While downhill skiing might be the top sport here during the winter months, cross-country skiing sure is up there in the most popular things to do in Tahoe segment. There are literally thousands of acres of skiable terrain, including golf courses that transform into ski parks in the winter. (Note that a lot of summer bike shops become winter sports shops too!) You can expect a lot of breathtaking views! And as an added amenity, many of the trails for cross-country skiing in Lake Tahoe are dog friendly (but protect those paws!). You’ll find trails associated with accommodations, such as Clair Tappaan Lodge, the Tahoe Donner subdivision and Northstar, and others that are part of municipalities such as Tahoe Cross Country Ski Area in Tahoe City or part of parks such as Donner Memorial State Park and Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. Most of these terrains are also popular for snow shoeing too. Cross-country skiing in Lake Tahoe is a combination of working your body and calming your mind. Strap on those skies and glide!
Featured for Your Visit
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
CA State Park Road, Tahoma, CA
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.
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...read more
Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is your best bet for winter camping. Also...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is a park system found on the east shore of Lake Tahoe. With six different management units that total 14,301 acres, the park protects miles of dense Tahoe forest and beautiful sandy and rocky beaches. Within the park are the swimming areas of Sand Harbor, Chimney Beach, Hidden Beach, Secret Cove, Creek Beach, Boaters Beach and Whale Beach as well...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Links at Everline is an 18-hole course that will test your game if you so desire. It's considered a championship golf course, measuring a distance of nearly 7000 yards from the gold tees and rated a par 71. A narrow course that wanders through marshland, forests and rolling mountainside, Links at Everline is designed for the experienced golfer. That isn't to say that there isn't...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Rustic is a word too often tossed around when marketing people try to describe their lodging properties. But for real rustic, head to the Lost Trail Lodge located off the grid in a canyon outside Truckee. Getting to the lodge is an adventure in itself, especially when the Sierra is in winter-wonderland mode. Four miles from parking when winter is in full swing, the way...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
When you are out at Camp Richardson to have fun, it would be a drag if you had to run into town to get the gear to do it. Luckily Mountain Sports Center, Camp Richardson's centrally located sports shop, has equipment rentals for both warm and cold weather activities. Mountain bikes or tandem bikes, snowshoes or cross-country skis, they've got them right...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
A 124-acre park in Tahoe Vista, North Tahoe Regional Park (on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe between Kings Beach and Carnelian Bay) offers year-round fun and beautiful views of the lake. It's a dog-friendly park, and in the summer the area is enhanced with a tree-top adventure course, hiking and biking trails, baseball diamonds, a children's playground and an interactive nature trail. Picnic areas...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
North Tahoe Regional Park offers 124 acres of recreational fun for the entire family. Situated in north Lake Tahoe in Tahoe Vista, North Tahoe Regional Park gives visitors a ton of activities like disc golf, tennis courts, multipurpose ball fields, soccer facilities as well as a scout area. Additionally, there is a leash-free dog park as well as groomed, dog-friendly cross-country ski and snowshoe trails...read more
Northstar California Resort
Village at Northstar
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Since 1972, the Northstar California Resort has drawn winter sports enthusiasts to the area. Twenty different lifts provide access to some 100 trails on more than 3,000 acres of skiable terrain. The majority of the trails are designed for intermediate level skiers, while about a quarter of them are for advanced skiers and the remainder are just right for beginners. Speaking of beginners, Northstar offers...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
With nearly 40 years of putting butts on bikes and feet on skis, Paco’s is Truckee’s oldest specialty cycling and cross-country ski store. From high-end road and mountain bikes to rides for kids, Paco’s covers the spectrum. Rental bikes are also available. Paco’s has a full-service shop as well as cycling componentry, shoes, helmets, clothing and sports nutrition. When the snow starts to fly, Paco’s...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Paige Meadows is a huge area of easy hiking and mountain biking trails in the summer and cross-country skiing trails in the winter. An area that is superb for families and those not wanting a big workout, the zone has very few hills yet offers stunning views of the area. In the spring Paige Meadows is filled with a variety of wildflowers. In the fall...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
The nation’s largest cross-country ski resort sits atop Donner Summit out of view of most travelers. But for those in the know, Royal Gorge’s 200 km of groomed trails on 6,000 acres of stunning Sierra Nevada scenery is a veritable adventure mecca. A recent land partnership with Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and the Truckee Donner Land Trust means the 45-year-old Royal Gorge resort will continue...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
With its roots dating back to 1985, Shoreline of Tahoe is a longstanding favorite ski and bike rental and repair business in Tahoe. With two locations in South Shore, it is evident that they are passionate about making sure your gear is just right. The bike rentals range from rigs made for cruising comfort, to full-suspension mountain bikes. You can rent by the hour, half-day,...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Just over the hill from South Lake Tahoe toward Kirkwood in Hope Valley is Sorensen’s Resort. Imagine a rustic inn with a B&B vibe and a nice range of lodging options. Sorensen’s has a great restaurant, a wood-fired sauna and acres and acres of high-country wilderness to explore. The resort puts you within spitting distance of all sorts of backcountry recreation, from fishing and hiking...read more
