Things to Do in Tahoe
Explore
Truckee’s Historic Downtown – A preserved mountain town known for its historic buildings, local dining, and unique shops.
Emerald Bay – A stunning alpine bay with turquoise waters, Fannette Island, and the historic Vikingsholm Castle.
Vikingsholm Castle – A Scandinavian-style castle tucked in Emerald Bay, offering tours and panoramic lake views. The Rubicon Trail passes by the castle, and makes for a great excursion.
Hiking
China Cove Trail – Easy 3.4 miles ~10min drive from Truckee
Martis Valley – Easy, paved 5.2 miles only 3min drive from Truckee (one of Mara’s favorite areas to run!)
Azalea & Flora Lake – Easy 2.7 miles ~20min drive from Truckee
Donner Peak Trail – Moderate 3.7 miles ~20min from Truckee
Rubicon Point Lighthouse – Moderate 2.5 miles ~1hr from Truckee
Eagle Lake – Moderate 3.4 miles ~50min from Truckee
Rubicon Trail – Hard 3.5 miles ~45min from Truckee
Tahoe City Rim Trail – Hard 9.4 miles ~25min from Truckee
Beaches
King’s Beach – Sandy beach with picnic areas, shops, and water rentals ~20min from Truckee. Great for families.
Pope Beach – Long, sandy, family-friendly beach ~1hr from Truckee with great swimming, kayak rentals, and food concessions.
Zephyr Cove – Lively beach with a marina, volleyball, rentals, and a beach bar for a more social vibe.
Water Activities
Truckee River Float – Paddle the Truckee River, a fun, mellow route perfect for beginners and families.
Paddleboarding & Kayaking – There are several rental options & entry points around Lake Tahoe. Many of the beaches offer rentals on site, we highly recommend!
Hydrofoiling – There are rental options in both North Lake and South Lake.
Biking
Bike Rentals
The Backcountry – Up the road from downtown Truckee, The Backcountry offers both road and mountain bike rentals.
Bike Truckee – In downtown Truckee, Bike Truckee also offers both road and mountain bikes.
Truckee River Bikes – A bit further outside Truckee, TRB is located at the start of the Truckee River Trail.
Mountain Biking
Northstar – Lift-served trails for all skill levels, plus rentals and lessons.
Big Chief Trail – One of several trails recommended on this blog.
Donner Lake Rim Trail – Apparently this is difficult, although we won’t pretend to know much about mountain biking.
Paved Paths
Truckee River Legacy Trail – A paved path that follows the Truckee River, with easy access from downtown.
Martis Valley Trail – Connecting Truckee to Northstar Village, this trail traverses the scenic Martis Valley, providing expansive views of the Sierra Crest and Castle Peak.
Fishing
Fly Fishing – The Truckee River is known for its trout and amazing views.
Fishing Charters – Take a guided trip on Lake Tahoe for lake trout, rainbow trout, & kokanee salmon.
Golfing
Edgewood Tahoe – A premier lakeside course in South Lake Tahoe, known for hosting the annual American Century Championship. Advance reservations recommended.
Old Greenwood & Gray’s Crossing – Two premier Truckee courses offering distinct experiences: Old Greenwood, a Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course with wide fairways and deep bunkers, and Gray’s Crossing, a scenic links-style course with fast greens. Both are open to the public with advance booking, and tee times can be reserved together through Tahoe Mountain Club.
Incline Village – Two distinct golf courses to fit any level of golfer: par-58 Mountain Course, or par-72 Championship Course.
Coyote Moon – A scenic, secluded course near Truckee designed by former PGA tour player Brad Bell for all levels of players.
Tahoe Donner — A highly rated mountain course known for its tight fairways, elevation changes, and well-maintained greens.
