.9 miles south of Sand Harbor. |
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Slaughter
House Canyon Trail
Slaughter House Canyon is 5 miles one way with two
trails each having there own beautiful destinations:
One trail winds to majestic Sierra meadow and the
other to one of Tahoe's most secluded beaches, skunk
harbor. Access to this unforgettable bike or hike
is located 2 1/4 miles north of the junction of
Highway 50/28 junction. |
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Spooner
Lake to Marlette Lake
This
intermediate 12 mile round trip tour follows North
Canyon Road to beautiful Marlette Lake. In the fall
hiking or biking among the dense groups of Quaking
Aspen trees in their bright yellow state is a timely
treat. |
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Stateline
Lookout
This
short 1 mile round trip bike offers stunning views
leading to the site of the old Crystal Bay Fire
Lookout. Follow the ridge line for views of Lake
Tahoe and the North Shore area. |
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Tahoe Mountain Ride
is a short one(approximate 1.5 hours), but offers
a few excellent panoramic views of the Sierra range,
including Mt. Tallac. The ride includes on and off
dirt terrain.
To find the ride you must first be in South Lake
Tahoe. I like to begin the ride at the bottom of
Tahoe Mountain Road. To get there you must drive
west from the Y in South Lake Tahoe(Tahoe Valley).
The Y is the first stop light and intersection that
you come to when entering South Lake Tahoe, while
driving south on the Emerald Bay road(Highway 89)
coming from Tahoe City. |
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LAKE
TAHOE HORSE BACK RIDING:
There
are several stables around Lake Tahoe offering scenic
horseback rides. Tours are usually offered at full
or half day with guided service the tall pine forests
and along ridge top trails overlooking gorgeous
Lake Tahoe. |
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Camp
Richardson's Corral
4 Emerald Bay Road, Camp Richardson, CA (530) 541-3113
Camp Richardson Coral offers breakfast rides, dinner
rides, hourly rides, fishing trips, and sleigh rides
for the winter monrhs and the holidays. |
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Cascade
Stables
2199 Cascade Rd., South Lake Tahoe, CA (530) 541-2055 |
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Northstar
Stables
Northstar Stables specializes in beginners and family
groups. They also have horses geared for more advanced
riders. Phone: 530-562-1230 |
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Squaw
Valley Stables
Squaw Valley Stables has all kinds of horses for
beginners and more advanced riders.
Phone: 530-583-RIDE |
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Zephyr
Cove Stables
Zephyr Cove trails have stunning lake views and
welcome and unforgettable sunsets. The stable os
located just 4 miles from casinos on Hwy. 50 in
S. Lake Tahoe, Nevada, across the street from Zephyr
Cove Marina |
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Ponderosa
Ranch Stables
The Ponderosa Ranch is the home of the popular TV
show, "Bonanza" and the Cartwright Ranch.
Pony rides and hay wagon rides are available in
addition to an entertaining tour of the set of one
of the most successful western series in television
history.
100 Ponderosa Ranch Road, Hwy. 28, Incline Village,
NV (775) 831-2154 |
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| LAKE
TAHOE SCENIC PLACES: |
| Emerald
Bay: Home to the only island on Lake
Tahoe, Emerald Bay really puts it into perspective
how beautiful Lake Tahoe really is. The shallow
waters reveal sunken timbers that are easily
seen from the highway hundreds of feet above.
Eagles nests are prominent in the forests
surrounding the perimeter of the bay offering
an opportunity to catch a glimpse of them
feast on the fish in the bay. |
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| Angora
Lakes: This
short drive off of Tahoe Mountain Road in
South Lake Tahoe leads to a secluded parking
in the forest. The trail is a short and easy
hike passing a series of small crystal clear
lakes. The final lake seems perfectly round
with a towering mountain face resembling an
amphitheater guarding one end of the lake.
There are cliffs overhanging the water from
15-75 that people often hike to. |
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| Fallen
Leaf Lake: Fallen Leaf Lake
is a pristine lake adjacent to Lake Tahoe
and approximately 90 feet higher. The height
is significant because at the right angle
you can see all of Fallen leaf lake and the
lower elevation Lake Tahoe in the background.
The road leading to the lake passes a series
of aspen filled meadows and several sites
of Hollywood productions, including The Bodyguard
and City of Angels. Follow 89 north past Camp
Richardson about one mile on the left will
be Fallen Leaf Lake road. |
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| Secret
Beach: An easy mountain bike
ride or hike four miles in the forest leads
to one of the most amazing alpine beaches
in existence. Rock gardens are scattered shoreline
in the shallow water which appears to be Caribbean
blue and is obviously crystal clear. The trail
to the beach begins at the paved parking lot
on Highway 28, 2.9 miles south of Sand Harbor.
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| Truckee
River: The Truckee river has
several different access points in the the
Lake Tahoe Basin. One of the more popular
spots is in Tahoe City where anyone can access
the river with your own raft or rent a more
durable boat for the family. The natural lazy
river is a shallow mellow ride leading to
a riverside restaurant. This is a great activity
to do with groups all summer long. |
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| Truckee,
California: The town of Truckee is
a quaint rail road and gold mining town that
has preserved its old west look through generation
offering an interesting destination to shop
and enjoy a meal. This is a historic and entertaining
place for an a daily trip or spend the night
and experience some of the amazing natural
wonders that are easily accessible from the
town of Truckee. |
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| Historic
Camp Richardson: Camp Rich has
a variety of things to keep everyone entertained
including the Beacon restaurant and bar, popular
beach, historical homes, boat rentals, and
a huge pier extending hundreds of feet out
into Lake Tahoe. |
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| DL
Bliss State Park: The trails in DL
Bliss state park drop down to ridges that
over hang Lake Tahoe and a rocky shoreline.
The views looking back at Heavenly and the
south shore of Lake Tahoe are stunning from
these well maintained trails. |
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| Hope
Valley: A short drive down 89
south from South Lake Tahoe to the intersection
of 89 and 88 is where hope valley begins.
Winding rivers, sprawling meadows, and jagged
peaks make Hope Valley one of the most gorgeous
locations in the sierras throughout all the
seasons. |
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| Hot
Springs : Route 88 from Hope
Valley leads to a small gold mining town called
Markleeville which is also home to some natural
hot springs. |
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| Kirkwood,
California: The Kirkwood Valley
is an beautiful during all seasons. The skiing
and snowboarding is amazing in the winter,
but the other seasons should not be forgotten
at Kirkwood. Kirkwood has one of the oldest
bars in California and rests on three different
county lines. During the gold rush the Saloon
at the Kirkwood Inn had several different
last calls based on which county they rolled
their mobile bar to. |
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| Hot
Air Balloon: Hot air balloon
rides are a great way to see many of these
scenic places at once. Soaring hundreds of
feet above Lake Tahoe, a balloon ride reveals
all of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra
Nevada mountains. |
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The
Vikings Home featured above is on the shores
of Emerald Bay hidden amongst giant pines.
This historic site has a roof covered in thick
grass and moss which makes it nearly invisible
from the hiking trail that winds just above.
photo
courtesy of LTVA.org |
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| Emerald
Bay is home to Tahoe's only island, Fanette
Island. A one room stone tea house built in
1929 still stands on the island. Boaters often
anchor off the island to hike, and jump off
the large rock croppings into the deep bay
waters. |
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East
shore beaches are notorious for their long
days in the sun and many rock gardens. These
rock gardens put in perspective how clean
and clear the water of Lake Tahoe really is.
photo
courtesy of LTVA.org |
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| LAKE
TAHOE BEACHES: |
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| Zephyr
Cove (S. East Shore):
Located
4 miles east of the stateline on HWY
50. A bar, restaurant, marina, and popular
beach make up this locals's favorite |
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| Kings
Beach (North Shore):
This is a locals favorite on the north
shore of Tahoe for its beautiful shores
and proximity to the heart of the north
shore area. |
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| Round
Hill Beach (S. East Shore):
This beach is a great place to bring
the family. Concessions and a marina
are on location with plenty of room
for personal space. |
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| Nevada
Beach (S. East Shore): Located
at the end of Elks Club Blvd across
from Safeway in Roundhill, Nevada beach
is easily accessible from all point
on the south shore. This beach is enormous
with picnic areas perfect for beach
BBQ's/ |
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| Camp
Richardson (South Shore): This
a great family spot on the California
side of the south shore. The popular
Beacon bar and grill serves its famous
rumrunners all day long for thirsty
beach visitors. |
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| Kiva
(South Shore): This is a more
secluded beach located north west of
Camp Richardson on the California side
of the south shore. Having the beach
to yourself isn't uncommon with hiking
accessible from the beach. |
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| Reagan
Beach (South Shore): Concessions,
volleyball courts and a playground make
this south shore beach a great spot
to bring younger children. |
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| Timbercove
(South Shore): Timbercove is
walking distance from many downtown
locations with marina and restaurant
facilities on site. |
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| Sand
Harbor (North Shore): Located
west of Incline Village on HWY 28, Sand
Harbor has hundreds of yards of immaculate
sands feathering into scattered rock
gardens and shallow Tahoe waters. |
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| Emerald
Bay (West Shore): A short hike
down from HWY 89 would place you at
the shores of Emerald Bay surrounded
by towering mountains and tall pine.
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| Stateline
Beach (South Shore): located
only blocks from the casinos, most stateline
guests receive beach passes from their
lodging properties. Marina, playground,
and concessions are on site. |
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| Tahoe
Keys Beach(South Shore): Tahoe
Keys beach is within an ear shot of
most Tahoe Keys homes, condos, and town
homes. This is a great neighborhood
beach that captures amazing western
sunsets. |
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Nevada
Beach is a wide sprawling beach with very
coarse and clean sand. The pier above is the
northern boundary for Nevada Beach where a
private beach for Elk Point begins.
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| Beaches
that feature on sand food and beverage service
are a popular place throughout the summer.
Tahoe offers a variety of beaches to please
someone looking for either a tranquil private
day, and for those looking to make some new
friends each summer. |
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Keys
Beach above and many of the adjacent beaches
to it, enjoy some of the warmest waters in
Tahoe. Extending hundreds of yards out into
the lake from the shore lies a shelf that
is no more than four feet deep. Stagnant waters
bask on this shelf in the intense summer sun.
Remarkably the shelf drops of from four feet
to nearly bottomless within a short distance.
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| LAKE
TAHOE WATERSPORTS: |
| Waverunners:
Taking a waverunner out on Lake Tahoe is the key
to enjoying lots of different areas of the shoreline
in a short amount of time. Tahoe also produces some
enormous lake waves which are fun to play with on
a waverunner. |
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| Parasailing:
Parasailing in Lake Tahoe is one of the best views
know to this sport. The parasail is attached to
a specialty boat by a 800 foot tension line which
hoovers parasailers several hundred feet over Lake
Tahoe. |
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| Boat
Rentals :
Boat rentals are available at a variety of different
marinas around the lake. This is a great way for
the family to visit lots of different hot spots
around the shoreline of Lake Tahoe. |
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| Wakeboarding
and Waterskiing: Timely expeditions
for wakeboarding and water ski runs is the key to
this sport in Lake Tahoe. Sunrise and sunset usually
set up calm waters and make for perfect conditions
and amazing views. |
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| Chartered
Cruises :
There are several different types of chartered cruises
available on Lake Tahoe such as paddle wheeler sight
seeing tours and shore to shore speed boat tours.
These services are available out both Zephyr Cove
and Ski Run marinas. |
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| Sport
Fishing:
Seasoned fisherman are available for guided tours
of the best fishing spots on Lake Tahoe. Enormous
mackinaw are the catch of the lake. |
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| Kayaking:
Kayaking on Lake Tahoe is a relaxing approach to
exercise on Lake Tahoe. The 72 miles of shoreline
offer Kayaking enthusiasts an enormous amount of
shallow crystal clear water. |
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| Kite
Boarding:
This a new sport to Tahoe and the rest of the world.
WInd is the primary element that makes this sport
world class in Tahoe. Shifting winds and temperature
layers lend to the kite boarders desire for varying
to propel them ferociously across the water. |
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Wakeboarding
of the shore off of Cave Rock feels like being
in an enormous pool. The water is extremely
clear and with a depth of twenty feet consistent
off the shore, rocks at the bottom appear
to be right under your feet.
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| Parasailing
at over 400 feet is a mix of adrenaline and tranquility
You'll get used to the height and then marvel at
the people enjoying Lake Tahoe below. The view of
the snowcapped sierras is nearly eye level. |
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Kayaking
slightly off the shore is a great way to enjoy
the clarity of Lake Tahoe while getting some
exercise. Kayaking allows you to access many
areas not accessible to hikers and power boaters.
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