Why Go? Shimmering in myriad shades of blue and green, Lake Tahoeis the USA’s second-deepest lake and, at 6255ft high, it’s also one of the highest-elevation lakes in the country. Generally speaking, the north shore is quiet and upscale; the west shore, rugged and old-timey; the east shore, undeveloped; and the south shore, busy and tacky, with aging motels and fl ashy casinos. Driving around the lake’s spellbinding 72-mile scenic shoreline will give you quite a workout behind the wheel.

The horned peaks surrounding the lake, which straddles the California–Nevada state line, are year-round destina-tions. The sun shines on Tahoe three out of four days in the year. Swimming, boating, kayaking, windsurfi ng, stand-up paddle boarding and other water sports take over in sum-mer, as do hiking, camping and wilderness backpacking ad-ventures. Winter brings bundles of snow, perfect for those of all ages to hit the slopes at Tahoe’s top-tier ski and snow-board resorts.

When to Go

Jul–Aug Beach season; wild-flowers bloom, and hiking and mountain-biking trails open.

Sep–Oct Cooler temperatures, colorful foliage and fewer tourists after Labor Day.

Dec–Mar Snow sports galore at resorts; storms bring hazardous roads.

F DNOSAJJMAMJ

South Lake Tahoe°C/°F Temp Rainfall inches/mm

0/32

10/50

20/68

30/86

40/104

-10/14 0

2/50

4/100

6/150

8/200

10/250

Tahoe Ski, Snowboard & Snowshoe Areas . . . 353South Lake Tahoe & Stateline . . . . . . . . . . 358Western Shore . . . . . .370Tahoe City . . . . . . . . . .373Squaw Valley. . . . . . . .376Truckee & Donner Lake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377Northern Shore . . . . .381Eastern Shore. . . . . . 383

Best Places to Eat » Moody’s Bistro & Lounge

(p 380 ) » Café Fiore (p 367 ) » Wild Goose (p 382 ) » Fire Sign Café (p 373 ) » Dockside 700 Wine Bar &

Grill (p 375 )

Best Places to Stay » Cedar House Sport Hotel

(p 379 ) » Plumpjack Squaw Valley

Inn (p 376 ) » Tahoma Meadows Bed &

Breakfast Cottages (p 372 ) » Deerfield Lodge at

Heavenly (p 365 ) » Clair Tappaan Lodge (p 379 )

Lake Tahoe

©Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd

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LAKE TAHO

E

Reno (29mi)Ski Area (6mi);To Mt RoseTo Truckee (6mi)

Truckee (4mi)Campground (1mi);To Granite Flat

HarborSand

Bay

BayAgate

Carnelian

HarborSecret

HarborSkunk

LesterCove

BayGlenbrook

Emerald Bay

Nev

ada

Cal

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ia

Sunnyside

Tahoe City

Carnelian Bay BeachKings Crystal Bay

VillageIncline

Meeks Bay

Tahoma

Homewood Glenbrook

Stateline

Lake TahoeSouth

-at-TahoeNorthstar

CountryTahoe Cross

DiamondPeak

MeadowsAlpine

Homewood

CreekBurton

Regional ParkNorth Tahoe

State ParkNevada

Lake Tahoe-Forest

NationalTahoe

State ParkNevada

Lake Tahoe-

WildernessMt Rose

ForestNationalToiyabe

State Park Tahoe StateRecreation Area

WildernessGranite Chief

ForestNationalToiyabe

State ParkEmerald Bay

DL BlissState Park

El Dorado

Ed Z'berg

State ParkSugar Pine Point

National Forest

Spooner

(7146ft)

(9735ft)Mt Tallac

Summit

Ridge LakeStony

Lake

Lakes

Lake

LakeSpooner

Twin

Marlette

LakeLower Velma

LakeGranite

LakeEagle

Tahoe

Lake

LakeDicks

Cascade

Leaf LakeFallen

Cliff Lake

Lake GenevieveCrag Lake

Middle Velma Lake

Fontanillis Lake

Upper Velma Lake

Fanette Is

BeachHidden

BeachChimney

Calawee Cove

Beach

Rubicon Point

Baldwin BeachKiva Beach

Pope

town

Fra

nk Creek

eek

Cr

urtonB

River

Truckee

Creek

brook

Glen

Creek

eks

Me

ekeCr

Creek

General

Ward

Tahoe AirportSouth Lake

(7334ft)Pass

Dagget

FallsCascade

26789

28

89

89

431

50

28

207

50

28 DrCountry ClubDr

Lakeshore

Rd Leaf

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Shore

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Blv

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Lake

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Blvd

Rdver

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GradeburyKings

Blvd

LakeW

TrailRubicon

WildernessDesolation

HeavenlySki Resort

CoveZephyr

Flume Trail

TahoeVista

ValleySquaw

5 km3 miles

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�1 Surveying the shimmering expanse of Lake Tahoe aboard a kayak or from the sandy beach at Zephyr Cove (p 361 )

�2 Swooshing down the vertiginous double-black-diamond runs of Heavenly ski resort (p 354 )

�3 Trekking the Rubicon Trail (p 371 ) from Vikingsholm

Castle on sparkling Emerald Bay, to DL Bliss State Park

�4 Swimming in an outdoor lagoon, or ice-skating above 8000ft atop the cable-car line in Squaw Valley (p 376 )

�5 Thundering down the Flume Trail (p 384 ) on a mountain bike to tranquil Spooner Lake.

6 Escaping summer crowds with an overnight backpack to alpine lakes and high-country meadows in the Desolation Wilderness (p 362 )

�7 Cozying up with your family around a lakefront beach fi repit or inside a cozy cabin at Tahoe Vista (p 381 ) on the no-fuss northern shore

Lake Tahoe Highlights