This is an area with strong roots in the Old West so horseback riding is a natural holdover and a wonderful thing to do in Tahoe to experience the amazing terrain. There are thousands of acres of trails to explore, and several outfitters offer lessons as well as guided rides.
Featured for Your Visit
Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
15888 South Shore Drive, Truckee, CA
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. The sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sandcastles and splash in the water all under the watch of lifeguards. 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.
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...read more
Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Round Pines is a great beach for those who like a lot going on but also like a beach that is tucked away. Not only does it have a deli and a bar, but it also has a wonderful selection of available water-activity rentals, including boats, Jet Skis, kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats. Visitors can also choose to go parasailing, play volleyball, swim in the...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
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 partnership with Sugar Bowl Ski Resort and the Truckee Donner Land Trust means Royal Gorge resort, which was founded in 1971,...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Safe Taxi is a small company operating in the South Lake Tahoe area. Their fleet is limited in number, so at any given time it's possible that all their cabs will be already occupied or reserved, but it is also possible that they might have a car available when all other companies are booked up. Safe Taxi uses four-wheel-drive SUVs, so inclement weather isn't an...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Immersed in the Truckee forest is a place that delves into the research and lessons that Mother Earth can provide. Sagehen Creek Field Station is a quaint teaching facility and research station for the University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley Natural History Museums and the U.C. Natural Reserve System. Also an active member of the Organization of Biological Field Stations, Sagehen has been a longstanding...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
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...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
If you wish to sail the beautiful water of Lake Tahoe, then Sailing Ventures Lake Tahoe is a good bet in instruction and boat charters. Established in 1993, Sailing Ventures has created an extensive list of sailing courses through the years. With 10 different sailing classes available, from a two-hour introduction to sailing to a two-day family sailing lesson, teaching the ways of the Tahoe...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Three miles south of the town of Incline Village on Highway 28, Sand Harbor has a variety of natural features that you can spend an entire day exploring. You can hike several trails down the shoreline or off into the woods. You can rock-hop, scrambling across the giant boulders that extend out into the lake. You can rent a kayak or standup paddleboard to float...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Sandy Beach is a beautiful yet tiny piece of free public beach access in Tahoe Vista. Near the Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort, this sandy beach provides views looking up Lake Tahoe toward Mount Tallac, creating a stunning perspective. The beach is outfitted with garbage cans year-round, and portable bathrooms are added in the summer. A bonus to this beach is that there are picnic tables and...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Truckee-Tahoe is full of golf courses open to private play only. Schaffer’s Mill Golf Club is one of those private courses, except on Mondays. The golfing public can play the Johnny Miller/John Harbottle-designed course throughout the season during unaccompanied guest play on Mondays. As tee times are understandably limited on the public days, golfers wanting to take advantage of the opportunity should contact the Schaffer’s...read more
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Secline Beach is an often-missed section of sandy beach that you'll find right as you're coming into Kings Beach; it's behind the Transam gas station. It's a nice beach with picnic tables, grills and shady spots. There is no fee for entry as there are no designated places to park or gated areas. There are garbage dispensers and portable bathrooms available. This is a good...read more
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
Secret Cove is a secluded nudist beach that is off the same trail system that accesses Chimney Beach. On the east shore of Lake Tahoe on Highway 89, 2.6 miles from Sand Harbor, the trailhead to Secret Cove is found to the right of the free public parking. The trail is steep at first and then mellows out to a gentle 3/4-mile of single track....read more
Shops at Heavenly Village
Lake Tahoe Thing to Do
One of the nice perks of the new commercial activity taking place near the east side of South Lake Tahoe is that it has brought in a high-end spa. Serenity Spa uses modern techniques and products such as hot stone massage, mineral salt scrub therapy, body wraps and revitalizing facials to promote relaxation and well being. And for that romantic occasion, there is the Couples’...read more