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Hot Air Ballooning:
There is no better way to appreciate the awesomeness of the Lake Tahoe landscape than with a hot air balloon ride above the treetops. Float up to 10,000 feet above the lake or Carson Valley (depending on season and winds) and enjoy spectacular views and breathtaking scenery. Lake Tahoe Balloons is one well-known balloon ride company.
Boating and Water Sports:
You’ll catch glimpses of gorgeous Lake Tahoe throughout your stay in North Tahoe and even spend time admiring it from its shores, but what’s the view like from the water? The best way to find out is by boating on this beautiful lake. Get away from it all with a relaxing trip on the smooth and pristine waters and enjoy the views of the lake, the trees, the mountains, and beyond. A number of marinas rent boats, including North Tahoe Marina. If you’d rather sit back than drive a boat, there are a number of charter cruises that make enjoying Lake Tahoe easy. Tahoe Sailing Charters offers cruises May to December led by US Coast Guard-certified skippers. The Tahoe Gal is a majestic riverboat that offers brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour cruises, a perfect and relaxing way to enjoy the lake.
If waterskiing and parasailing sound like a good time to you, North Shore Parasail offers great rental deals on everything you need.
Launch Areas:
Meeks Bay Marina
Hwy. 89, S. of Tahoe City
(530) 525-7242
Biking:
Whether you are a casual rider or an avid cyclist, North Tahoe is a great place to explore by bike. With hundreds of miles of single track through green forests and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe is a fantastic destination for mountain bikers. Paved road paths around the provide a perfect afternoon activity for everyone in your party. Cyclepaths offer mountain and road bike tours and bike rentals. Experienced cyclists won’t want to miss America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, a 72-mile ride around the lake. Tahoe Bike and Ski also offer local rentals:
Tahoe Bike & Ski
8499 N. Lake Blvd.
Kings Beach, CA
(530) 546-7437
Fishing:
The clear, clean waters of Lake Tahoe and its watershed are ideal for fishing, offering healthy numbers of healthy fish. The tributaries are closes from October 31st through June 30th to give the fish ample time to spawn, but the lake has good fishing year-round, though be aware that both California and Nevada require fishing licenses. Fishing charters are available all seasons through several local companies, including Tahoe Sport Fishing Co. from one of the bait and tackle shops.
Hiking:
Spectacular views can be had by air, land, and lake in North Tahoe, but sometimes you want to see the forest for the trees. North Tahoe has trails for every level of nature explorer, offering short nature walks, more challenging hikes, and rigorous climbs through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Lake Tahoe Visitors Bureau offers a good synopsis of area hiking options. Many of the favorite local hikes are part of the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 164-mile trail that circles Lake Tahoe and passes through many of Tahoe’s unique ecosystems, including mountain peaks, Aspen forests, and meadows. Passing through both California and Nevada, the trail is accessible from several points so you can experience a full range of scenery in just a few hikes.
Note that some wilderness areas require permits for day and overnight use, which are available at Ranger Stations and Visitor Centers at park entrances.
Skiing and Snowboarding:
North Tahoe features a whopping twelve alpine ski resorts, all of them fantastic destinations for you to whet your appetite on the slopes.
The Ski Tahoe North Interchangeable Lift Ticket offers access to seven of these ski resorts. At $58 per day, the Ticket offers two-for-one privileges at Homewood, a local favorite free of crowds, and Diamond Peak, a family-friendly medium-sized mountain. Other resorts on the Interchangeable Lift Ticket: Alpine Meadows, a big mountain with beautiful lake views; Mt. Rose, which boasts the highest base elevation in the North Lake Tahoe Area and great views of the lake and Reno; and Northstar-at-Tahoe, which delights with good beginning to advanced runs and 50 km of land devoted to cross-country skiing.
If you need skis and gear, Tahoe Bike and Ski offers local rentals:
Tahoe Bike & Ski
8499 N. Lake Blvd.
Kings Beach, CA
(530) 546-7437
Horseback Riding:
The Lake Tahoe area is full of great trails, and exploring the area on horseback is a great alternative to hiking or mountain biking. Several stables offer reasonable rides, guided day trips, and camping trips.
Golf:
North Tahoe boasts six championship courses and four executive courses when it’s time to hit the links. If that’s not enough, 14 more courses are all within an hour’s drive. North Tahoe’s courses are some of the most beautiful in California and Nevada, if not the world, offering spectacular views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding wilderness. Information on all North Tahoe courses are available at the Visitor's Bureau's golf homepage but these are a few of our favorites.
Coyote Moon Golf Course:
The place to be if you want a unique and serene golfing experience in the Sierra Nevadas is the Coyote Moon Golf Course. This course, a par 72 designed by Brad Bell, features tree-lined fairways and a true feeling of being away from it all; not one house can be seen from any of the holes on this 18-hole course and instead of unsightly marshals on the course, carts are equipped with GPS systems to guide golfers to the next hole. The course’s signature hole is a par 3 and features a 140-foot elevation drop.
Old Greenwood Golf Course:
A North Tahoe favorite, the beautiful Old Greenwood Golf Course is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course designed by the golfing great himself. Every hole is considered a signature hole at this 18-hole, par 72 course which received nods from both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine for being an outstanding public course. Old Greenwood also features the Golf Digest School, providing premier lessons and instruction.
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