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South Lake Tahoe is arguably one of the most wonderful parts of the Tahoe area. It’s home to beautiful beaches, some of the best skiing in California, and the always-exciting Stateline.
Whether you visit in the summer or the winter, there are so many incredible things to do in South Lake Tahoe, and we’re breaking them all down for you in this travel guide.
The Best Things to Do in South Lake Tahoe in the Summer
The summer brings great weather to the entirety of Lake Tahoe. The temperatures are far cooler than they are in other parts of California or Nevada but the sun still shines and it’s a perfect time to embark on some outdoor adventures you can’t do during the winter.
Enjoy Heavenly’s Summer Activities
Heavenly Ski Resort isn’t just a winter destination- they also offer several fun summer activities. Checking out this resort in the summer is one of the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe!
You can’t miss taking a scenic ride up the Heavenly’s glass gondola. It departs in Heavenly Village and speeds 2.4-miles up the mountain-delivering incredible views of the lake and surrounding area. You can get off the gondola halfway up at the observation deck, where you can snap a few photos of one of the best views in South Lake Tahoe.
Once you get back on the gondola and ride to the top, there is a lot to do:
Hiking
At the top of the mountain, you have access to several fun and easy hiking trails to beautiful lookout points. Trails range in distance from .3-miles to 1.3-miles each way.
Epic Discovery
Epic Discovery is essentially an amusement park- but for outdoor activities. You can rock climb, conquer the ropes course, pan for gold, go tubing, ride a zipline, and even take a ride on the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster!
Tamarack Lodge
After a fun day of hiking and exploring Epic Discovery, you can relax at the Tamarack Lodge and grab some food and drinks before heading back down with a gondola ride.
Explore South Lake Tahoe’s Beaches
One of the best things about South Lake is its many beautiful beaches. Some are great for swimming and rock jumping, some are excellent for families, and others are dog-friendly. Choose to stroll the shores of Lake Tahoe, bring your book to relax in the sun, or hop in the water for a swim that’s sure to cool you off!
Here are some of the best beaches to visit in South Lake Tahoe:
Lakeside Beach
Lakeside Beach is a beautiful beach located right by Stateline. It’s great for swimming, has public restrooms, and a volleyball net. Kayaks, paddleboards, Jet Skis, umbrellas, and beach chairs are all available to rent from the Lakeside Beach Association. The beach is technically private, which means you can still visit, but if there is a gate attendant present you will have to pay a fee of $25/adult, and $15/ child.
Pope Beach
Pope Beach is another great, sandy beach that’s excellent for swimming and a beach day. It has public restrooms, a boat launch, and kayak rentals available, but dogs are not allowed here. There is also a parking fee to visit Pope Beach.
Kiva Beach
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly or free beach, Kiva Beach is your best bet in South Lake! Leashed dogs are welcome here, and there is free parking to visit Kiva Beach. While the beach offers a great recreation space, do keep in mind there are no amenities here.
Emerald Bay Beach
Emerald Bay is one of the most unique and beautiful beaches to visit in South Lake Tahoe- but it’s not the easiest to reach. The beach at Emerald Bay can only be accessed by boat (or kayak), or by hiking a mile down the Rubicon Trail. The water here is an enchanting shade of sapphire, great for swimming, and you’ll likely see kids jumping from nearby rocky cliffs into the water.
Hiking in South Lake Tahoe
One of the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe is to hike around the area! Aside from the short hikes up at Heavenly Ski Resort, here are a few great hikes located in the South Lake Tahoe area:
Cal-Neva Loop
The Cal-Neva Loop via the Van Sickle Trail is a great hike. The trailhead is right near the stateline. The trail is 3.5 miles, and has some great lake views.
Lam Watah Nature Trail
Lam Watah Nature Trail to Nevada Beach is an easy, 2.8-mile hike with beautiful scenery. It’s located right next to Stateline, Nevada.
Emerald Point
The Emerald Point Trail is a beautiful, 4.4-mile hike located inside Emerald Bay State Park. Part of the trail goes right along the water, where you’ll get excellent views of the lake and mountains.
Vikingsholm Castle
Vikingsholm is a unique, Scandinavian castle located in South Lake Tahoe, on Emerald Bay, that you can both hike to, and take tours of in the summer!
This building was originally built as a summer lake home in 1929 for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight. It was designed by the Swedish architect Lennart Palme, her nephew, and the house served as her summer home for 15 years before her death. After her passing, the castle changed hands a few times until it was sold to Harvey West, a philanthropist who donated the land to the state.
Today, Vikingsholm is considered the best example of Scandinavian architecture in the United States, and it’s available to tour from June to September.
You can only reach Vikingsholm by boat, or by walking a 1-mile trail from a parking lot on Highway 89.
Rent a Boat and Cruise Around the Lake
Renting a boat and riding around the lake is without a doubt one of the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe, especially for families and groups! This will allow you to do some unique sightseeing around the Lake, seeing all the most beautiful spots from the water.
You can either rent a boat and drive it yourself, or you can rent a boat with a trusted captain to drive you around.
Renting a boat is one of the best ways you can explore South Lake. You can boat into the clear waters of Emerald Bay, bask in the sun on deck, or for those more adventurous, you can even rent water skis, a wakeboard, or a tube!
You can rent a boat from Tahoe Sports, starting at $184 for 1 hour and 6-8 passengers.
Fishing
South Lake Tahoe has excellent fishing! Taylor Creek, Upper Truckee River, and the Tahoe Keys are three of the best places in South Lake for fishing. You can also fish from shore in South Lake Tahoe, although it typically isn’t as good as chartering a fishing boat or fishing from a kayak further out in the lake.
Some of the fish you can expect to catch include the Mackinaw Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Largemouth, and Smallmouth Bass, but there are many others!
The best time for fishing in South Lake is in the early spring and late summer, but don’t let that discourage you from going any time in the summer, as you’ll still likely be able to catch something. Just be sure you have the proper fishing license before casting!
Mountain Biking
Mountain biking is the warm weather counterpart to skiing in South Lake, and it’s one of the most fun things to do in South Lake Tahoe!
Right inside South Lake, you have the Power Line Trail and the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path. The Power Line Trail is 7 miles long with intermediate-level terrain. The Pope-Baldwin Trail has some excellent beginner terrain. You can also do the Van Sickle Trail for a more exciting 3.2-mile run that’s excellent for intermediate-advanced riders.
Golfing
Golfing is another of the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe, and there is no shortage of golf courses in the area! Here are some places you can golf right in the heart of South Lake:
Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course
Edgewood Golf Resort is the only place in Lake Tahoe you can go golfing right in front of the lake. Green fees start at $170 for weekdays in May and go up from there. The course is lush and pristine, and the views are amazing.
Lake Tahoe Golf Course
Lake Tahoe Golf is a fun but challenging golf course with beautiful views, creative holes, and more competitive pricing. Green Fees start at $55. Lake Tahoe Golf Course is also the only Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in South Lake Tahoe, so this is the place to golf if you’re interested in a course that is more environmentally concerned.
The Best Things to Do in South Lake Tahoe in the Winter
While the summer in South Lake brings fun lake days, hiking and biking through the mountains, and exhilarating outdoor activities up at Heavenly, the winter brings some of the best skiing in California!
In the winter months, South Lake Tahoe essentially transforms into a snowy, beautiful, winter wonderland with plenty to do, even if you’re not interested in skiing. Here are the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe in the winter:
Skiing and Snowboarding at South Lake Tahoe
Sitting at a base elevation of over 6000 feet of elevation in the Sierra Nevadas, South Lake is in a great position to provide some of the best skiing and snowboarding in California. By the time you reach the top of Heavenly Mountain, you’ll be at an impressive 10,067 feet of elevation- and that’s where the fun begins.
Heavenly Mountain has 28 different chair lifts and almost 100 runs that span across almost 5000 acres– that’s a whole lot of terrain! In fact, it’s the most of any ski mountain in all of Tahoe, not just in South Lake. With an average of 360 inches of snowfall each year, you’re going to have a lot of snow to play in skiing and snowboarding at Heavenly.
Cross-Country Skiing South Lake Tahoe
If you’re interested in getting out in the snow and exploring on your own rather than going to a resort, you’re in luck- South Lake Tahoe has great cross-country skiing!
A few fun places to go cross-country skiing in South Lake include Baldwin Beach, Camp Richardson, the Bijou Community Center, and the trails at the Lake Tahoe Community College. It’s important to keep in mind that those places are usually only suitable for cross-country skiing during bigger snow falls, and they’re unfortunately not a great option all season long.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is another of the most fun and wintery things to do in South Lake Tahoe. It’s a great activity for all ages, and you have two options for ice skating in South Lake Tahoe:
Heavenly Ski Resort has a fun outdoor ice skating rink- it’s very festive, and it’s the only outdoor skating rink on the south shore of Tahoe.
You can also ice skate at the South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena. The South Lake Tahoe Ice Arena is open year-round, and it’s where the Tahoe Grizzlies practice. In addition to public ice skating, they offer hockey and figure skating lessons!
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is another fun winter activity in South Lake Tahoe! The best place to snowshoe in South Lake is Camp Richardson. They have over 6 miles of trails, rentals available, and beautiful views of the lake from some of the trails.
Tubing and Sledding
Embrace your inner child and have a blast tubing and sledding in the snow! Taylor Creek Sno Park is a great area to have some fun in the snow and sled for the day.
Another option for tubing and sledding is to head to Hansen’s Snow Tube and Saucer Hill. Entry is $30 for an hour of tubing, and after trekking up their 400-foot hill and sliding down a few times, most people find an hour of tubing to be the perfect amount of time.
You can also head up Heavenly’s gondola and ride their 500-foot tubing hill that’s complete with its own magic carpet that transports you and your tube back up to the top. Tubing at Heavenly also costs $30/hour, which is in addition to the price of the gondola which is $32 for adults and $26 for kids.
Snowmobiling
For those seeking an adrenaline rush, renting a snowmobile and zipping around on pristinely groomed tracks is one of the most exciting things to do in South Lake Tahoe.
Tahoe Snowmobiles offers rentals at their track at Stateline, which start at $80 for 30 minutes on the snowmobile. Each snowmobile seats 2 people, and you’ll need a valid driver’s license to race your snowmobile around the tracks at Tahoe Snowmobiles.
The Best Things to Do in South Lake Tahoe Year-Round
Take a Spa Day
If you’re looking for a relaxing and rejuvenating thing to do in South Lake Tahoe, consider taking a spa day! Whether you’re looking to warm up and relax after a long day out on the slopes, or after a fun day of hiking and adventuring on the lake, you can’t go wrong at one of South Lake’s Spas.
Spa Edgewood
Spa Edgewood is the ultimate luxury healing center in South Lake. This luxury spa provides massages, facials, and more. When you purchase any of their spa treatments, you receive access to their hot tub, steam room, and other spa facilities.
Elements Day Spa at Tahoe LakeShore Lodge
Elements Day Spa specializes in Swedish massages, stone therapy, sports massages, and clinical healing treatments.
Blue Water Day Spa
Blue Water Day Spa is another great spa in South Lake. They’re well-known for their massages (deep tissue, couples, and hot stone), and they also offer various skincare treatments.
Enjoy South Lake Tahoe’s Restaurant Scene
South Lake Tahoe isn’t just known for its proximity to the lake and fun mountain activities- it’s also home to some delicious restaurants.
For breakfast and brunch, you can’t miss Ernie’s Coffee Shop, Heidi’s Pancake House, and the Getaway Cafe.
For dinner, you can’t go wrong at The Lakehouse Restaurant for American dining or Scusa Italian Restaurant for delicious Italian eats.
Shopping
Whether you’re looking to make a quick purchase to replace some gear you forgot, find a good South Lake souvenir, or simply browse, Heavenly Village is a great place in South Lake Tahoe for your shopping needs! This festive village has over 40 shops, and it’s easy to reach right in the heart of South Lake.
Breweries & Taprooms
There’s nothing like settling in to enjoy some delicious craft beer after a day on the lake or the slopes, and South Lake Tahoe’s brewery scene really delivers.
South of North Brewing Co
This impressive South Lake brewery has live music, toasty fire pits, and delicious brews. It’s a great place to come for an aprés ski beer, or to relax on their patio on sunny days! They’re also dog friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friends along.
Sidellis Lake Tahoe
Sidellis Brewery leans into the mountain-town feel with its cozy, log cabin-inspired interior. They have delicious, seasonally rotating beers on their menu along with a few barrel-aged brews.
The Hanger
The Hanger is technically a taproom since they don’t make their own beers, but they still make the list due to their excellent beer selection and beautiful outdoor Biergarten!
If you’re looking to go somewhere in South Lake with a wide selection of beers, Hanger is the place to go- they have 30 different beers on draft, with a huge variety in style. They have plenty of lighter pilsners and lagers to satisfy lovers of light beer, a robust IPA selection, and a nice selection of stouts and porters. If you like fruity beer, or unique offerings like hard kombucha and mead- they’ve got that too!
Besides their beer selection, The Hanger’s main draw is the fact that they’re home to Tahoe’s largest outdoor Biergarten! If you’re visiting in the summer, it’s the perfect place to sit and soak in the sunshine, and in the winter you can warm up by their firepits.
Visit South Lake Tahoe’s Casinos
If you’re looking to roll the dice and try your hand at gambling, you’re in luck- South Lake Tahoe is home to some of the best casinos in the whole Tahoe area! Stateline is the main hub for casinos in South Lake, and you can walk to each of them easily. Here are the best casinos in South Lake:
Hard Rock Hotel
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is South Lake’s newest casino, and you can feel the room buzz with energy and anticipation as soon as you step in the door! This casino features an impressively large 25,000-square foot casino floor with slots and table games, along with 40 different flat screens surrounding the room playing the best sports games.
If you get hungry while you’re gambling, they have 5 different restaurants on site- including a delicious steakhouse and seafood restaurant.
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe
This world-famous casino is open 24 hours, has over 1300 slot and video poker machines, and truly electric energy.
The massive, 18-story hotel boasts the most popular casino in Lake Tahoe, and the fun doesn’t stop at gambling- Harrah’s South Shore room hosts concerts, comedy shows, and other fun live performances.
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe
Harvey’s Lake Tahoe was the first casino built in South Lake, back in 1944. It’s recently been completely renovated with a sleek and modern interior. It’s easily one of the best casinos in South Lake.
Inside Harvey’s Casino, you’ll find an 88,000-square-foot casino room with 100 table games, over 1200 slots, and a live poker room.
Harvey’s is located right across the street from Harrah’s, and the two behemoth casinos are even connected by an underground tunnel.
Enjoy South Lake Tahoe
No matter what time of year you visit, there are so many great things to do in South Lake Tahoe!
Whether you’re visiting alone, with a group of friends, or with the whole family, you’re sure to have a special and exciting trip exploring the best that this beautiful mountain lake town has to offer.
Featured Image Credit: Sundry Photography
