Most hiking trails around Lake Tahoe—and there are hundreds—can be enjoyed in the company of your dog. For a short hike with liquid rewards, pack a picnic and take an easy, 3.5-mile round-trip stroll to gorgeous Fallen Leaf Lake, the second largest body of water in the Tahoe Basin and easily accessible from a parking lot just off Highway 89. Also easy-going is the mile-in, mile-out Cascade Falls trail, accessed from a trailhead at Inspiration Point near Emerald Bay. If you prefer to ditch the crowds, set out from the Meeks Bay trailhead, which accesses a chain of lakes in Desolation Wilderness above the lake. The 165-mile Tahoe Rim Trail encircles Lake Tahoe and can be accessed from many points; plan it right and one of your party can take public transportation or a private shuttle back to your car. The Spooner Summit section offers a variety of scenic options, from a two-mile hike around Spooner Lake to multi-day backpacking trips.
Another alternative is to take a lift straight up to the views you’d otherwise have to work hard to get. At Palisades Tahoe and Northstar-at-Tahoe, you and your four-legged friend can ride a ski lift to the ridgetops, enjoy the panoramas and either hike or ride back down.
Looking for something a little more civilized? Visit the 74-acre Tallac Historic Site, an enclave of rustic summer estates in Lake Tahoe built by socially elite San Francisco families around the turn of the 20th century. In summer, you and Daisy can peer inside windows and doors at historic displays guaranteed to get your imagination working overtime. Guided walks and demonstrations are offered throughout the season, along with special events such as car shows and a music festival.
