When you head out for a ski in the Truckee area, don’t leave your dog at home. At Tahoe Donner Cross Country you can enjoy cross country skiing, snowshoeing, or even fat biking with your dog by your side. The dog trailhead is located to the south of the building adjacent to the snow storage area, with a trash can and waste disposal bags provided for cleanup. If the normal dog trailhead gets blocked by snow storage, staff can direct you to an alternative route.

To bring your dog here, you’ll need to meet some eligibility requirements. Your dog must be well behaved in public spaces and around other dogs, hold a valid license, and have current rabies, parvo, and distemper vaccinations. You’ll also need to purchase a current-year season pass and hold liability insurance with at least $300k per occurrence. Before your first visit, complete and sign the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Dog Season Pass Application and Release Waiver of Liability at least 48 hours in advance.

Access depends on conditions, so always check the website for hours and dates when dogs are permitted, and review the grooming report to confirm it’s a “dog day” before heading up. Your dog can only ski on specific trails: Piece of Cake, Cup of Tea, Silver Streak, Aspen, Downward Dog, Doggy Dipper, and Dogs in Space.

Once you’re there, keep your dog on-leash in the parking lot and around the trailhead area. Once on the dog trails, your dog can be off-leash but must remain under voice command, well-behaved, and in sight at all times. You can bring one dog per person on the trails. As expected, you need to pick up after your dog. Management takes rule violations seriously and reserves the right to revoke season passes if guidelines aren’t being followed, so it’s worth taking the requirements seriously to maintain access for everyone.