13 Things To Do In Lake Tahoe In Winter

High in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and straddling the border between California and the state of Nevada, Lake Tahoe is a natural paradise on earth that’s perfect for a vacation, whether in the summer or winter. However in this guide, we’re going to lay out the top things to do at Lake Tahoe in winter.

The stunning lake destination has breathtaking mountains covered with snow in winter where you can do all sorts of thrilling winter activities, including ice skating, cross-country skating, and snowshoeing.

With a whooping 15 ski resorts around Lake Tahoe, you will have your pick of where to ski, and no matter where you choose to stay, there will be numerous other activities within the area.

Looking for more info? See our full destination guide as well as posts on Lake Tahoe in Summer, the best times to visit Lake Tahoe, and the 15 best hikes in the area.

Why Lake Tahoe Is An Epic Winter Destination

Every year, Lake Tahoe’s ski resorts see copious amounts of fluffy snow and recent years have seen record snow fall in the area. Heavy snow means tons of fun doing all sorts of winter activities, and the fact that you do these activities near the awe-inspiring Lake Tahoe just raises the bar.

The majority of visitors to Lake Tahoe in the winter come to take advantage of the snow, whether it be to ski, snowboard, or snow mobile. However, another angle for visitors are the romantic cabins and luxury spas. Why not combine both, for the perfect holiday.

For Californians, Lake Tahoe is not far from major city centers, like San Francisco which is just 3 hours drive away. When the snow starts falling, many city dwellers rush to the mountains to play.

How To Get To Lake Tahoe

To get to North Lake Tahoe from San Francisco or Sacramento, take Highway 80 to Truckee. From there, it’s about a 25-minute drive to the majority of the north shore towns. It’s 1 hour 10 minutes to South Lake Tahoe.

If you’re flying in to Lake Tahoe from further afield, the Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the closest, at about an hour from the north part of the lake and an hour and 20 minutes from the south part. Sacramento International Airport is a 90-minute drive to both north and south points.

You probably don’t need a car if you’re staying in South Lake Tahoe. You can walk to many restaurants and to the public beach access from hotels, and there are several taxis and ride share services available as well.

However, you’ll probably need your own vehicle if you’re staying on the North side of the lake. This is because the public transportation system is not quick or thorough and doesn’t run late into the night.

• Related: Best Time To Visit Lake Tahoe

Top 13 Things To Do In Lake Tahoe In Winter

Now that you’re convinced that Lake Tahoe is a top winter destination, let’s dive into the top 13 Lake Tahoe winter activities! 

#1 Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skiing is one of the best and most fun winter activities to do in Lake Tahoe. This type of skiing is also great since it provides you with some cardio exercise that we tend to miss out on in the winter.

According to GoTahoeNorth.com, Lake Tahoe features the largest concentration of cross country ski areas in North America. If you’ve never been before, that’s okay because many of the resorts offer lessons and rentals.

Some great places to go cross country skiing near North Lake Tahoe are Tahoe Donner Cross Country Center, Northstar, Squaw Creek, Royal Gorge and Tahoe Cross-Country.

In South Lake Tahoe, the groomed terrain areas are Kirkwood XC, Camp Richardson, Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC), and the Spooner Lake Area. However, you should be prepared for un-groomed and difficult terrain anywhere you go in the south.

#2 Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

Tucked in the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range that gets tons of great snow every year, Lake Tahoe is one of the best skiing areas in the world, with fantastic resorts that are great for beginners to advanced skiers.

While it’s hard to find low-quality ski resorts in Lake Tahoe, there are some ski resorts that excel in providing you with a perfect skiing experience. Below is a list of the famous skiing resorts you can find in Lake Tahoe, as well as their locations: 

Resort Name	Location
Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley)	Olympic Valley, California
Heavenly Mountain Resort	South Lake Tahoe, California right on the border
Sugar Bowl Ski Resort	Nordern, California
Homewood Mountain Resort	Homewood, California
Diamond Peak Ski Resort	Incline Valley, Nevada
Sierra-at-Tahoe	Twin Bridges, California
Mount Rose	Reno, California
Kirkwood Ski Resort	Kirkwood, California
Northstar California	Truckee, California

Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) is on top of our list for a good reason—it’s actually one of the best resorts for doing various winter activities in Lake Tahoe. This ski resort with a European feel served as an arena for the Winter Olympics in 1960. It offers stunning mountain views along with many skill-level trails, chutes, and bowls.

#3 Ice Skating

Ice skating is another fun Lake Tahoe winter activity that you should definitely do. While ice skating is available year-round in indoor rinks, nothing beats outdoor ice skating on the frozen lakes and rivers around Lake Tahoe.

The only outdoor ice rink in South Lake Tahoe can be found at Heavenly Village, and it’s an unforgettable outdoor ice skating experience. They are open from November 1 through Easter.

The South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena is another ice skating spot that offers year-round ice skating on a large ice rink. They also offer hockey and curling.

While Lake Tahoe itself never freezes over, there are a few other lakes in the area that do. You have to be extremely cautious when skating on a lake to make sure it’s thick enough to hold your weight. Check out this local Facebook page to see what lakes are frozen.

#4 Hike To Vikingsholm Castle

Emerald Bay, located on the lake’s western shore and surrounded by a breathtaking mountain backdrop, is considered Lake Tahoe’s crown jewel. There’s a hidden gem on the shores of the bay that serves as a great hike both in winter and summer: the Vikingsholm Castle.

While the hike is easier in summer, you can still hike it in winter given the conditions are appropriate. There will be ice and snow on the trail, which is about a 1 mile hike down. Be sure you’re prepared for the conditions, with the appropriate supplies. Cell phone service might not be available. The castle itself is closed in winter, so you can’t do a tour of the interior.

#5 Emerald Bay Sightseeing Cruise

Join a 2-hour sightseeing cruise to take in the breathtaking views of Emerald Bay and South Lake Tahoe. Throughout your journey, you’ll get to enjoy scenic views of the snow-capped mountains, Vikingsholm Castle, Fannette Island, Rubicon, and Eagle Waterfall.

In winter, the 2-hour sunset Champagne cruise are available every day at 3pm. The price is $110 for adults, $65 for kids aged 3-12, and free for 0-2yrs old.

#6 Emerald Bay Helicopter Tour

View the Sierras and the lake in breathtaking detail as you fly above Emerald Bay. Throughout this fascinating helicopter tour, you get to enjoy unforgettable views of Fallen Leaf Lake, Taylor Creek, Pope Beach, Cascade Lake, and Emerald Bay.

Surrounded by granite cathedrals and fed by Eagle falls, the lake’s only true bay is named for its emerald green waters. A flight over the area is a great alternative way to enjoy the majesty of it all, especially when it’s blanketed in fresh snow.

Note that weight limits apply—the maximum weight of all passengers cannot exceed 500 lbs, while the maximum weight per passenger is 250 lbs. Precise passenger weights must be given at the time of booking.

• Related: 12 Beautiful Lakes in Southern California

#7 Snowmobiling

Lake Tahoe Adventures offers snowmobile tours to get your heart pumping while admiring the stunningly beautiful surroundings. You’ll get to explore more than 9 miles of groomed trails along snow-covered meadows and through the woods. They offer tours for beginners to advanced riders, plus clothing rentals, and even a ride back to your hotel, if needed.

Want to have some fun as the sun goes down? You may be lucky to find the moonlit tours that they offer from time to time! 

#8 Tahoe National Forest Snowshoeing

Located northwest of Lake Tahoe, this natural forest is an excellent place to go during your Lake Tahoe winter trip. This forest is a great place to go snow shoeing. While there aren’t a lot of groomed trails, you can always forge your own trail through the powder. The good thing about this activity is that it’s easy to learn and doesn’t require a lot of advanced skill, so the whole family can participate.

Some of the most popular hiking trails in the area turn into good snowshoeing trails in the winter. Spooner Lake is a great place to start, with miles of mellow trails perfect for any level of snowshoeing. You can also go snowshoeing along sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail. If you want to make it easy, you can go to one of the many resorts in the area, like Palisades, Kirkwood, and Northstar for snowshoeing.

#9 Coffee or Hot Chocolate? Take Your Pick

Nothing beats a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate on a snowy day in lake Tahoe. You can enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in some of the most stunning landscapes at one of the many local coffee shops in Lake Tahoe.

Black Cabin Coffee, a small roastery and coffee shop located in the center of South Lake Tahoe, is one of the best places to sit down and warm-up with a cup of coffee. The family-owned Bare Roots Coffee Roasting Company is another excellent option for trying distinctive coffee flavors. You also don’t want to miss visiting Drink Coffee Do Stuff for great coffee options that come straight from the tops of mountains throughout the world! 

• See Also: 25 Incredible Must-Visit California Tourist Attractions

#10 Electric Bike Tour 

There’s a great coastline trail near Lake Tahoe, the East Shore Trail, that’s perfect for a leisurely bike ride. We like to make it a little easier by renting an electric bike so we can ride along the trail without worrying about getting too tired. I would suggest this half-day tour with Vista Trail Bikes that’s self-guided, so you can go at our own pace.

Start your journey at Incline Village, cruise along the beautiful shoreline, and finish in Sand Harbor, the wonderful state park of Tahoe. You’ll enjoy every little detail about this self-guided adventure while riding a super comfortable electric bike.

#11 Lake Tahoe Hot Springs

Soaking in the hot springs of Lake Tahoe in the middle of winter is one of our favorite things to do. Head to David Walley’s Hot Springs, one of the best hot springs in Lake Tahoe with 5 hot mineral pools, a steam room, an outdoor heated pool, a full-service spa, and dry saunas.

Other places nearby like Steamboat Hot Springs and Carson Hot Springs, may also give you access to a heated swimming pool, steam rooms, outdoor hot tubs, and dry saunas in a resort atmosphere.

Related: 10 Great Hot Springs in Northern California

#12 Visit the Budget-Friendly Basecamp

Staying in a great place in Lake Tahoe doesn’t have to break the bank—there are some budget-friendly options around the lake that excels in providing you with a cozy winter experience, such as Basecamp Hotel. Younger visitors absolutely love this place, which allows you to save a good sum of money without sacrificing quality. 

You’ll find all the amenities you need for a winter break at this friendly hotel, including cozy rooms, delicious food, live music, beer garden, hot tubs, and outdoor fire pits.

#13 Visit a Day Spa

There are many wonderful day spas in Lake Tahoe, such as the popular Lighthouse Spa in Tahoe City in the North Lake Tahoe area.

After spending the entire day doing thrilling winter activities in Lake Tahoe, it’s now time to splurge at the Lighthouse Spa and have a relaxing massage, soak in a heated pool or hot tub, and indulge in some of their wonderful treatments.

In South Lake Tahoe, you’ll find Blue Water Day Spa and Elements Day Spa at Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge. Start with a massage, get a facial, or a hydrating body wrap.

Final Thoughts

Our Lake Tahoe winter journey has come to an end, but yours is yet to start! There are many other stunning places and fun activities that we didn’t mention on the list, so make sure to do your own research if you’re still hungry for more after doing these 13 activities in the natural splendor, Lake Tahoe.

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February 27, 2023