“There are 100 ways to kneel and kiss the earth,” according to Rumi, and surely one of the best is hiking. To experience Lake Tahoe hikes is to elevate above the usual – not only in altitude but in exquisite beauty, physical challenges and the inner peace mountain trails offer. To join in on one of the most well-known things to do in Tahoe, lace up those boots. There are literally hundreds of Lake Tahoe hiking trails, ranked from beginner to advanced, and one should believe the rankings. These high-altitude trails are not the place to be over-confident in your cardio or muscle fitness, and remember that, if you aren’t conditioned to the thinner air, your lungs will be working harder than usual. But once you’re on your way on the proper Lake Tahoe hikes, you’ll lose yourself in the views and be so glad you hit the trails. The many state parks in this area provide exceptional trails. Along the way, you’ll have the opportunity to see local flora and fauna and even historic castles and mansions! Several ski areas promote Lake Tahoe hiking in the warmer weather along the same trails that entice wintertime skiers. If you like the idea of a hike but would rather be going downhill, you can even ride the ski lift to the top and hike down. For novices, that’s a great way to start your Lake Tahoe hiking adventures.
Featured for Your Visit
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
11001 CA Highway 89, South Lake Tahoe, CA
If visiting Lake Tahoe in the summer, a great place to camp is Emerald Bay State Park. The park includes two campgrounds: the Boat-In Camp (accessible by boat and foot only) and Eagle Point Campground. Within the park are various treasures including Tahoe's hidden castle, Vikingsholm, the scenic Rubicon foot trail that connects Eagle Point Campground with Vikingsholm and DL Bliss State Park. The park also encompasses Fanette Island, the only island of Lake Tahoe. The park extends below the surface of the lake, where visitors will find a historical story book of days gone by in the form of sunken barges, ships and launches. The park closes down in the winter, though people are able to walk the mile-long, steep trail to Vikingsholm Castle to enjoy the grounds and beaches. The trail can be a bit treacherous in winter if snowy or icy. Visitors should remember to pack it in and pack it out and to leave no trace.
If visiting Lake Tahoe in the summer, a great place to camp is Emerald Bay State Park. The park includes two campgrounds: the Boat-In Camp (accessible by boat and foot only) and Eagle Point Campground. Within the park are various treasures including Tahoe's hidden castle, Vikingsholm, the scenic Rubicon foot trail that connects Eagle Point Campground with Vikingsholm and DL Bliss State Park. The park...read more
If visiting Lake Tahoe in the summer, a great place to camp is Emerald Bay...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
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 Running, Walking & Hiking
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
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
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 Running, Walking & Hiking
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 Running, Walking & Hiking
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 and cross-country skiing and winter kayaking or paddleboarding, mountain biking and road biking in the summer, Tahoe...read more
The Village at Palisades Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
When it comes to towering rock faces that are so grandiose that they catch a person's eye, Tram Face of Palisades Tahoe ranks up there. This omnipresence of orange and red rock is a masterpiece of beautiful natural perfection. Now people can enjoy her beauty up close and personal with Alpenglow Expeditions' Tahoe Via Ferrata. In inspiration of European mountain routes that use ropes, cables...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
Taylor Creek Visitor Center is a wonderful place to enjoy the natural environment of Lake Tahoe. A learning center that focuses on the local flora and fauna, there are multiple self-guided information trails that highlight different plants, birds and wildlife that frequent the area. Additionally, there is a Stream Profile Chamber a quarter-mile walk down their Rainbow Trail; it gives an aquarium view into the...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
Say the name Ritz-Carlton and immediately luxury comes to mind. Even though The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is relatively young (it opened in 2009), its $300 million construction cost guaranteed luxury from day one. What makes the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe unique is its location, which is mid-mountain at Northstar California ski resort. That positioning means there is ski-in/ski-out access to the slopes. Of course, it being...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
Truckee River Regional Park is Truckee's premier opportunity to get to know Mother Nature in a park-like setting. A giant expanse that encompasses the Truckee River and the beautiful scrub land that surrounds her, the park is accentuated by many amenities such as an amphitheater that hosts many fabulous summer shows, an ice rink in the winter and the best disc golf course you are...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
The Van Sickle Bi-State Park is all about bringing visitors even closer to Tahoe nature. As the only park in the country with an entrance that straddles a state line, the site is close enough to the bright lights of the famous South Tahoe casinos that tourists can walk to the park from the resorts. The trail system in the park caters to hikers, mountain...read more
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
All of the best ski resorts these days strive to provide the most complete vacation experience, and the Village at Northstar is a prime example. When you are tired of the mountain, or if you have no interest in the snow sports in the first place, there is plenty to do at the Village. Shopping is front and center with more than a dozen shops...read more
Northstar California Resort
Lake Tahoe Running, Walking & Hiking
The Village at Northstar is an example of the coming of age of the Sierra ski resorts. Gone are the days when the Tahoe area hillsides were bustling with snow-sports enthusiasts in the winter but then empty during the other seasons. The activity these days takes place all year long, and even if you never set foot on the slopes, you'll find more than enough...read more
