Summertime in Lake Tahoe is one-of-a-kind. Warm, sunny weather coupled with endless opportunities for adventurous activities make it the perfect getaway. With so much to choose from, it can be overwhelming to piece together all of your options and make the most of your time here. To help with that, we’ve put together a few daily itineraries for the North Lake Tahoe area. Pick your favorite (or two!) and enjoy your visit to the beautiful Sierra Nevadas.
Know Before You Go
The Lake Tahoe area is home to a vast array of wildlife and fragile ecosystems. It is important that you, as our visitor, respect the natural world and the local rules regarding area protection. The two most important things to keep in mind when visiting Lake Tahoe are fire safety and leaving no trace. Here’s a quick recap on what those two items entail:
Fire Safety
Unfortunately, campfires & backyard barbecues can be quite dangerous in the summers in Lake Tahoe. This year, we had a drier winter, which means fire danger will be high. Our area is almost guaranteed to be under a fire ban until the fall. When there is a fire ban, you cannot have an open flame or a charcoal grill in any location. Please respect this mandate. It is put in place for a reason, and is critical in helping protect this beautiful area!
Leave No Trace: pack-it-in, pack-it-out!
Litter and excess trash have been a major problem in the summer in Lake Tahoe for the past several years. Believe it or not, Tahoe basin state parks removed 100,000 pounds of garbage from the area two summers ago. Visitors were throwing out their trash in state parks, at beaches, or at trailheads. Overflowing garbage cans are not a picturesque addition to your day! Please practice the Leave No Trace principle of packing out your garbage with you and throwing it out when you get home (or back to your hotel or campsite).
And now, the fun stuff!
Thanks for bearing with us for that important lesson in taking care of Lake Tahoe. You can also sign the Lake Tahoe Sustainable Travel Visitors Pledge as a way of promising to respect our unique area while you are here. Now, let’s chat about one of the main reasons you’ll be visiting: the activities!
Itinerary 1: Waterfalls & Mountain Vistas
- Start your day with a hike of Shirley Canyon at Palisades Tahoe. In the late spring and early summer, the Shirley Canyon trail features cascading waterfalls and a rushing creek. The trail will wind along this beautiful body of water, eventually taking you to Shirley Lake, where you can stop for a quick snack (and maybe let your dog go for a swim!) Continue onwards and the trail will take you all the way up to High Camp, located at 8,200 feet above sea level. The Shirley Canyon Hike is a strenuous hike that will take you several hours. It is approximately 3.6 miles with 2,109′ of elevation gain. Be prepared with sturdy shoes and extra water. There is no parking in the neighborhood by the Shirley Canyon trailhead. Please park in The Village and enjoy the short walk to the trailhead.
- Have lunch at the High Camp BBQ. Located at Palisades Tahoe’s High Camp, the High Camp BBQ is a locals favorite. It offers a dining experience unlike any other. Look out over sweeping mountain views while enjoying favorites the ribeye Philly cheesesteak or the Pastrami straight out of the smoker.
- Take the Aerial Tram back down for free. That’s right: If you hike up to High Camp, you get free Aerial Tram access for the descent! Trams leave every 30 minutes to head back down to The Village at Palisades Tahoe. The Aerial Tram will be open daily starting June 23rd. Please note: the Aerial Tram can sometimes close due to conditions such as thunderstorms. Be mindful of the weather, and do not hike to high elevations when thunder/lightning is in the forecast. Pro tip: Use the Palisades Tahoe App’s GPS feature to access maps and be sure you’re staying on the trail. You can also use the app to check the weather forecast ahead of time.
- Walk around The Village at Palisades Tahoe. Palisades Tahoe’s base area is home to over 30 shops and restaurants. Need more sunscreen? We’ve got you covered. Want to grab a post-hike beer? We have quite a few options for that as well.
Itinerary 2: Venture To Iconic Viewpoints
- Book a spot on Tahoe’s only Via Ferrata — and climb the iconic Tram Face. Learn to navigate this famous rock face on a protected climbing route with permanent steel anchors and cables that keep participants safely connected to the rock 100% of the time. There are several different route options on the Via Ferrata, all operated by local guide service Alpenglow Expeditions. This one-of-a-kind activity is great for families, and best for ages 10+
- Head 10 minutes down the road and visit Commons Beach in Tahoe City. Just down Highway 89 is the little mountain town of Tahoe City, with Commons Beach being the popular center point of it all. With a walking path, beach access, a playground, and picnic tables, it is a great place to take in an all-encompassing, expansive view of Lake Tahoe.
- Have dinner on the Lake with a view. There are plenty of options for lakeside dining on the North shore. Some of the best laid-back spots, like Moe’s Barbecue or Jake’s on the Lake, are accessible from the Commons Beach walking path. If you want something a little bit more upscale, try Sunnyside on the West Shore or Gar Woods in Carnelian Bay. Both are just a short drive away from Tahoe City.
Itinerary 3: Take in the Truckee area — and a history lesson!
- Start the morning off with a walk or bike ride along the Truckee River. This mellow, paved path can be accessed from a number of different places. The flattest section is between Alpine and Tahoe City, but if you want to be close to the town of Truckee, consider parking at the Regional Park and hitting the Legacy Trail. This trail is bike-, dog-, and kid-friendly!
- Explore all that historic downtown Truckee has to offer. With unique architecture, a train depot, and tons of locally-owned boutiques and restaurants, there’s a lot to see in historic downtown Truckee. It’s a great place to grab a coffee, shop for clothing and gifts, or enjoy an outdoor lunch. Pro tip: If it’s a Thursday, you’ll want to wait and head to Truckee in the evening instead for Truckee Thursdays, an outdoor street fair featuring live music and local chefs & artisans.
- Learn the history of Donner Lake when you visit the Memorial State Park and Museum. The terrible fate of the Donner Party is one of the best-known tales of this region. You can get the full story at Donner Lake State Park Museum. Plus, Donner Lake itself is beautiful and worth checking out.
- Have dinner in downtown Truckee. Truckee has tons of outdoor dining in place, which is great on warm summer nights. Pick from local favorites like Casa Baeza for Mexican food, or an upscale dining experience like Pianeta.
Itinerary 4: The High Camp Experience
- Take the Aerial Tram to High Camp. Ready for a day chock-full of adventure? Grab your Aerial Tram tickets and head up to 8,200′. On your 10-minute ride up, our Aerial Tram operators will tell you a bit about the history of Palisades Tahoe and answer any questions you might have. Well-behaved, leashed dogs can take the Tram. Pro tip: Ikon Pass holders don’t need Aerial Tram tickets. Your 2024/25 pass gives you free summer access to the Tram!
- Hop on a FREE Guided Mountain Host Hike presented by The North Face. This gentle hike is a great option for learning about the area and the local flora and fauna. One of our knowledgeable Mountain Hosts will lead a tour twice a day, departing from the High Camp deck. Inquire at the Activities Desk at High Camp if you have any questions about how to join.
- Rent roller skates & hit the rink at 8,200 feet. Our roller skating rink at High Camp is one of the most unique offerings in the Tahoe area. With views of the lake and of the mountains, this is another fun activity for the family. Roller Skating is FREE. Skate rentals are free as well, but you are more than welcome to bring your own.
- There are still a few more activities if you’re up for them! You can try your hand at our 9-hole Disc Golf course, search for our 10 geocaches located at High Camp, or enjoy the various lawn games such as cornhole and slacklining that we have available.
One More Thing:
There is plenty of free transportation in the Lake Tahoe area. Traffic is one of the biggest complaints that visitors have in the summer, so you can do your part in mitigating it by taking advantage of the free local transportation that we have. The TART bus runs on a set daily schedule, and the TART Connect is another great, free shuttle service. All local transportation is dog-friendly.
