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
11509 Northwoods Boulevard, Truckee, CA
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.
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...read more
Sprawling Tahoe Donner and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee are home to full-time and part-time...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Spooner Lake is an excellent winter and summer recreation area. The reservoir is home to year-round fishing, hiking and birding. In the summer the lake is the place for swimming, non-motorized boating and mountain biking, and in the winter the cross-country skiing and snowshoeing are great. There is a day-use fee collected per vehicle/bike, so make sure to bring some money. read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Privately owned and operated by the homeowners in the Village at Sugar Bowl, Sugar Bowl Resort has attracted skiers and snowboarders to the top of Donner Summit for nearly 75 years. As a Tahoe-area resort that consistently collects great stashes of snow, Sugar Bowl boasts four distinct peaks and an open-boundary policy for backcountry access. Other unique features include a scenic gondola ride into the car-free...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe Adventure Company is a way to access any outdoor adventure in Lake Tahoe. Whether it is rock climbing or kayaking, mountain biking or hiking, Tahoe Adventure Company prides itself in creating custom recreation tours that connect exactly with what the guest desires. They add a ton of local knowledge to each of their trips and also offer kayak and paddleboard rentals and tours. Other fun experiences Tahoe Adventure Company offers include star tours, full moon, sunset excursions, group outings, backpacking trips...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe Bike & Ski Company is a year-round outdoor-fun outfitter. In summer they handle rentals of single and double surreys as well as sales and rentals of manual and electric bikes. They also offer other outdoor fun items for sale, such as kites. When the snow sports roll around, Tahoe Bike & Ski has basic and demo ski packages as well as cross-country and snowboard...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe Bike Company is a full-service source for bikes in South Lake Tahoe, offering an entire rental spectrum including electric, family (surrey), kids, cruisers, comfort/hybrid and road bikes and trailers or seats for children and pets. Tahoe Bike Company not only rents the exact bike for your cycling needs, but also sells bikes and a variety of kites. In the winter the shop transitions into...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe City Golf Course is a 9-hole course (with a par of 33) that has character and stellar views of Lake Tahoe. The historic course began back in 1917 when England's famous golfer May "Queenie" Dunn was commissioned to create a course on the then-famous Tahoe Tavern resort property. As one of the first courses in the United States to be designed by a woman,...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe City Winter Sports Park is a great place for families and those looking for a fun day of sledding, ice-skating or cross-country skiing in Tahoe City. The center is on the Tahoe City Golf Course and provides a 4-kilometer groomed traditional and skate skiing cross-country loop that is also great for walking and snowshoeing. The sledding is open from Friday to Sunday except for...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe Cross Country (aka Tahoe XC) boasts a large trail system for hiking and biking in the summer and groomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails in the winter. Situated on Dollar Hill just outside of Tahoe City, the location is excellent for lofty lake views while enjoying the wilderness. Tahoe XC offers bike rentals, bike clinics, year-round youth programs as well as classic, skate ski and snowshoe rentals and...
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Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Area is one of the most extensive and scenic Nordic ski centers in the West. It includes Alder Creek Adventure Center and a cafe/bar as well as a ski rental center. From lung-busting climbs to flat meadows, Tahoe Donner has more than 100 kilometers of trails groomed for skate skiing and traditional cross-country striding as well as snowshoeing. Alder Creek...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
One of the many hidden gems of Truckee is Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort. Compared to the many large, corporate ski resorts in the Truckee-North Tahoe area, Tahoe Donner Downhill is small. But then again, that’s like comparing apples to oranges. Ask locals where their kids learned to ski, and there’s a very good chance it was on the slopes at Tahoe Donner. The ski area prides itself...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
If you are looking for a pro when it comes to finding fun adventure, then check out Tahoe Jack's Adventure Authority. A guided tour, expedition and excursion company, Tahoe Jack's specializes in the South Lake Tahoe area. They have kayaking, rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, paddleboarding, kiteboarding, wilderness courses, backpacking and night adventures for the summertime. For winter their journeys include snowshoeing, fat bike tours,...read more
Lake Tahoe Cross-country Skiing
Whether winter or summer, Tahoe Multisport is a one-stop-shop for getting out and enjoying all that Lake Tahoe offers. From top-of-the-line equipment to the guiding expertise you need to fully enjoy the area, they are set up to help you have a great time. Outfitted for backcountry skiing and winter kayaking or paddleboarding, mountain biking and road biking in the summer, Tahoe Multisport has everything...read more
