d&d's guide to rad stuff to do

There is a lifetime of things to do and places to see in the Tahoe area and California's Sierra Nevada, but we've listed just a few for now to help get your adventure-planning juices flowing...

 
 
 

Tahoe(ish) area

HIKES, RUNS, AND JIKES (all distances are round-trip)

  • Mt. Tallac (~10 mi)

The first thing we did after getting engaged was ski Mt. Tallac. It incidentally was also Dani's first summit as a baby. Mt. Tallac is located on the southwest side of Lake Tahoe, and the trailhead is super close to Camp Richardson. There are also a number of shorter destinations you can reach by starting from the same Mt. Tallac Trailhead. You also get the bonus of hiking alongside Fallen Leaf Lake on the way up. For more information, visit this Forest Service page or other trail information websites. 

  • cascade falls (~1.5 mi)

There are some sweet waterfalls in the Tahoe area to check out, and this hike gets you to one of the more accessible ones. The trailhead is located a few miles down the road toward Emerald Bay State Park; this hike gives you a good view from the west shore of Lake Tahoe, and of the incredible Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake. Click here for more information!

  • GLEN ALPINE TRAIL (~5 mi)

This is yet another beautiful and moderate outing in the South Lake Tahoe area, with a trailhead near Camp Richardson. You can make this hike longer or shorter, as the trail connects to many others in the area that take you to different lakes or near different peaks. Here's a great little writeup with some lovely photos!

  • LAKE ALOHA FROM ECHO LAKES (~13 mi)

This is an incredibly beautiful hike in Desolation Wilderness, and could also be done as an overnight backpacking trip if you have time (don't forget to get a permit!). You can also make this shorter by paying to take a ferry across Echo Lakes. This outing gives you a great excuse to (1) get your feet on a small section of the Pacific Crest Trail AND the Tahoe Rim Trail, and (2) go swimming or fishing in a huge alpine lake. The views of Pyramid Peak are outstanding. Echo Lakes is located up the road from South Lake Tahoe along Highway 50. Here's a nice article from the Sacramento Bee and another description from an online trail website.

  • rubicon trail (~11 mi or really any length you want)

While neither of us have done the Rubicon Trail, it's on our bucket list! Looks incredibly beautiful, and since you can do it as an out and back you really can make it as long or short as you want. The classic way to do it is to connect two state parks: D.L. Bliss SP and Emerald Bay SP. More information can be found in numerous spots, but we thought the photos and write up here were pretty helpful!

  • PYRAMID PEAK (MILEAGE DEPENDS ON ROUTE, ~12 MI)

Biggest elevation gain of any route in the Tahoe area at 4,083 ft. Rosie (Perrot) has done the south east ridge and highly recommends for those wanting to get after it. Check out the SummitPost page for various routes and information.

  • EMERALD BAY TO ECHO LAKES POINT-TO-POINT (~18.5 mi)

This is for you ambitious folks, but this is a SUPER BEAUTIFUL section of the PCT that you could easily do as a day run, especially if you get someone to pick you up/drop you off on either end. 'Nuff said. Check out this description and a map and get stoked! If you're really crazy, could probably tag on Tallac or Pyramid. Or actually, you could even do a variation and start and end at Camp Richardson, if you're willing to put in some extra miles on the road. ANYWAY. Enjoy.

  • PETER GRUBB HUT (~5 mi)

A super beautiful and moderate outing below Castle Peak to a historic hut! Can't beat that. Could throw in a summit of Castle Peak if you were really wanting to get after it. This is a hike that starts near Donner Summit (a little ways from South Lake Tahoe), but well worth the journey, especially if you have time to stop and enjoy the beach at Donner Lake or eating in downtown Truckee along the way! Great little writeup here!

  • Benson hut via pct from donner pass (~12 mi or shorter if desired)

Well now that I've read a route description for this, apparently the hut is believed to be haunted....hmmm...ANYWAY, another incredible out and back on the PCT, from Donner Summit (a little ways from South Lake Tahoe, but worth the drive). We've run a fair bit of this with Rosie before being turned around by a giant cornice one spring (and Rosie and I did this with our parents numerous weekends growing up). Could also be shortened if you'd rather summit Mt. Judah or just get to the crest instead of going all the way to Mt. Anderson and the hut. Description here!

BOATING

  • RUM RUNNER CRUISE TO EMERALD BAY FROM CAMP RICHARDSON

Learn more here!

  • raft/float the truckee river

Many options for hiring a guiding service to take a float down the Truckee, or put in your own boat and enjoy! Check out options here.

  • Kayak to fannette island (and hike up to the teahouse)

This looks PRETTY RAD. Fannette is the ONLY ISLAND in Lake Tahoe. WHAT?! Plus it's located in Emerald Bay, which, as with the rest of Tahoe, is incredibly beautiful, with deep, clear, blue water. It's also just down the road from Camp Richardson. Check out this little writeup for ideas on getting out there! Also, read this little synopsis from Wikipedia and tell us you don't want to go there:

"Fannette Island was the home of Captain Dick "Them's my toes" Barter from 1863 to 1873. The eccentric captain had moved from England and built his own tomb and chapel on the island. He enjoyed sailing and earned his nickname from his penchant of showing his self-amputated toes to guests. Ironically, he was never interred in the chapel he built, as he was lost in a storm off Rubicon Point in 1873."

  • PARASAILING

Looks like this can be done at the near-to-Camp Richardson Zephyr Cove! Check it out!

  • boat rides, RENTALS, ETC

The Marina at Camp Richardson has quite a lot of options, check them all out here! Otherwise, here's another company in South Lake Tahoe that also looks like it has quite a bit to offer!

    FISHING

    A potentially helpful article here: https://www.laketahoe.com/top-10-fishing-spots-in-lake-tahoe/

    • Echo Lakes
    • Lake Aloha
    • Lake Tahoe (obviously, but since it's huge, might hire a guide...)
    • Fallen Leaf Lake
    • Taylor Creek (which has a Kokanee salmon run in the Fall!)...also check out the Taylor Creek Visitor Center.
    • Truckee River
    • Donner Lake

    BIRDING AND ECOLOGY

    • seasonal bird checklist FOR TAHOE

    http://tinsweb.org/seasonal-bird-checklist

    • TAHOE bIG TREE REGISTER

    I'm pretty sure Mom Perrot is in one of these pictures... https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5285678.pdf

    • Wildflowers of tahoe: lists and hikes

    Ideas for wildflower hikes: https://rootsrated.com/stories/lake-tahoe-wildflower-hikes-where-to-spot-the-best-blooms

    Book: Sierra Nevada Wildflowers, 2nd edition

    HISTORICAL/CULTURAL SITES and acvitivies

    • tallac historic site

    Historic site made up of 3 estates built between the late 1800s and early 1900s, with apparently a free museum. Also the location of a date on the latest season of the Bachelor with Bekah M. and Arie (boooo). Located right next door to Camp Richardson! No excuse not to check it out. :) The old boathouse is especially cool.

    • VIKINGSHOLM

    Apparently a castle that is "one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere." DANG.

    • DONNER MEMORIAL STATE PARK

    Donner Party: heard of it?! Go check out this museum near Donner Lake and learn more about these emigrants tragic story. In the words of my cousin years ago: "that doesn't sound like much of a party to me!"

    • GOLF COURSES

    There are numerous golf courses in the South Lake Tahoe area (see here), but here are three to get you excited if you want to play golf in the mountains and/or by the lake:

    • Edgewood: rated as one of "America's Top Golf Courses" by Golf Digest, and host of the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament. Golfing right on the lake.
    • Bijou Municipal Golf Course: oldest golf course in South Lake Tahoe, and also right on the lake. Much less expensive and smaller than Edgewood.
    • Lake Tahoe Golf Course in South Lake Tahoe: certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, with amazing views. Not right on the lake.

    • HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TRUCKEE

    Art galleries, eateries, coffee shops...definitely worth making the drive from South Lake Tahoe!

    • NEVADA

    Yeah! Go visit another state (and its casinos, if that so interests you) in Stateline, NV, adjacent to South Lake Tahoe, CA.