Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a major tourist destination for both California and Nevada. It is home to a number of ski resorts, summer outdoor recreation, and tourist attractions. Snow and skiing are a significant part of the area's economy and reputation. Mountain and lake scenery are attractions throughout the year. The Nevada side also includes large casinos. Highways provide year-round access from Reno, Carson City and Sacramento.

Approximately two-thirds of the shoreline is in California. The south shore is dominated by the lake's largest city, South Lake Tahoe, California, which adjoins the town of Stateline, Nevada, while Tahoe City, California is located on the lake's northwest shore. Although highways run within sight of the lake shore for much of Tahoe's perimeter, many important parts of the shoreline now lie within state parks or are protected by the United States Forest Service.

Skiing in Lake Tahoe

During ski season, thousands of people from all over Nevada and California, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco, flock to the slopes for some of the best skiing in the world. Lake Tahoe, in addition to its panoramic beauty, is well known for its blizzards.

Some of the major ski areas in Tahoe include:

• Heavenly Mountain Resort: the largest ski area in California and Nevada, located near Stateline
  
• Squaw Valley: the second largest ski area, known for its hosting of the 1960 Winter Olympics, located near Tahoe City
  
• Alpine Meadows: a medium sized ski area on the north shore only a few miles from Squaw Valley
  
• Diamond Peak: a small ski area located in Incline Village, Nevada
  
• Northstar at Tahoe: a popular north shore ski area
  
• Kirkwood Mountain Resort: a south shore ski area which gets more snow than any other ski area in Tahoe
  
• Sierra-at-Tahoe: a small south shore ski area
  
• Boreal Mountain Resort: a small ski area on Donner Pass
  
• Sugar Bowl Ski Resort: a medium sized ski area in Donner Pass
  
• Donner Ski Ranch: a very small ski area on Donner Pass
  
• Homewood Ski Resort: a medium sized ski area on the west shore
  
• Mount Rose Ski Resort: a medium sized ski area north-east of the Lake, on Slide Mountain
  

The majority of the ski resorts in the Lake Tahoe region are on the northern end of the lake, near Truckee, California and Reno, Nevada. Kirkwood, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Heavenly are located on the southern side of the lake, approximately 80 miles (129 km) from Reno. It is common for visitors to ski amongst these 3 resorts when staying in Southern Lake Tahoe and not venture to the northern lake resorts (Squaw Valley, Northstar at Tahoe, Sugar Bowl, etc.).

Scattered throughout Tahoe are public and private sled parks. Some, such as Granlibakken are equipped with rope tows to help sledders get up the hill.

Many ski areas around Tahoe also have snow tubing, such as Squaw Valley. Snow tubing is popular among people who are interested in alternative sports. Throughout Tahoe, cross country skiing, snowmobile riding, and snowshoeing are also popular, thus there are many trails for them.

Water sports in Lake Tahoe

During late Spring to early Fall, the lake is popular for water sports and beach activities. The two cities most identified with the Lake Tahoe tourist area are South Lake Tahoe, California and the smaller Stateline; smaller centers on the northern shoreline include Tahoe City and Kings Beach.

Boating is a primary activity in Tahoe in the summer. There are lake front restaurants all over the lake, most equipped with docks and buoys. There are all sorts of boating events, such as sailboat racing, firework shows over the lake, guided cruises, and more. As an interstate waterway, Lake Tahoe is subject to the United States Coast Guard. Lake Tahoe is home to Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe.

SCUBA diving is popular at Lake Tahoe, with some dive sites offering dramatic drop-offs or wall dives. Diving at Lake Tahoe is considered advanced due to the increased risk of decompression sickness (DCS) while diving at such a high altitude.

Hiking and Bicycling in Lake Tahoe

There are hundreds of hiking and mountain biking trails all around the lake. They range in length, difficulty, and popularity. One of the most famous of Tahoe's trails is the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165 mile (270 km) trail that circumnavigates the lake. Directly to the west of the lake is the Granite Chief Wilderness, which provides great hiking and wilderness camping. Also, to the southwest is the very popular Desolation Wilderness. One of the most popular trailheads is the Eagle Lake Trailhead. There are also several paved off-road bicycle paths.

Gambling in Lake Tahoe

Casinos in Stateline, Nevada

Gambling is legal on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. Casinos, each a variety of slot machines and table games, are located on the South Shore in Stateline, and on the North Shore in Crystal Bay and Incline Village.

North Shore - Crystal Bay:

• Cal Neva Lodge & Casino
  
• Crystal Bay Club
  
• Jim Kelley's Tahoe Nugget
  
• Tahoe Biltmore Lodge & Casino

North Shore - Incline Village:

• Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa & Casino

South Shore - Stateline:

• Bill's Casino Lake Tahoe
  
• Harrah's Lake Tahoe - now owned by Harvey's
  
• Harvey's Lake Tahoe Casino and Resort
  
• Horizon Casino Resort
  
• Lakeside Inn
  
• MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa

Transportation

Lake Tahoe is accessible via Reno-Tahoe International Airport or Sacramento International Airport. General aviation access is available via the Lake Tahoe Airport in South Lake Tahoe and the Truckee-Tahoe Airport in Truckee.

The nearest passenger train service is the Amtrak station in Truckee.

Cave Rock Tunnel on US 50

U.S. Route 50 in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Highways

Visitors can reach Lake Tahoe under ideal conditions within 2 hours from the Sacramento area, 1 hour from Reno or 30 minutes from Carson City. In winter months, chains or snow tires are often necessary to reach Tahoe from any direction. Traffic can be heavy on weekends due to tourists if not also from weather.

The primary routes to Lake Tahoe are on Interstate 80 via Truckee, US Highway 50 via South Lake Tahoe and Nevada Highway 431 via Incline Village. All of the highways accessing and encircling Lake Tahoe are paved 2-lane mountain roads. US 50 traverses part of the eastern shore of the lake.

California Highway 89 follows the western shore of the lake through the picturesque wilderness and connects camping, fishing and hiking locations such as those at Emerald Bay State Park, DL Bliss State Park and Camp Richardson. Farther along are communities such as Meeks Bay and Tahoe City. Finally, the highway turns away from the lake and heads northwest toward Truckee.

California Highway 28 completes the circuit from Tahoe City around the northern shore to communities such as Kings Beach, Crystal Bay, and into Incline Village, Nevada where the road becomes Nevada Highway 28. Highway 28 returns along the eastern shore to US Highway 50 near Spooner Lake.