Tahoe Thing to Do: Kayaking & Canoeing

To get off the beaten path in North Lake Tahoe, Black Tie Adventure Rentals has you covered with e-bikes, kayaks, standup paddleboards and river tubes. You can visit their Truckee Adventure Shop to pick up gear, or they offer convenient delivery to your vacation lodging or adventure site. Their gear experts will ensure that your equipment is properly set up for a seamless adventure. When you're done, simply return the gear to their shop or enjoy the convenience of pick-up service. If conditions change or you need assistance during your rental, they are easily available and only a phone call away. Black Tie wants you to enjoy every minute of your adventure, so they will offer to meet you to collect the gear without imposing on your plans if you can't come to them.

History buffs, campers, cyclists, hikers and those who love their water sports will find Donner Memorial State Park the perfect place for either a visit or an extended stay. The Donner name is a nod to the story of the snow-stranded emigrants and their ill-fated wagon train in the winter of 1846–47. One part of the forlorn pioneer group made camp near Donner Lake, now site of the state park, during record-breaking snowfall. Now visitors can go to Donner Memorial State Park and check out the new $6.6 million visitor center/museum that chronicles the Donner Party and the human and natural history of the region. During summer season the park has 142 spaces for car, RV and tent camping. There is also a concessionaire renting water-sport toys from kayaks and SUPs to two-seater personal watercraft. Being a state park in the Sierra, everything is surrounded by beautiful pines and plenty of hiking and biking in adjacent Cold Stream Canyon and swimming in the kid-friendly canal and China Cove. Depending on snowfall, a cross-country ski trail is groomed through the park, which is also a great place for snowshoeing. An entrance fee is charged.

Lake Tahoe has only one outflow – the Truckee River. And for 25 years IRIE Rafting Company has given visitors a close-up view of the waterway as well as the region's north and middle forks of the American River and the Carson River. For those wanting to stay closer to Truckee, IRIE offers half- and full-day trips on the Truckee River after it flows past the town of Truckee. There is ideal paddling to be had for a range of ages and abilities as well as some thrilling rapids as the river runs down into the Truckee River Gorge. IRIE transports guests to and from Truckee to the put-in and take-out points on the river and provides helmets, personal flotation vests and paddles. Expect a two-hour trip that will be perfect for the whole family. By the way, IRIE stands for Isolated Rivers, Incredible Experiences. 

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. 

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.

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.