Lake Tahoe Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
Lake Tahoe is a popular vacation and recreation region straddling the border between California and Nevada. The closest large city is Reno, Nevada.
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Cities
- Tahoe City - A touristy, hippy, town situated on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe.
- Truckee - Historic western town on Route 89 northwest of the lake.
- South Lake Tahoe - Located on the border between California and Nevada, you can sleep in Cali and gamble in Nevada.
- Stateline is just north of South Lake Tahoe and also spans both states.
- Tahoe Vista- A beautiful Lake Tahoe city on the North Shore.
Understand
Lake Tahoe is a beautiful, crystal-clear blue lake nestled among mountain peaks. During the summer, boating, camping, and hiking are popular activities. Winter sports are popular during the colder months (December-April).
Lake Tahoe has been a tourist destination since the turn of the 20th century, when steam trains and improving roads made it possible to visit with ease. The 1960 Winter Olympics, held at Squaw Valley, popularized winter sports at Tahoe.
Get in
By plane
Fly to Reno airport, about an hour drive to Tahoe on highway 80 West. Major airports are also located in the San Francisco Bay Area, about 4 hours away, and Sacramento, about 2 hours away.
By car
Getting into the Lake Tahoe region by car is perhaps the most popular method of transportation, but it is not without its hassles and headaches, especially for the first-time visitor. Be aware that you're driving into a mountainous region that can receive heavy snowfall during certain parts of the winter season. Always carry snow chains in your car. If roads are slick with snow or ice, chain control will be implemented, which usually means you need chains installed on your tires for the affected stretch of highway unless you are in a four-wheel drive vehicle. Before planning your trip, check local weather reports as well as the California Highway Information Network (CHIN) (call +1 800 427-7623 in California or +1 916 445-7623 from elsewhere) for traffic conditions. The State of California also provides helpful winter driving tips.
If you are already near or in the Lake Tahoe region without snow chains in your car, but you find that you will need them, try to buy it where the locals might, such as a grocery store. Prices for chains at gas stations visible from the highway will often be twice as expensive!
During chain control, men in orange jumpsuits will be on hand to install chains for you for a hefty fee of $30 USD (sometimes a little more if they need to cut your chains to fit). If you've never installed chains, the convenience of paying an expert do the job in less than five minutes may outweigh the amount of money you save while shuddering in the cold, hunched over the instructions for half an hour. The choice is entirely yours; a good method of learning how to install chains is to watch someone do it the first time so that you know how it to do it yourself the next time---just consider the $30-$35 your lesson fee. (Or better yet, have an experienced friend teach you before you even leave.)
To North Lake Tahoe: From the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento, take interstate highway I-80 East toward Reno. From Reno, take I-80 West toward Sacramento.
To South Lake Tahoe: From the San Francisco Bay Area or Sacramento, take US Highway 50 East toward South Lake Tahoe.
By bus or shuttle
Many ski resorts offer bus and shuttle rides from certain pick-up locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Reno, Truckee or from hotels in the Lake Tahoe region. Availability, pick-up locations, schedules and rates vary widely depending on the resort you want to go to. See the Do section below for a list of ski resorts, and check their website or call their office to see what your options are.
By train
Amtrak operates the California Zephyr Train, which goes from Emeryville, CA in the San Francisco Bay Area to Chicago, IL and makes a stop in Truckee.
Get around
See
Do
Ski Resorts
There are many resorts in the Tahoe region for skiers and snowboarders. Lifts are open whenever the snows begin (usually around mid-November) and close when the weather becomes too warm and the snow stops (usually around mid-April, though resorts have sometimes closed as late as May!). Conditions will vary depending on the resort, and not all mountains are the same.
For an instant overview of the conditions of a number of ski resorts, see Ski Bonk's resort map.
North Shore
- Alpine, [1]. Although small, Alpine hosts enough veriety in its terrain to satisfy any level of skier. Alpine also features ticket prices significantly lower than its competitors.
- Homewood, [2]. Small resort located directly on the lake south of Tahoe City.
- Northstar, Northstar Dr. (off Highway 267, near Truckee), +1 800 GO-NORTH, [3]. Lifts open daily from 8:30AM-4PM (weather permitting). A popular, beginner-friendly resort, with slopes much less steep than at most other major resorts. Currently building "The Village" at the base of the mountain with shops, restaurants, living spaces and an outdoor ice skating rink. Expect large crowds on major holiday weekends.
- Squaw Valley, +1 530 583-6985 [4]. Skier's paradise, a former Olympic village. Its oversized reputation also presents a downside: overbearing crowds that even a mountain the size of Squaw can't handle.
South Shore
- Heavenly - Located on the state line (so half casinos, half not). Beginner-friendly.
- Kirkwood - Located about 45 minutes from South Lake Tahoe. Off the beaten path, but not as crowded as Sierra at Tahoe or Heavenly.
- Sierra at Tahoe, 1111 Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, +1 530 659-7453, [5]. Under the same management as Northstar, so a season pass will work at both locations. Slopes are steeper than at Northstar and is usually not quite as crowded.
Nevada
- Diamond Peak - Family-friendly resort with slopes for all ski levels.
- Mount Rose - Highest base elevation in the Tahoe Basin.
Beyond Donner Pass
If you are heading east from the Bay Area, you have some skiing choices. These resorts are all on Highway 80 going East, before you hit Donner Pass.
- Boreal
- Royal Gorge
- Sugar Bowl
Hiking
There are several parks along the shore and nearby, including Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay.
There are many trail in the nearby Desolation Wilderness including Mount Tallac Trail.
Beaches
[Sand Harbor], northeast shore.
Boat trips
Several charter services offer boat tours to the mansions that dot the lake shore.
Year-Round Activities
Gambling is a popular activity year-round. There are also bicycle and boat rentals (both canoes and power boats) available in South Lake Tahoe.
Buy
You can rent skiing or snowboarding equipment directly at the mountain. However, to save money and increase your available choices, you might want to rent from one of the many Ski Shops in the Tahoe Area. You can also rent from REI, Any Mountain, and Marmot Mountain Works in the Bay Area (and probably other places too).
Eat
In South Lake Tahoe:
- Cafe Fiore
- Bert's
- Carina's
- The Divided Sky
- Heidi's Restaurant, 3485 Lake Tahoe Boulevard
Drink
Sleep
Hotels are, of course, an option. Book in advance, especially in the winter or summer seasons. You can get a room for as cheap as $30/night in South Lake Tahoe, or spend several hundred dollars a night for a large cabin that can hold a dozen people.
Homeowners in the area do a brisk business renting/leasing out their cabins for the winter and summer seasons. They vary in price from $800/mo for a 1-room condo, to $3,000/mo and up for 4 bedroom houses with hot tubs and other amenities. Leases are advertised with real estate agencies as well as in the local papers.
Budget
- Packard Realty Resorts, [6], Three resorts to choose from right on Lake Tahoe. Prices from $29 USD per person per night.
Mid-Range
Splurge
- Coldwell Banker Lake Tahoe Vacations, (800) 748-6857, rentals@cbmckinney.com, [7]. Offering over 100 rentals in the South Lake Tahoe area including homes, condominiums, and cabins. Some of our vacation rentals come with pools, tennis courts, spas and boat slips. Prices range from as little as $75 per night for a condo in the low season to $1300 per night for a four bedroom house during the Christmas holiday.
- Hyatt High Sierra Lodge, 989 Incline Way, Incline Village, Nevada, +1 775 832-0220, [8]. This is a "Hyatt Vacation Club Resort," which is the fanciest of the fancy; you get a 2-bedroom condo with its own balcony, a fireplace and a whirlpool spa. Price per condo is around $350 USD per night.
- Soda Springs Rentals, 21719 Donner Pass Rd., Soda Springs, California (office location), +1 866 679 8300 (email: megan@sodaspringsrentals.com), [9]. Homey two to four bedroom cabins in Soda Springs, just west of Truckee in the North Lake Tahoe area.
Stay safe
Get out
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