While known largely as a ski destination, Lake Tahoe is also fantastic to visit in the summer. The water is beautiful, the restaurants are solid, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy the nice, warm weather. Most activities we recommend below are seasonal, so plan accordingly for your trip.
Hikes to Do
Distance: 4.1 miles; Elevation Gain: 1,778 feet; Difficulty: Hard
Our favorite hike around Lake Tahoe was also a workout. Steep almost the entire way to the top, you’ll be winded but rewarded with excellent views looking down at Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Granite Lake, and the surrounding mountain range. If you’re up for an even greater challenge, look into the Mount Tallac Trail, which clocks in at over 10 miles and 3,200 feet of elevation gain. Both options start from the southwestern side of Lake Tahoe and require an early start to avoid crowds. Arriving early will also help you get one of the limited parking spots nearby.
Distance: 1.9 miles; Elevation Gain: 459 feet; Difficulty: Moderate
This hike is more family friendly than Maggie’s Peak, but it is still a great experience. Without a doubt, our favorite part of the trail was Eagle Lake at the end. Bring or wear your swimsuit so you can take a dip! The water is cold, but it is nowhere near as cold as Lake Tahoe. In hindsight, we would have planned to spend an hour at the summit to relax and enjoy the lake. We also would have worn waterproof shoes to make the hike back more enjoyable.
Distance: 1.4 miles; Elevation Gain: 255 feet; Difficulty: Easy
Another family friendly hike, this trail ends at a nice waterfall (if you can call it that). Really, Cascade Falls is more of a very long trickle down the hill. It has some nice shallow pools for kids to play in, but it isn’t a great photo spot. The hike is still enjoyable though, and it is a nice warm-up for some of the more challenging trails in the area.
Other Things To Do
- Kayaking: The summer in Lake Tahoe is all about enjoying the lake. While hiking will let you enjoy the lake from far above, kayaking is a great option to enjoy the water from up close. Its clarity really is amazing, and the deep shades of blue make for a beautiful contrast against the mountains. We chose to go kayaking through Tahoe Paddle Sports, which is the only pet-friendly kayaking service in Lake Tahoe. Overall it was a great experience. We decided to shell out and pay for the clear kayak rental, which definitely added to the trip given the increased visibility into the water, but in hindsight it probably wasn’t worth the price tag. Regular, opaque kayaks would still give you plenty of room to look into the surrounding water.
- Beaches: Another option to enjoy the water is to head to the beach. There is a surprising number of nice sandy beaches around the lake, and while the water is too cold for swimming, visiting the beaches is still a great, relaxing way to spend an afternoon. The most popular beaches on the southwestern side of the lake are Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach. To avoid the crowds, though, we opted to spend a few hours at Lester Beach. It’s all the same water, and it was nice to have a more peaceful atmosphere.
- Breweries: If you need a break from activity, Lake Tahoe has a few breweries to offer. We chose to visit South of North Brewing Co. due to its large outdoor space. They also have live music on occasion, making for a great evening environment.
- Sightseeing: If you want to enjoy some great views without doing a hike, there are plenty of viewpoints along the loop road that circles Lake Tahoe. We didn’t drive the full loop (which takes about three hours), but we did take the time to enjoy some of the views around Emerald Bay. Rather than just stopping along the road as many people do, we recommend taking a short walk off the side of the road to get a clearer picture of the bay.
Where to Eat
- AleWorkX: Our favorite dinner in Lake Tahoe had to be at AleWorkX. The place is massive, so even if it’s crowded you’ll likely be able to find a table. In addition to delicious food, they have a huge outdoor space with live music. We recommend grabbing a pizza and salad (specifically the Goat Cheese Summer Salad) to share along with a few beers. It’s a perfect way to unwind after an active day.
- Empanash: Affordable food can be hard to find in Lake Tahoe, but Empanash is a great “cheap eats” option. Their empanadas are delicious. Two is enough for most people, and we recommend getting a variety to share with your party.
- Bert’s Cafe: We loved Bert’s! It’s a good old fashioned breakfast diner with huge portions and some interesting menu selections. We ordered the Biscuits-n-Country Gravy and Crepes Benedict to share. Next time we visit, we’ll definitely order at least one of the South of the Border specials.
- Black Cabin Coffee: If you’re looking for a good grab-and-go breakfast, look no further than Black Cabin Coffee. This cute little spot also has some outdoor seating if you do choose to eat there after ordering from the counter. We got the Herb sandwich and Sausage Burrito, and both were delicious. This is a perfect spot on your way out of town.
- Verde: A great quick, casual, healthy lunch spot with an all-day breakfast menu. This spot is also dog-friendly (indoors and outdoors). We ordered the paleo breakfast bowl and the chicken burrito, and both portions were so generous that we had leftovers.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Check the Weather: The weather around Lake Tahoe can change quickly. Check the forecast before you head out for the day, and pack layers. Even in the summer it isn’t uncommon for wide temperature ranges.
- Where to Stay: Lake Tahoe is massive, so you should plan your accommodation based on the activities you want to do. We were most interested in the hikes and attractions on the southern end of the lake, so we opted to stay at the Marriott Grand Residence in Stateline. It was a nice hotel with a good location. In hindsight, though, we should’ve opted to stay at an Airbnb closer to Emerald Bay. Almost all of the outdoor activities we did were in that area, so it resulted in a lot of driving.
- Getting Around: As we mentioned before, Lake Tahoe is huge, so you’re going to have to drive regardless of where you stay. If you are flying into town, book your rental car well in advance.
- Start Early: We love getting an early start on vacation to avoid crowds. This was especially helpful in Lake Tahoe, as there are always a ton of people. The few activities we did do later in the day proved challenging because parking was hard to find. It is well worth waking up earlier and taking a post-hike nap in the afternoon.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan