🏆 Things to Do · Lake Tahoe, CA/NV
Things to Do in Lake Tahoe
54 real, currently-operating attractions across every category — world-class ski resorts, turquoise-water beaches, alpine hiking, and Stateline casinos.
⛰️ Year-Round Destination
✅ Verified Open
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🏖️ Beaches
🏔️ State Parks & Hiking
⛵ Boat Tours
🎰 Casinos & Nightlife
🏛️ Museums & History
🎢 Family Fun
⛳ Golf
🚗 Day Trips
Lake Tahoe is a genuine year-round destination — eleven-plus ski resorts ring the basin in winter, while summer brings turquoise beaches, alpine hikes, and boat tours out to Emerald Bay. A handful of smaller neighborhood beaches (Kings Beach, El Dorado Beach, Commons Beach) and classic scenic pull-offs (Emerald Bay Lookout, Spooner Summit, Donner Summit) don’t have a dedicated official site to link to, but they’re worth building into any Tahoe itinerary.
11 Things to Do
Palisades Tahoe
Twin-peak mega-resort (formerly Squaw Valley + Alpine Meadows) with an aerial tram and huge terrain, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics.
Heavenly Mountain Resort
Massive Stateline/South Lake Tahoe resort straddling the CA/NV line with a scenic gondola and lake-view runs.
Northstar California Resort
Family-friendly Truckee-area resort with a village base area and groomed cruisers.
Kirkwood Mountain Resort
High-elevation, snow-heavy resort south of the lake known for steep terrain.
Sierra-at-Tahoe
Family-oriented resort near South Lake Tahoe with varied terrain.
Diamond Peak Ski Resort
Smaller Incline Village, NV resort with panoramic lake views, popular with families.
Homewood Mountain Resort
Intimate West Shore resort right on the lake with some of Tahoe’s best lake views.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Nevada-side resort near Reno/Incline Village with Tahoe’s highest base elevation.
Sugar Bowl Resort
Historic Donner Summit resort with steep, exposed terrain.
Boreal Mountain Resort
Donner Summit resort popular for night skiing and freestyle terrain parks.
Granlibakken Tahoe
Small, low-key ski hill and resort near Tahoe City, good for beginners and families.
5 Things to Do
Sand Harbor Beach
Iconic turquoise-water beach with granite boulders, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
Zephyr Cove Beach
Popular NV-side sandy beach with rentals, a beach bar, and boat cruise departures.
Nevada Beach
Forest Service beach and campground near Stateline with excellent lake views.
Baldwin Beach
Quieter South Shore beach near Camp Richardson with mountain backdrops.
Pope Beach
Long South Shore beach near Camp Richardson, popular for sunbathing and paddling.
7 Things to Do
Emerald Bay State Park
Tahoe’s most-photographed spot — a fjord-like bay overlooking Fannette Island, with the Vikingsholm castle trail.
D.L. Bliss State Park
West Shore park with Rubicon Trail access, Lester Beach, and Calawee Cove.
Sugar Pine Point State Park
Historic Ehrman Mansion, forested trails, and a lakefront on the West Shore.
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Umbrella NV park including Sand Harbor, Spooner Lake, and Marlette Lake.
Tahoe Rim Trail
165-mile trail circling the entire Tahoe Basin, with dozens of access points for day hikes.
Desolation Wilderness
Rugged, high-alpine wilderness area west of the lake popular for backpacking and day hikes.
Eagle Falls & Eagle Lake Trail
Short, extremely popular hike to a waterfall and alpine lake above Emerald Bay.
7 Things to Do
M.S. Dixie II
Historic paddlewheeler offering sightseeing and dinner cruises from Zephyr Cove, often to Emerald Bay.
Kayak Tahoe
Long-running South Shore outfitter for kayak rentals, lessons, and guided tours.
Clearly Tahoe
Clear-bottom kayak and paddleboard rentals and tours letting you see straight into the lake.
Tahoe Sport Fishing
Charter fishing trips out of South Lake Tahoe for mackinaw and rainbow trout.
Action Water Sports
Parasailing, jet ski, and powerboat rentals with multiple lakeside locations.
Tahoe Adventure Company
Guided kayak, SUP, and eco-tours around the lake and nearby rivers.
Camp Richardson Marina
South Shore marina offering boat rentals, kayak/SUP rentals, and lake tours.
4 Things to Do
Harveys Lake Tahoe
Longtime Stateline casino resort with a large casino floor and rooftop lounge.
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
Sister property to Harveys, with casino, spa, and the Emerald Theatre.
Golden Nugget Lake Tahoe
Freshly renovated casino resort at Stateline, NV, with a sportsbook and multiple dining/entertainment venues.
Lakeside Inn & Casino
Smaller, locals-favorite casino right at the CA/NV state line.
5 Things to Do
Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site
George Whittell’s 1930s Incline Village estate, open for guided tours and boat tours.
Gatekeeper’s Museum
Tahoe City museum on the lake’s original outlet gate, with a Native basket collection.
Watson Cabin Living Museum
Tahoe City’s oldest structure (1908), furnished as a pioneer-era home.
Tahoe Maritime Museum
Tahoe City museum devoted to the lake’s classic wooden boats and boating history.
Tallac Historic Site
South Shore complex of Gilded-Age lakefront estates, with tours and summer events.
5 Things to Do
Heavenly Gondola
Year-round scenic gondola ride from South Lake Tahoe/Stateline up to observation decks with lake views.
Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram & High Camp
Cable car to High Camp’s pool, activities, and viewing deck, open in summer and winter.
Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks
Zipline and treetop obstacle courses at Granlibakken and other Tahoe City-area locations.
Lake Tahoe Balloons
Hot-air balloon flights over the lake departing from Tahoe Keys.
Zephyr Cove Stables
Guided horseback trail rides through the forest near Zephyr Cove.
5 Things to Do
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course
Championship lakefront course in Stateline, NV, home of the American Century Championship celebrity tournament.
Coyote Moon Golf Course
Highly ranked forested course in Truckee.
Incline Village Golf
Championship and mountain-course golf in Incline Village, NV.
Tahoe City Golf Course
Historic, walkable 9-hole course in Tahoe City.
5 Things to Do
Historic Downtown Truckee
Walkable Old West-era railroad town with shops, restaurants, and the Truckee Railroad Museum.
Donner Memorial State Park
Park telling the Donner Party story, with a museum and Donner Lake access.
Virginia City, NV
Preserved 1860s Comstock Lode silver-boom town with saloons, mine tours, and a steam railroad.
Carson City, NV
Nevada’s state capital, with the historic Capitol building and Nevada State Museum.
The Shops at Heavenly Village
South Shore shopping and dining plaza with an ice rink in winter and gondola access.
Planning Tips for This Area
- Ski season and summer are Tahoe’s two very different peak seasons. Dec-Mar is all about the eleven-plus resorts around the basin; Jun-Sep shifts to beaches, hiking, and boat tours.
- Emerald Bay is the single most photographed spot at the lake. Arrive early to find parking at the main lookout, especially on summer weekends.
- State park day-use fees apply at most beaches and trailheads. Bring cash or a card for parking at Sand Harbor, Emerald Bay, D.L. Bliss, and similar sites.
- Casinos are concentrated at Stateline, NV and Incline Village, NV — the California side of the lake doesn’t have gaming.
Is Lake Tahoe better in winter or summer?
Both have a strong case — winter draws skiers to Heavenly, Palisades Tahoe, and Northstar, while summer brings beach days, hiking, and boat tours to Emerald Bay. Each season has its own crowds and pricing.
What’s the single must-see spot at Lake Tahoe?
Emerald Bay, on the California side — a fjord-like bay overlooking Fannette Island, with the historic Vikingsholm castle reachable by a steep trail.
How does NME choose which attractions to feature?
We verify each attraction directly against its own official site and current operating status rather than relying on aggregator lists, and we exclude anything we can’t confirm is still open. Read more on our methodology page.
Know Something We Missed?
If you know a great Lake Tahoe activity or attraction we’re missing, email us and we’ll take a look.
Heading to Lake Tahoe?
See the full trip guide — where to stay and where to eat, organized the same way, by category.
