Tahoe Vacation Tips

Welcome to summer paradise at Lake Tahoe! With lake water high, creeks flowing strong, and forecasts of warm days ahead, summer and fall promise to be ideal at the “Lake of the Sky.”

ENJOY AND PRESERVE

Tahoe’s unique, pristine beauty draws both visitors and locals to its shores, but preserving it requires that we treat the environment kindly, especially during peak vacation periods. Recently, locals have been rightly incensed by littered beaches and graffitied boulders caused by a few bad actors. Most visitors to Tahoe are considerate, of course, picking up their trash and not defacing or damaging the natural environment. Thank you for being thoughtful during your visit.

TRAVELING TAHOE STYLE

Treat both yourself and the environment kindly on peak summer traffic days by using public transit, or riding a bike or scooter. North Tahoe’s TART system includes FREE door-to-door shuttles powered by a convenient app. Utilize one of the park-and-ride lots in Truckee to hop on the TART system. South Lake Tahoe has hourly public buses and a variety of shuttles. Tahoe also has lovely bike paths and numerous rental options (see “Go Pedaling,” page 28). Transit buses often have bike racks to extend your explorations.

BE BEAR AWARE

Our communities share their forests with Black Bears; the Lake Tahoe Basin has the second highest population density of Black Bears in North America! Our bears range from black to cinnamon in color. Most adults are between 200 and 350 pounds, but some males weight in at over 600 pounds! Bears normally avoid humans but they have one of the most powerful senses of smell in the animal kingdom and are aggressive foragers. They look at unprotected food as an open invitation. Close your cabin doors, do not leave garbage in unsecured cans or bags, and do NOT leave food in your parked car overnight. If you spot a bear, keep your distance and let it go on its way.

PURE DRINKING

Tahoe water systems deliver some of the purest tap water on earth. You’ll taste the difference! Fill up a reusable water bottle with Tahoe tap and save the planet a few single-use, plastic bottles.