Lake Tahoe Winter Activities

Discover Lake Tahoe's splendor with Around Tahoe Tours, led by local experts Chris and Darin Talbot. Drawing on decades of insight since 1977, their tours offer a unique and entertaining way to get to know the area. Dive into their incredible Sand Harbor Experience for a hassle-free day at Lake Tahoe's premier beach, where you can enjoy an exclusive day, complete with complimentary transportation, awe-inspiring education, delightful entertainment and relaxation without the worry of lines or parking issues. Aptly named Camp Tahoe, their private Beach Lounge experience is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Located on a stretch of beautiful white sandy beach, this experience comes complete with everything you need for a great lakeside experience including umbrellas, chairs, beach comforts, towels and toys along with access to cocktails and food at the neighboring wet bar and restaurant. Interested in enjoying the entire lake? Check out their incredible six-hour Around Tahoe Tour. If discovering the neighboring areas to Lake Tahoe is your cup of tea, their Comstock Tour offers you six hours to enjoy and learn about awe-inspiring historical Virginia City. Around Tahoe Tours also offers other fascinating tours including their Colorful Fall Tour, Winter Ski Tour, North Shore Tour or The Perfect Tahoe Day Tour. They also offer the ability to create tailored adventures for private, semi-private or group tours.

Black Tie specializes in premium ski rentals delivered straight to your door. That means no standing in long lines or trying on boots in a crowded rental facility. With locations in all the top ski destinations in North America, it’s no surprise that Black Tie Ski Delivery brings the top gear to North Lake Tahoe as well. This Truckee-based location of Black Tie Ski Delivery serves North Lake Tahoe resorts including Northstar, Alpine Meadows, Palisades Tahoe, Sugar Bowl and in the Sierra Nevada range north and west of Lake Tahoe. Black Tie calls itself a ski concierge, meaning the staff sets its customers up from head to toe with helmets, goggles, outerwear, boots and skis – all custom-fitted in your hotel room, condo or ski lease. When you’re all done, they’ll swing by and pick up the gear. What if those boots you started out with are killing your feet? Black Tie will head up to the slopes and get you back out on the snow with new gear. Call or make your reservation online and they will come to you. 

Bliss Experiences curates and customizes opportunities for connection to nature and yourself. Join them for classes, events and workshops both at their location and around the Tahoe Basin. Through collaboration with other Tahoe small business owners and professionals, they help you reconnect with the outdoors and yourself through mindful practices and outdoor exploration. Celebrate an event, bring your family together, escape from the office or retreat from the day-to-day with their scheduled and private experiences that include forest bathing, hiking, paddle tours, boat tours, food and wine experiences, Pilates, beach yoga, paddle yoga, private yoga, massage and more. Bliss Experiences connects you with local small businesses for lodging, food and drink, remedies and outdoor guides, enabling guests to experience Tahoe like a local.

With a history dating back to 1937, a completely renovated Crystal Bay Casino opened its doors on August 1, 2003. Natural stones cover the walls of the casino and a giant (fake) oak tree grows from the middle of the pit, spreading its branches out over the gaming tables and giving it a surreal ambiance. The gaming includes blackjack, craps and roulette as well as slot machines and a sportsbook. They’ve got rooms to rent out in an adjacent building called the Border House. Renovated to maintain a bygone charm with modern luxuries, the 10 rooms of the Border House are furnished with antiques and retro pieces and have Jacuzzi tubs and plasma TVs, and a few rooms have fireplaces. The casino hosts two clubs: the Red Room – with a small performance space – and the Crown Room, one of Tahoe’s premier performance venues. Set in an old bowling alley, the Crown Room has a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, a hardwood dance floor and a capacity of 750. Crystal Bay Casino also is the home to the five-star Steak and Lobster House. To get a feel for old school Tahoe with all the modern luxuries, check out the CBC.

Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is your best bet for winter camping. Also open with a larger selection of sites in the summer, the park is positioned to take advantage of both the beautiful natural setting of Lake Tahoe and the historic aspects. Within the park is access to the Hellman-Ehrmann Mansion that was built in 1903. The property is still exquisitely maintained and is an excellent representation of the wealthy side of Tahoe. Tours are offered during the summer by Sierra State Parks Foundation (sierrastateparks.org). There are various trailheads, swimming beaches and great fishing within the park as well as a Nature Center that helps visitors identify the local flora and fauna. In the winter the foundation hosts full moon snowshoe expeditions, and this is a great place for sledding and snowshoeing. Dogs are allowed on leash only. Visitors should remember to pack it in, pack it out and leave no trace. An entrance fee is charged. 

The Flume Trail above Lake Tahoe is a mountain biking trail with a well-earned reputation. Between its historical significance and the incredible views that it offers, it is a route that practically everyone in the basin knows about, even people who have never once touched tire to trail. But for those who actually do like to get out and explore the backcountry on wheels and gears, Flume Trail Mountain Bikes helps make the shop's namesake a bit more accessible. Located at the end of the Flume Trail in Incline Village, they rent well-maintained and lightweight bikes and e-pedal assist mountain bikes. Helmet, pump and spare tube are included in the package. And just as important, they offer a shuttle service to the start of the route for a one-way ride back to Incline Village, ensuring that a fun day on the trail doesn't become a logistical hassle. If you're looking for something different, they offer Tahoe Rim Trail shuttle service on select days during the season to ride one way back to Incline Village and the bike shop. Bikes can be rented for a single day or more, and you can rent as a group. Due to snow conditions on the trail, bike rentals are seasonal, usually beginning in May. Flume Trail Bikes also offers rental bikes and e-pedal assist bikes for the East Shore Paved Path along the shore of Lake Tahoe. This trail starts next to the bike shop and goes 3 miles to Sand Harbor State Park. It is a great way to get into Sand Harbor if the parking lot is full. Flume Trail recently added another ride shuttle. Check out their Carson City to the Tahoe Rim Trail on Highway 431, with service accessing a one-way, 31-mile singletrack back to Carson City with 2000’ of climbing and 6000’ of downhill.

Want to feel your best for all of your Tahoe adventures? IV therapy is a game-changer when it comes to thriving in the mountain region, especially for visitors who are not used to this climate and elevation. Whether you want to quickly acclimate to the elevation, optimize your performance for strenuous outdoor activities or recover from a night out in SLT, a boost of IV hydration, glutathione, vitamin C or Myers Cocktail at Osmosis Lounge will have you feeling rejuvenated and full of energy. As locals know, these therapies are also beneficial holistic treatments for medical conditions and reversing the effects of aging. Founded by ER nurses and health enthusiasts, Osmosis recognizes the critical role nutrients play in your body's optimal performance. Whether you're a passionate athlete, an adventurous traveler or just someone who wants to look and feel their best, Osmosis Lounge has options for you. Appointments take about 30 minutes; if you want something quicker, a B12 or endurance injection will have you in and out in 10 minutes. Same-day appointments are available. 

Tahoe Art Haus & Cinema is not a regular movie theater. With leather rocking seats and comfy couches in the theater and a bar serving beer and wine in the lobby, this hip space takes going to a movie to a whole new level of fun. The Art Haus hosts independent films, ski flicks, locally created masterpieces, major motion pictures and environmental films. The Art Haus also offers a stage for dance performers, speakers, filmmakers and live music. The space is rentable for a large party or custom film showing. The bar has eight beers and cider on tap as well as wine and Prosecco and a popcorn spice bar. The Art Haus' big summer movies include Furiosa, Inside Out 2 and Deadpool 3.

Sprawling Tahoe Donner and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee are home to full-time and part-time residents and a year-round destination for visitors from all over who are drawn to its beautiful neighborhoods, vast trails, open spaces and unique amenities. With the world-class Cross Country Ski Center and Downhill Ski Resort open to members and the public in the wintertime and the Tahoe Donner Trail System and par-72 championship Golf Course open to members and the public in the summertime, plus private amenities like the Beach Club Marina, Tennis Center and Trout Creek Rec Center open exclusively for Tahoe Donner members and their guests, this High-Sierra community offers year-round recreation and enjoyment unlike any other. Following your adventures, visit any of Tahoe Donner’s restaurants for casual or fine dining, including The Lodge Restaurant & Pub, Alder Creek Cafe or Pizza on the Hill. Each offers an inviting menu with fresh menu options and a lively and family-friendly atmosphere. Keep an eye out for live music and other fun events open to the public throughout the year.

There may not be a better way to take in the true beauty of Lake Tahoe than from a helicopter. Tahoe Helicopters offers every style of tour possible to accommodate those who would like a bird's eye view of things. From waterfall excursions to sunset flights, from a circumnavigation of the lake to exploring one specific area, there's something for everyone. The flights are perfect for all ages and will be certain to leave you in jaw-dropping awe. Tours are daily, and trips range in duration from 10 minutes to an hour. They welcome walk-ins; however, it is recommended to call first to check availability.

Tahoe Sport Fishing is Lake Tahoe's only U.S. Coast Guard-certified fishing fleet. An experienced crew and a fleet of seven boats put you right where the fish are biting for year-round adventure. The boats leave from both Zephyr Cove Marina (Memorial Day to Labor Day only) for private charters and Ski Run Marina (year-round) for public and private charters. They cater to single anglers, families, bachelor parties and corporate groups.

A combination of live theater, high-end lounge and tapas-style dining, The Loft Theatre Magic & Comedy Theatre offers the full package for a fun night out. The nightly entertainment includes world-class comedy magicians performing in an intimate 107-seat, stadium-style theater. The lineup of performances includes a full slate of all-ages, family-friendly shows as well as a more limited selection of adult-oriented offerings. In addition to entertainment, The Loft Theatre's restaurant, TASTE at The Loft, features a vibrant mix of small plates and American tapas meant to be shared with your dining companions. The menu and acts change frequently, making the destination fun to visit multiple times a year. The Loft Lounge is a late-night hotspot in Heavenly Village.

One of the treasures of winter is the pleasure of ice skating. In Truckee there is a fabulous family-focused ice rink that comes with the flurries of snowfall at the Truckee River Regional Park. Although not regulation in size, Truckee Ice Rink offers a great array of activities on the ice. From public ice-skating sessions (complete with rentals) to ice-skating lessons for young and old, the outdoor arena is a place that encourages smiles. Visit tdrpd.org/icerink for more information.