Things to Do in Lake Tahoe

1. Hike in Desolation Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness area in the Lake Tahoe Basin and Eldorado National Forest. The area contains nearly 64,000 acres of alpine and sub-alpine forests as well as mountain peaks, valleys, and lakes that were formed by glaciers.

Travel in the wilderness area is limited to foot and horseback, as all forms of mechanical transport with the exception of wheelchairs are prohibited. Visitors are expected to leave no trace and carry all garbage out of the park. The natural area features miles of trails, including beginner to advanced trails. Camping is available in most parts of the wilderness area; however, wilderness permits are required to enter the protected area.

Address: Desolation Wilderness, North El Dorado, CA 95623, Phone: 530-543-2600

2. Join an interpretive walk at Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial State Park preserves and memorializes the site of the Donner Camp, which is where members of the Donner Party were trapped by weather in the winter of 1846–1847. The famous ill-fated party was stuck without any shelter or adequate food and provisions and the group unfortunately had to engage in cannibalism in order to survive.

The park's visitors center interprets the site and contains exhibits related to the history and culture of the area, including the Donner Party, Native Americans, and the First Transcontinental Railroad. Park employees provide interpretive walks, hikes, presentations, and campfires. The park additionally contains the Pioneer Monument and the Emigrant Trail Museum, which are dedicated to travelers of the Emigrant Trail. Recreational opportunities include several miles of hiking trails and a stretch of lake frontage.

Address: Donner Memorial State Park, 12593 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-582-7892

3. Take in spectacular views at Emerald Bay State Park

Emerald Bay State Park is a state park centered on Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay, one of the most popular areas of the lake. The park grounds include Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm, which is a large Scandinavian mansion. The park additionally contains Fannette Island, which is the only island in Lake Tahoe.

The state park has two campgrounds, including the Boat-In campground, which is only accessible by boat or by hiking, and the Eagle Point Campground. A scenic trail curves around the bay, providing access to the lakeshore. The underwater part of the state park includes many boat wrecks.

Address: Emerald Bay State Park, 138 Emerald Bay Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, Phone: 530-541-3030, Video

4. Go boating on Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake is a remote mountain lake in El Dorado County. The glacier-created lake is about a mile south of Lake Tahoe and the Fallen Leaf Lake Campground is located near the lakeshore. There is minimal commercial development on the lake and so services are limited to the small Fallen Leaf Marina and Store at the lake's southern tip.

The lack of development means that Fallen Leaf Lake has retained its natural beauty and extremely good water quality. The marina has 60 slips for boats and provides water access. Wakeboarding and waterskiing are popular activities and the lake is also a good destination for fishing, sailing, kayaking, and recreational rowing.

5. Ski at Heavenly Ski Resort

Heavenly Ski Resort is located on the border of California and Nevada in South Lake Tahoe. The ski resort features 97 runs and 30 lifts spread out over four base sites divided between the two states. The ski season is typically from the middle of November until the middle of April and the slopes feature a combined yearly average of 360 inches of natural snow and manmade snow from one of the nation's largest snowmaking systems.

The mountainside offers stunning views of Lake Tahoe and both well-manicured and back-country runs. As far as night life goes, Unbuckle at Tamarack Lodge and the DJ Cat, which is a custom DJ station built on the back of a snow cat; both offer a chance to party while at Heavenly.

Address: 4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, Phone: 775-586-7000

6. Step back in time at the Gatekeeper's Museum

The North Lake Tahoe Historical Society was created to preserve and research the history of Lake Tahoe. The society built and maintains the Gatekeeper's Museum, William B. Layton Park, the Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum, and the Watson Cabin Museum. The Gatekeeper's Museum sits at the same location as the original log cabin that was home to the resident gatekeeper.

The museum tells the story of Lake Tahoe's history and includes many Indian artifacts, historical displays, and personal stories of the pioneers who settled the area. The Marian Steinbach Indian Basket Collection is held in the Edmund S. Barnett wing of the museum and consists of an impressive collection of over 800 baskets as well as dolls, artifacts, and pottery.

Address: Gatekeeper's Museum, 130 West Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, CA 96145, Phone: 530-583-1762

7. Go mountain biking at Homewood Mountain Resort

Homewood Mountain Resort is a ski area near Lake Tahoe's west shore. The resort features 1,260 beautiful acres of terrain and seven ski lifts and trails ranging from beginner to expert. The resort is typically open from December to April and is often sunny, while most of the trails are on the east face of the mountain, meaning that they are somewhat protected from the wind.

The resort is known for having fantastic views of Lake Tahoe and great powder. Homewood is also open in the summer, featuring mountain biking and hiking trails, and although the lifts are not operational in summer, the lodge and cafe are.

Address: 5145 W. Lake Blvd., Homewood, CA 96141, Phone: 530-584-6800

8. Take the kids to KidZone Museum

KidZone Museum is a children's museum located in Truckee, California. The museum strives to provide an interactive, open-ended play space for children through intentional, playful exhibits and programming. The museum features a Baby Zone, which is a nature-themed play area specifically designed for babies aged 0 to 18 months to explore through rolling, climbing, crawling, and walking.

During the warm months, KidZone has an outdoor play area that includes a stream and a sandplay zone and often features special nature programs. Some of the other exhibits include the science lab-inspired Exploration Station, an indoor play structure perfect for indoor play in winter, the medieval-themed Once Upon A Time exhibit, and a hands-on Art Studio.

Address: KidZone Museum, 11711 Donner Pass Road, Truckee, CA 96161, Phone: 530-587-5437

9. Picnic at D.L. Bliss State Park

With more than 700 acres of land, D.L. Bliss State Park has several sights and activities to offer every kind of visitor. For those who love hiking and sightseeing, various paved and dirt trails may be explored within the park. One of their trails, Balancing Rock Trail, features a unique stone formation consisting of tons of granite seemingly balancing atop a thinning stone base. This geological marvel has been one of the park’s most popular natural attractions. Several campsites and picnic areas are also available for those looking to relax with nature. Unexpectedly, even beach-lovers can enjoy an afternoon as they relax on the shores of Lester Beach and Calawee Cove. Swimming, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing are also welcomed activities at the beach. Last but not least, swimming or scuba diving within the pristine waters of Lake Tahoe is sure to be a hit for park-goers as well.

Address: D.L. Bliss State Park, 9881 CA-89, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150, Phone: 530-525-7277

10. Relax on a beach in Lake Tahoe - Nevada State Park

Lake Tahoe - Nevada State Park is a park and recreational space with several different areas for visitors to explore. The most popular area is Sand Harbor, which features several sandy beaches, a boat ramp, and picnic facilities. The beaches offer several swimming areas with sloping beaches and clear water and are also a popular spot for scuba diving.

Spooner Lake is another popular destination for picnicking and also offers hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and Nordic skiing. Spooner Lake also features a trailhead that accesses the backcountry between Carson City and Lake Tahoe. This backcountry area has been preserved as a Primitive Area and provides miles of vehicle-free multi-use trails that are popular with hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders.

Address: Lake Tahoe - Nevada State Park, 2005 Hwy 28, Incline Village, NV 89451, Phone: 775-831-0494