Looking for dog-friendly things to do in Tahoe this summer? Go for a beach romp, a hike or a tram ride — or, go to camp with Wild Blue Dogs! Summer is high season at Northern California’s favorite vacation destination, and it’s a fantastic spot for dog lovers. Here are some tried and true DogTrekker tips on how to enjoy Big Blue with your dog.
If you’re at the lake, you want to at least dip your toes and paws into the water, right? We’ve rounded up some dog-friendly ways to do that. Here’s how to make a splash at North Lake Tahoe and find beach bliss on south shore strands. The water is cold — we’re talking snowmelt-cold — but most dogs don’t seem to care. Labs and retrievers will charge right in, and even smaller breeds tend to enjoy wading in the shallows where the sand warms up in the afternoon sun.
Hiking, you say? The options are endless. We’ve highlighted a few here, but there are many more dog-friendly trails to consider. Want something tame but educational? Take a walk through Tallac Historic Site to get a feel for how the well-to-do spent their summers in the late 1800s. The flat, shaded paths are easy on older dogs and puppies alike, and interpretive signs along the way make it interesting for the humans in your group.
About that tram ride: Palisades Tahoe operates its iconic tram in summer, whisking two-legged and four-legged riders on a 10-minute ascent to High Camp, where a swimming pool, hot tub, bar, restaurant and miles of hiking trails await. The ride is $39 per adult (pool complex costs extra) but you can also hike up and down for free via the steep but scenic Shirley Canyon Trail (3.6 miles, 2,000-foot elevation gain). Bring plenty of water for your dog on this climb — the trail gains elevation quickly and there’s limited shade on the upper sections.
So how does the thought of spending a week with your dog at Lake Tahoe sound? Wild Blue Dog, a nonprofit benefiting canine cancer treatment and research, offers two camp sessions a year where dog lovers can spend time with like-minded souls (human and canine) and enjoy instruction in many activities, including swimming, paddle-boarding and kayaking with your pup. Next up is a Sept. 6-12 session taking place at a 4H facility on 33 securely fenced acres on the southeast (Nevada) side of the lake. Meals, training and on-site lodging in shared cabins are part of the all-inclusive package priced at $1,800 per dog/human pair.
A few extra tips for your Tahoe summer trip: always pack a towel for the car ride home (wet dogs and upholstery don’t mix), keep your dog leashed in parking areas and near wildlife, and bring a collapsible water bowl for trail breaks. The dry mountain air dehydrates dogs faster than you might expect, especially at elevation.
