Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe for generations has been Northern California’s favorite vacation spot. And why not? The largest alpine lake in North America is a scenic gem straddling two states and offering recreational opportunities that run the gamut from casino gambling on the Nevada side to wilderness getaways in almost any direction. People and pooches who love the great outdoors will find nothing else quite like it in terms of amenities, both natural and manmade. Whether you gravitate to four stars or consider it heavenly to sleep under the stars, you’re in business at Tahoe. The ski resorts on which the area’s national reputation is pinned are just a small part of the overall picture. Winter is the season that outsiders associate most with Tahoe, but for Northern California DogTrekkers, summer is the prime time to visit. In any season, your first glimpse of that broad sheet of blue will stop you—and Fido—in your tracks.

Float Your Boat

For more water fun at Tahoe, join the animated crowds of summer vacationers who rent rafts in Tahoe City for a two- to three-hour, five-mile float down the scenic Truckee River to River Ranch Resort, where a shuttle will return you to your vehicle. Yes, the waterís cold, but on a warm day it's delightfully invigorating. The regulated, Class I flow moves slow and easy, and there are plenty of spots where you and Rover can pull over for a swim. Truckee River Raft Co. counts dogs as regular customers. Just be aware that canines aren't allowed on the patio at River Ranch, which attracts a lively crowd on summer afternoons.  more »

Tahoe Splash Spots

The second-snowiest winter on record in the Sierra Nevada is making itself felt this summer, too. At Lake Tahoe, water levels are peaking now at more than five feet above the lake's natural rim—and three feet higher than during peak snow melt last year. The result: beaches have shrunk to a fraction of their normal size and in some cases disappeared altogether. But guess what? Fido doesn't care. The two of you can find plenty of dog-friendly shoreline to dip your paws in no matter what the lake level. Sturdy soles are a must, as most dog-friendly spots on the lakeshore are quite rocky.  more »

Horsing Around

Who on the way up to Tahoe hasn't caught a glimpse of Horsetail Falls, the spectacular, 800-foot cataract visible from Highway 50 at Twin Bridges? The half-day trek to the lower falls is one of the premier hiking experiences in the Tahoe area. 

Wildflower Extravaganza

When it comes to five-star wildflower hikes, Carson Pass in the Mokelumne Wilderness south of Lake Tahoe has few rivals.

Paw Your Way to High Camp

Squaw Valley USA's iconic cable car offers what is perhaps the most dramatically scenic mechanized mountain high at Lake Tahoe.  Many passengers in the stand-up conveyance experience vertigo as dizzying panoramas pass before and beneath them during the 2,000-foot vertical ascent. more »