What to Do in Lake Tahoe During the Summer

Lake Tahoe is certainly one of the most gorgeous places in the United States, and possibly the world. It’s a wonderful travel destination full of natural beauty and outdoor activities. Lake Tahoe is in the Sierra Nevada, and it’s the largest alpine lake in North America. It is also the second deepest lake in the U.S. behind only Crater Lake.

Around two-thirds of the Lake Tahoe shoreline falls in California. The south shore area of the lake is where you’ll find South Lake Tahoe, California which is a city and the largest of the Lake Tahoe area. There’s also the towns of Stateline, Nevada, and Tahoe City, California which is on the northwest shore of the lake.

Lake Tahoe is perhaps best-known for its skiing and winter sports. There are many ski resorts that are all relatively close to one another. For example, there are Kirkwood Mountain Resort and Heavenly Mountain Resort.

On the other hand, what if you’re planning a trip to Lake Tahoe in the summer? What should you do when it’s not winter, and you’re not skiing in this destination?

Hiking

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in Lake Tahoe in the warmer months. One of the favorite trails is the Tahoe Rim Trail. It is a 165-mile trail that goes around all of Lake Tahoe.

There are eight sections to the trail, and you can hike them in small bits and pieces or if you’re truly adventurous try and do the entire thing.

Other hiking in Lake Tahoe includes:
· Carson Pass is south of the Lake Tahoe Basin, and in the summer months it’s known as one of the best places to see the abundant wildflowers that grow in the area
· Taylor Creek is a 2.2-mile trail running from Fallen Leaf Lake to Lake Tahoe. There are many walking trails, and this is where you’ll find Kiva Beach as well.
· Mt. Tallac is the most well-known mountain in the Tahoe area, and it’s a difficult five-mile hike. You can find the Mt. Tallac Trailhead across from the entrance to Baldwin Beach.

Beaches

When you think about lakes, you might not instantly think of beautiful beaches, but Tahoe offers plenty of them. Some of the best beaches in Tahoe during the summer months include:

· D.L. Bliss Beach is on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. It’s located north of Emerald Bay, and it’s a state park and beach with cliffs and coves that make it different from most of the other area beaches. You’ll also find beautiful views here.
· Sand Harbor Beach is popular in July and August, and it’s also home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival during this time. It has beautiful, clear water and soft sand.
· Baldwin Beach is good for kayaking and boating, and it has great mountain views as well as an expansive stretch of sand.
· Hidden Beach is good if you want something a little quieter. It’s in a rocky cove, and the water tends to be warmer than what you’ll find at most other Lake Tahoe beaches.

Watersports

Whether you’re a thrill seeker of your like something a little more tranquil, there is no shortage of watersports available around Lake Tahoe. Paddleboarding and parasailing are two popular options.

You can also rent boats and jets skis at places around the lake, such as at Tahoe Keys Marina, Ski Run Marina, and Lakeside Marina, among others.

There are also cruises you can take, ranging from sailing yacht cruises to party boats that can be chartered.

Heavenly Mountain

Heavenly Mountain is a ski resort, but they also offer summer activities. One popular summer option is called Epic Discovery. This family-friendly locale includes ropes courses, zip lining, a mountain coaster, guided hiking, tubing, and more. There is a BBQ restaurant at Tamarack Lodge also.

Finally, Lake Tahoe is a big destination for golf as well. The golf courses tend to feature amazing mountain and water views. Edgewood Tahoe is beachfront with views of Tallac, and it’s home to the American Century summer event each year. It’s located near Stateline, Nevada.

There’s the Lake Tahoe Golf Course which is in a meadow below the Sierra Nevadas, and there’s Tahoe Paradise Golf Course. This course is an executive course with tree-lined fairways. It’s located outside of Meyers. There are also smaller 9-hole options like Bijou Golf Course.

These activities don’t even take into account the many other summer options from biking to casinos, restaurants, shopping and more.

This is a contribution from one of our contributing writers.

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