Tahoe Thing to Do: Horseback Riding

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.

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. 

Explore the untouched meadows and woodlands of Washoe Meadows State Park, offering serene trails and breathtaking views at the base of Echo Summit's escarpment. Named in tribute to Native Americans who thrived here for millennia, the park remains undeveloped, preserving its raw beauty. Enjoy dog-friendly trails while abiding by leash regulations. As a part of the Sierra State Park Foundation, please lend a hand and help keep this treasured part of our heritage cleaner than you found it.

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. 

Between the snow sports, the water sports and the casino fun, one aspect of Tahoe's recreational offerings that gets overlooked is horseback trail riding, despite the area's strong roots in this activity. Seasonal rides are still available out of the Zephyr Cove Stables, however, with one- or two-hour excursions through woods and mountains overlooking the lake. There is even the option to package your ride with a meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) to give your day the real cowpoke experience. Riders must be at least 7 years old, and the maximum weight limit is 225 pounds.