Lake Tahoe is a true gem of California and one of the prettiest places I have visited throughout the world. If you love your holidays action-packed and full of adventure than Tahoe is a place you will indeed fall in love with. This year-round destination has something for everyone and there will never be enough time to do it all. After living here for 4 years these are my top 15 things to do in Lake Tahoe.
Table of Contents
Things to do in Lake Tahoe – Ultimate Guide for Lake Tahoe, USA
Ski or snowboard at one of many ski resorts
During the winter months, Lake Tahoe is transformed into a snow-lovers paradise. The surrounding area is home to over 10 world-class ski resorts. They range in size from some of the biggest ski areas in the world to small and intimate. Which is why one of the top things to do in Lake Tahoe is to go skiing or snowboarding.
You will find terrain suitable for beginners to expert with each resort priding themselves on something different. Whether you love long-fast groomed slopes, spending your day riding the park, or maybe you prefer a black diamond moguled run? Whichever the case, there is a resort for you. If you want to combine your ski trip with a few late nights Heavenly may be the best resort for you. Are you after a family-friendly ski area, pick Northstar or Sierra-at-Tahoe?
This Lake Tahoe Ski Resort guide will break down the top 13 ski resorts and help you choose the best one for your needs.
Climb Eagle Rock for insane views
While winter in Tahoe is a wonderful time for skiers and snowboarders the summer months will definitely open up a wider range of options for things to do in Lake Tahoe. To start your time off, I think it’s important for you to first witness some of the most spectacular views of the lake for very little effort.
Eagle Rock is located on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe and after only a short 10 to 15 minute fairly steep hike be prepared for stunning views of the contrasting green pine forests and the bright blue water.
Bike the Flume Trail
Mountain bikers looking for a trail with some of the best views shouldn’t go past the flume trail. The best way to ride this trail is by taking the shuttle from Tunnel Creek Cafe. An $18 fee includes entry into Spooner Lake State Park and a shuttle to the starting point. You will eventually ride right back to where you left your car. This moderately difficult trail starts with the hardest part, climbing 300m along a steep single track. Once at the summit, the rest of the ride is all downhill from there.
Float the Truckee River
Floating the Truckee River was my go-to activity in Tahoe when I wasn’t quite up for anything strenuous but still wanted to get out and do something. The Truckee River starts in Tahoe City where you will find rafting companies or places you can buy a personal tube. Once you have a tube, you’ll want to head just north of the ‘Y’ intersection where you will see people launching. Jump on in the water and sit back (maybe with a few beverages) and enjoy a relaxing float down to Alpine Meadows.
Make sure you get out here as the water becomes unsuitable for floating further down. Depending on the flow of the water it will take around 2-3 hours to go the entire way so make sure you have plenty of sunscreens. The best part about this activity is once you own a tube – it’s free!
Drive around the lake
There’s no better way to experience all of what’s to offer in Tahoe than taking a drive around its perimeter. This 3-hour drive is best done as a day trip so you have the opportunity to stop as many times as possible. Because just you wait, around every bend you’ll want to stop and take another photo.
Go to Emerald Bay
Whether you stop at Emerald Bay during your drive around the lake or make a special trip to see it, Emerald Bay is a must-do in Lake Tahoe. This inlet of the lake is located on the west shore and will instantly be recognizable to most who have seen photos of Tahoe.
If you are interested in photography, Emerald Bay is a great place to come for sunrise or sunset shots as well as moody winter ones. Standing out in photos is the small island in the centre of the bay. Here is Vikingsholm Castle which can be explored via daily tours in the summer.
Hike Mount Tallac
For those up for a challenge, Mount Tallac is the highest peak surrounding the shores of the lake. Sitting at 2,968m this is a full day hike and one of my favourite things to do in Lake Tahoe. The views start from the trailhead all the way to the summit where you will be rewarded with some of the most complete lake views in the area. This in and out the trail is well marked and starts from the end of Mount Tallac road, just 5 minutes south of Emerald Bay.
The total hiking distance is 14.2km with a 975m elevation gain through varying landscapes of forests, ridgelines, and scree while passing smaller alpine lakes. Be aware that most of the trail is out in the open, so plan to start early and pack plenty of water.
Attend a festival or concert
Year-round the Lake Tahoe region is a center point for events, concerts, and festivals. Big-name acts, as well as smaller locals ones, pass through here attracting fans to the area. During the summer months, the lake hosts weekly events like the lakeside music at Commons Beach, Tahoe City and Tuesday Bluesday in Squaw Valley. The casinos located at Stateline in South Lake Tahoe provide venues for big concerts and festivals. You can find out what events are happening here for North Lake Tahoe and South Lake Tahoe .
Have a Wet Woody
Fancy yourself a cocktail after all those hours of hiking and exploring Lake Tahoe? Then there’s no better drink than a Wet Woody found at the Gar Woods Bar and Grill in Carnelian Bay. This blended rum cocktail has 20 available varieties to choose from. Try and time your wet woody adventure to occur on Wet Woody Wednesday when there are discounts throughout the day on this cocktail.
Visit the Historic Town of Truckee and wander the markets
Just 20 minutes north of Tahoe City you will find the historic town of Truckee. Dating back to 1844 when it was named after a Paiute Indian chief. Truckee’s place in history comes from its past in logging, the Emigrant Trail and the Donner Party. Go on your own self-guided walking tour by downloading this map. During summer, support local artists and businesses at the Truckee Thursdays street festival. Each Thursday market stalls are set up with live music and beer gardens in the downtown area.
Hike Shirley Canyon Trail
Continue past the village of Squaw Valley to Squaw Peak Road to find the trailhead for this alpine hike. This 8 km hike will take you up to Shirley Lake and then on to High Camp where you can ride the Aerial Tram down for free. You will pass 3 waterfalls, granite slabs, and wildflowers with 610m elevation gain. Choose to go for a swim at Shirley Lake or continue on until you reach high camp and pay for a pass to access the pools and hot tub. The hike will take around 3 hours and has a lot of exposed terrains.
Relax at Squaw Valley’s high camp
One of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe if you have had enough hiking is to skip the hike up to High Camp and catch the Aerial Tram instead. Spend the day swapping between dips in the pool and the hot tub while looking out at the surrounding mountains. High Camp is especially pretty when there is still some snow left on the mountain but the sun is shining and warms out.
You’ll also find a lot of beautiful wildflowers up here in the meadows nearby. If you enjoy a few beverages, you’ll be happy to know there is a bar up top and occasionally pool party events.
Take a paddleboard to the lake
SUPing is really popular in Tahoe and most lakeside areas will have someplace you can hire a paddleboard. Getting out on to the water is a great way to experience Tahoe from another perspective. I’ve never been anywhere where the water is so clear that you can see the bottom from so many meters above. Paddleboard rentals are around $20 for an hour.
Watch the Alpen Glow sunset
No matter where you watch the sunset from, it’s bound to be a stunner. Because of the surrounding mountains, the end of each day is usually a cotton candy light show caused by the alpenglow. Bonus tip: The best sunsets happen during the winters.
Hike down to a private sandy beach
Don’t want to hang out with the crowds on the beaches? The best sandy beaches are located on the east shore and are home to the large granite boulders under the clear blue water. The reason for their lack of crowds is you are required to hike down from the road.
The trails down won’t take you more than 10 minutes and it’s definitely worth it in my opinion. Two great beaches are Whale Beach and Hidden Beach, both of which can be found by plugging their names into Google maps.
Lake Tahoe Tourism
How to Reach Lake Tahoe
Book cheap flights through either TripAdvisor or Agoda or CheapAir or Cleartrip or Makemytrip or Priceline to save huge on flight booking.
Where To Stay In Lake Tahoe
For the best hotels in the Lake Tahoe area or the best place to stay in and around Lake Tahoe, we suggest checking out our favourite sites to book here. We always use these sites to book our stay. Lake Tahoe hotel booking can be done through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Agoda or Makemytrip or Priceline to save huge and get the best deals on booking your stay in the Lake Tahoe area.
| Click here to book the best hotel/resort in Lake Tahoe |
|---|
Tours/Activities available in Lake Tahoe – Things To Do In Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe points of interest are many and if you are wondering what to see in Lake Tahoe or what to do in Lake Tahoe, then look no further. Lake Tahoe attractions pass are available for the best Lake Tahoe tours. You can now book tours in Lake Tahoe as well as activities in Lake Tahoe. Plan the best places to visit in Lake Tahoe and experience Lake Tahoe.
| Click here to know more about Best Attractions and Activities in Lake Tahoe. |
|---|
We hope you liked this post on 15 Things To Do In Lake Tahoe. Do share your thoughts in the comments section.
Do You Love Traveling?
Do you want to know how to travel the world? We have put together a very useful travel resources page with best travel tips. Go check it out now.
Thanks for visiting our site Voyager – imvoyager.com and taking the time to read this post!
If you wish to collaborate/work with us then reach us at [email protected]
We’d love if you’d comment by sharing your thoughts on this post and share this post on social media and with your friends.
[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”27413782″]
Follow our journey on our social media channels:
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest G+ YouTube
60+ Million Users Trust TripAdvisor With Their Travel Plans. Shouldn’t You?
Wow, I’d love to visit Lake Tahoe one day! It looks gorgeous. I really love your photos too! I definitely need to explore more of the US.
I’ve been wanting to visit Lake Tahoe for ever! And we were totally going to go this year!!!
Gonna save this post for when we finally get to go!
Totally adding Lake Tahoe to potential ski resorts for next year!
I love Lake Tahoe. I live in Sacramento so I go there pretty often. My husband and I are gonna take a day off from work to go to one of the beaches there all day. I went with my friends last year and tried SUP for the first time and had a blast.
The beaches look amazing! I’ve always heard about Truckee River but had no idea it was near Lake Tahoe.
I’ve been wanting to go to Lake Tahoe for a while. This post is extremely helpful. I hope to get here sometime within the next year and will reference this guide when I do! Thanks for compiling it.
So many gorgeous things to do! Last time we visited it was only for one night during a road trip. I tried to hike Eagle Rock but the trailhead was closed. That view is amazing though so next time we visit I’ll have to try again!
I’ve never been to Tahoe and I live in California. These photos make me want to take a roadtrip!
Thank you for this post. We did a trip in the USA 2 years ago and we had to remove the Lake Tahoe from our itinerary as we didn’t have enough time. What a pity – the hike from Mount Tallac sounds terrific. Almost 1,000 m elevation. Did you try it ? Is it exhausting.