As anyone coming up to Lake Tahoe from sea level knows, that first day of hiking above 6,500 feet is a pant-inducing endeavor. But did you know that you (and your dog) can “cheat?”
At Northstar California and Palisades Tahoe, both you and your four-legged friend can get a ride to the ridgetops on dog-friendly trams that put you in the center of the scenery for the price of a lift ticket. And, the two Lake Tahoe trams offer you lots of choices once you arrive at your destination.
Lifts at Northstar, a four-season mountain resort off Highway 267, operate in summer primarily to serve an extensive mountain bike park. But you don’t have to pack a bike to access the terrain. Hikers and dogs are welcome to ride in enclosed cars on the Big Springs Gondola, Highland and Zephyr Express lifts, the latter of which lands riders just a short hike from the Tahoe Rim Trail, a 165-mile path encircling the Tahoe Basin.
Food and beverages are available on each end of the trip, and while there’s no dog-friendly lodging at the village base area, the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe at mid-mountain welcomes canine guests, as do many vacation homes and hotels nearby. In addition, dogs are welcome to accompany their people on free guided hikes, geocaching excursions and summer movie nights sponsored by the resort, as well as star-gazing outings put on by the Ritz.
Lifts run daily through mid-August and on weekends for a few weeks thereafter. Check Northstar’s website for current ticket prices. Season pass-holders and kids under 4 ride free. Dogs of any age ride free, making this an outing the whole family can enjoy.
Over at Palisades Tahoe, dogs are welcome to accompany their people on the iconic cable car that makes a dramatic, 2,000-foot ascent from the base area to the High Camp recreation complex at 8,200 feet. It’s a pricey outing at $44 on weekdays and $54 on weekends/holidays (purchased in advance online) for adults, $31 on weekdays and $38 on weekends for children. Children 4 and under ride free, as do dogs. You’ll find many hiking choices here as well, along with a dog-friendly, high-altitude restaurant where furry companions are welcome to join their owners at tableside.
Use your judgment when deciding to leash or unleash when hiking at Palisades Tahoe. It’s not required on national forest land, but this is rugged terrain where dogs can disappear from sight in an instant. And besides, a lot of visitors don’t like wet-nose kisses.
Many restaurants at both Northstar and Palisades Tahoe sport dog-friendly patio seating.
