Tahoe Things to Do: Boating & Sailing

Offering double-decker pontoon party boats, Battle Born Boat Rentals is your one-stop shop for fun. Set sail on their 2021 Avalon Catalina Double Decker "Funship" that seats up to 13 people. In this stylish ship with slate teak flooring, a silver interior package with black accent vinyl and an upgraded blackout package that gets the boat noticed, you feel like royalty stepping upon her deck. The boat comes set up with a bluetooth six-speaker sound system, a waterslide, tubes for tubing, a paddleboard, a spacious upper deck, a Bimini top and a pop-up changing room. Outfitted with a Mercury 150 HP outboard, the boat also comes equipped with a Garmin Striker 5CV GPS Fish Finder and a ski tow bar. Half-day and full-day rentals are complete with an approved operator so you don't have to worry about a thing.

DL Bliss State Park is a culmination of absolute Tahoe beauty in the form of stunning turquoise water, old-growth forests and giant cartoon-like granite boulders that balance themselves like toys in amazing ways. There are multiple hiking trails that lead from the park, giving plenty of opportunities to enjoy the splendor that outdoor Tahoe has to offer, and you'll find several good dive spots here too. To help enjoy the area even more, there are 150 regular campsites and one group site, all having easy access to the water via various points around the park. The park is also good for dogs as long as they're on a leash at all times and not on the trails. If you're coming to the park for day use only it is highly advised that you come early, as the park tends to be very busy and parking is limited. The park does not allow day use visitors once the parking lots are full. The park closes in the winter, although access to trails is still available. Visitors should remember to pack it in and pack it out and to leave no trace. 

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. 

Lake Tahoe Boat Rides is a premier charter boat company that offers customized boat tours designed to make memories that last a lifetime. For those looking to enjoy the beautiful sites and excitement that Lake Tahoe has to offer by boat, Lake Tahoe Boat Rides has a variety of private boat tours available. This is perfect for swimming in private coves, tubing, waterskiing and lounging while your private driver takes you and your loved ones around the lake. If you want to step it up a notch, then try Lake Tahoe Boat Rides' yacht charters. Tending to your every desire, these tours bring luxury upon the serene waters of Lake Tahoe to a higher level. To keep things simple, they have various private docks for rental pick up in addition to their Tahoe Keys main hub. They will also drop off rental gear at your desired location. 

Sail Tahoe Blue is a boating company based on a passion for doing what one loves and sharing it with others. The owners' dream was to spend every day on Lake Tahoe and share that excitement with others. Sail Tahoe Blue offers a safe, fun and entertaining adventure for any age. They sail on Blue, their 40-foot Santa Cruz sailboat. The sailing vessel provides a rich history of performance and chartering capabilities, while the captain and crew are highly experienced and delighted to give you memories you will treasure forever. 

Tahoe Boat & RV Rents makes having fun in Lake Tahoe a breeze. This is a family-run business providing the tools needed to access the water and the great outdoors. Offering rentals of both RV motorhomes and water-ski boats, they take the fuss out of enjoying Lake Tahoe. They offer different power boats that seat between eight and 12 people. For sleeping accommodations they provide the glam camp motorhome in the 24-foot version, sleeping up to four people. 

Through their retail location in Tahoe City and rental beach-side location at Commons Beach, Tahoe City Kayak offers everything you could need if you desire to go kayaking or standup paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe. Ready to outfit you from head to toe with new gear or rentals, Tahoe City Kayak prides itself on being the trusted North Tahoe source on all things kayak (in a single or tandem rendition) and paddleboarding. In addition to selling boards, boats, accessories and gear, the experienced crew also gives tours, with various types to choose from – the sunset journey, the historic West Shore tour and a brunch tour as well as a Fourth of July excursion and guided moonlight paddles.

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.

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains, lakes, river and forests. But there are many hidden gems known mostly to locals. Those gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Want to find Truckee’s soul? Check out the bike park at Riverview Sports Park and the popular disc golf course and skate park in Regional Park. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programing and facilities that continue to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area. 

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of its own: Donner Lake. While not as big and broad as Big Blue, Donner Lake offers up a good bit of watery fun too. One of the best places to access Donner is West End Beach. In summer months, there is a modest admission fee to enter the 10-acre west end area, but the sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sand castles and splash in the water all under the watch of life guards. Operated by the Truckee Donner Park and Recreation Department, West End Beach also has paddleboards, kayaks and pedal boats available to rent. There is plenty of fun on the beach area: two playgrounds for kids to get their kicks on, a sand volleyball court, tennis court and horseshoe pits. A snack bar serves up soft drinks, hot dogs and ice cream. Get there early and stake out a picnic table and grill. There are shady group picnic areas available by reservation.