Summer Tahoe’s season of music, events & festivals
We welcome summer each year with our Music, Events & Festivals Guide summer edition, with one of our largest guides to date in this issue. I started the guide nearly 10 years ago to give our readers a snapshot of the amazing events and festivals to enjoy during the summer.
In the early days, the festival guide was about four pages. We expanded it through the years to include winter, spring and fall guides, along with coverage of Reno, Carson City, Virginia City and surrounding areas.
Since 2015, I’ve seen the number of local events from Truckee to Markleeville increase exponentially (except during the pandemic years) and we’ve dropped coverage of events in Reno and Carson to make room for more local events. Today, our seasonal guides include coverage of the Tahoe Sierra – Tahoe Basin, Truckee area, Hope Valley area and the Lost Sierra.
After we finish the guide each season, I sit down and fill my calendar with my favorite events to attend and purchase my tickets immediately. Some of my favorites include the Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, the local art tours, local free summer concerts series, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Trails & Vistas, Community of Writers and Dinner in the Barn. I’m excited to see some new events join the lineup this year including the Truckee Music Fest and Tahoe Music Alive’s summer series. As well, the Valhalla Renaissance Faire will return after a 3-year hiatus now being held in August.
I’ll be hosting the new Tahoe Literary Festival in October with co-founder Priya Hutner this year. Look for exciting news about our keynote speaker on page 20 of this edition.
Boat, paddle safely
While you are enjoying your summer in Tahoe, don’t forget to pack out your trash, including that dog waste, take your bicycle or the free transit options when possible, and stay safe. Life vests are required for children and highly recommended for all adults, which includes paddleboarders and surfers. Sierra lakes can be frigid and an average of 7 people drown each year from cold water shock. Check out the tips on page 8.
Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center | (530) 577-2273 | ltwc.org
on the cover Revelers enjoy an Independence Day drone show and celebrations in Tahoe City in 2023. The drone show returns to Tahoe City on July 4 as part of the day-long celebrations from the Tahoe City Downtown Association. Find details on Tahoe City’s festivities and celebrations throughout the Tahoe Sierra kicking off on June 30 with concerts, parades, parties and four fireworks show in this edition. | Photography courtesy TCDA, visittahoecity.org
Prepare for wildfires
Did you know that campfires are the No. 1 cause of wildfires in the Tahoe Basin? Priya Hutner set out to discover the top fire threats to our local communities for our 4th annual Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide. Read her story “Tackling Tahoe’s wildfire worries” in this edition. The article also published in our Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide, which is available at locations throughout eastern Placer County and at all regional visitors’ centers. It’s also available for free download at YourTahoeGuide.com/fire
If you need multiple copies for your organization, business, HOA or other group, email me at publisher@yourtahoeguide.com.
Katherine E. Hill
PUBLISHER/OWNER & EDITOR IN CHIEF
On Demand Microtransit and Regional Bus
Take TART Connect’s on demand curbto-curb microtransit or the TART Bus to connect to recreation, dining, events, and downtown.
Download the TART Connect app or call: (530) 214-5811.
Tahoe City | Olympic Valley | West Shore CarnelianBay| Tahoe Vista | Kings Beach Crystal Bay | Incline Village Northstar | Truckee
Truckee Area
Photos–Ryan Salm
SIGHTSEEING
EAST SHORE
CAVE ROCK | DE EK WADAPUSH*
This iconic sight is part of an old volcano. Take in the view from Cave Rock State Park.
THUNDERBIRD LODGE
May-October | thunderbirdtahoe.org
The former Whittell estate. This magnificent lakefront home features the Lighthouse Room, Old Lodge, 600’ underground tunnel (with a former lion cage) and Boat House, home to the “Thunderbird,” a 1939 wooden boat. Ages 6+ only. Tours by reservation only.
NORTH SHORE
GATEKEEPER’S MUSEUM
Wed.-Sun. until Oct. 31 (and by appt.) (530) 583-1762 | northtahoemuseums.org
Featuring historic photos, the Steinbach Indian Basket Museum and historical memorabilia in Tahoe City.
KINGS BEACH
northtahoebusiness.org
Kings Beach is a popular spot for dining and shopping with the North Shore’s largest sandy beach located in the heart of town. Free parking at North Tahoe Beach, Brook St., Minnow and the Christmas Tree lot on Hwy. 28.
NORTH TAHOE ARTS CENTER (530) 581-2787 | northtahoearts.com
Featuring works by local artists & workshops in Kings Beach and Tahoe City.
SNOW MUSEUM
Open daily | thesnowmuseum.org
Memorabilia from the 1960 Winter Olympics and select items from Auburn Ski Club’s collection of early ski history. Inside Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City.
LAKE LEVELS
TAHOE CITY visittahoecity.com
Popular for shopping and dining with historical sites. Visit the Tahoe Dam, Lake Tahoe’s only outlet, and Fanny Bridge. Peer into Watson Cabin (1909) for a glimpse at pioneer life. Free parking at Commons Beach, Grove St., Jackpine St. and Transit Center.
TAHOE CITY DEMONSTRATION GARDEN
Tours by appt. | (530) 583-3279 | tahoe.ucdavis.edu/tcdg
This 1920s-era building features a history of the field station, current UC Davis research projects, interactive exhibits and demonstration garden. Grounds open Memorial Day-Labor Day. Ages 8+.
TAHOE SCIENCE CENTER
Tues-Sat. until Labor Day (775) 881-7566 | tahoesciencecenter.org
University of California, Davis, science education center at at UNR Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, Nev. Exhibits include a virtual research boat, biology lab, 3D movies and docent-led tours. Ages 8+.
Watson Cabin, built by Robert Watson and his son in 1909, is the oldest building in Tahoe City and on the National Register of Historic Places.
OLYMPIC VALLEY
HIGH CAMP & OLYMPIC MUSEUM (800) 403-0206 | palisadestahoe.com
Palisades Tahoe, host of the VIII Winter Olympic Games in 1960, celebrates its Olympic History with the Tower of Nations with its Olympic Flame and the symbolic Tower of the Valley at Highway 89. The Olympic Museum at High Camp features historic memorabilia and photographs. Aerial tram ticket required.
SOUTH SHORE
HEAVENLY (775) 586-7000 | skiheavenly.com
Enjoy a 2.4-mile ride on the gondola to the top with panoramic views, along with zip lines, climbing wall, tubing, coaster and more. Ticket required.
LAKE TAHOE MUSEUM
Thurs.-Sat. until Aug. 30 (closed July 4) (530) 541-5458 | laketahoemuseum.org
Washoe artifacts and exhibits on early industry and settlers. Pick up walking tour maps.
TAHOE ART LEAGUE GALLERY (530) 544-2313 | talart.org
Featuring works by local artists & workshops.
TALLAC HISTORIC SITE (530) 541-5227 | tahoeheritage.org
Once known as the “Grandest Resort in the World” as the summer retreat for three San Francisco elite families with the Baldwin Estate, Pope Estate & Valhalla. Grounds open year-round. Tours in summer.
TAYLOR CREEK VISITOR CENTER
Until Oct. 31 | (530) 543-2674 | fs.usda.gov
Features Stream Profile Chamber to view slice of Taylor Creek, nature trails & more.
TRUCKEE
DONNER SUMMIT HISTORICAL SOCIETY donnersummithistoricalsociety.org
At Old Hwy 40 & Soda Springs Rd. 20-mile interpretive driving tour along Old 40.
EMIGRANT TRAIL MUSEUM (530) 582-7892 | parks.ca.gov
The Emigrant Trail Museum features exhibits and artifacts on the Donner Party (1846-47) at Donner Memorial State Park. See the towering Pioneer Monument.
KIDZONE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Tues.-Sat. | (530) 587-5437 | kidzonemuseum.org
Interactive exhibits, science & art classes for kids up to age 7. BabyZone & Jungle Gym.
MUSEUM OF TRUCKEE HISTORY
Open Fri.-Sun. | (530) 582-0893 museumoftruckeehistory.com
Housed in the original Depot, built in 1901. Exhibits cover different eras in Truckee history.
NORTHSTAR
Open until Sept. 29 | northstarcalifornia.com
Ride the Big Springs Gondola up to 8,610’ for views of Tahoe and Truckee.
OLD TRUCKEE JAIL MUSEUM
Sat.-Sun. until Sept. 1 & during Truckee Thursdays 530) 659-2378 | truckeehistory.org
One of a few surviving 19th Century jailhouses used from 1875 until May 1965. Volunteers needed.
TOWN OF TRUCKEE truckeehistory.org | truckee.com
Settled in 1863, Truckee grew quickly as a stagecoach stop and route for the Central Pacific Railroad. During these early days, many historical homes and buildings were built including The Truckee Hotel (1868) and the Capitol Building (1868). Stop by the Depot for a walking tour of historic downtown. Paid parking downtown at kiosk or Flowbird app.
TRUCKEE RAILROAD MUSEUM
Open Sat.-Sun. & holidays truckeedonnerrailroadsociety.com
Learn about the historic railroad. Located in a caboose next to the Truckee Depot.
WEST SHORE
EAGLE ROCK
Eagle Rock, one of the Lake’s most famous natural sites, is a volcanic plug beside Highway 89 on the West Shore. Trail to top is on the south side.
EMERALD BAY (TSALEE TOSH*) & FANNETTE ISLAND (530) 541-3030 | parks.ca.gov
Lake Tahoe’s only island is in Emerald Bay & is home to an old tea house. Boat access only. (Closed Feb. 1-June 15 for nesting birds.)
HELLMAN-EHRMAN MANSION
Tours until Sept. 30 | Parking fee | parks.ca.gov (530) 525-7232 Park | (530) 583-9911
Sugar Pine Point State Park is home to the historic Ehrman Mansion. See boathouses with historic boats and General Phipps Cabin built in the late 1800s.
VIKINGSHOLM CASTLE
Tours until Sept. 30 | Parking fee (530) 541-3030 | (530) 525-9529 ADA parks.ca.gov | vikingsholm.com
Tour the grounds of Vikingsholm Castle, see Eagle Falls and Fannette Island (the Lake’s only island), home to an old Tea House.
North Tahoe & Truckee (TART) | laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe | tahoetransportation.org
Tahoe City’s historic Watson Cabin, built in 1908, recently reopened for summer tours after undergoing renovations to the interior. The cabin is open Tuesday to Saturday. | Katherine E. Hill
lake tahoe facts
Learn about the natural history of the Tahoe Sierra at YourTahoeGuide.com
Age of Lake Tahoe: 2 million years
Fed By: 63 streams and 2 hot springs
Only Outlet: Truckee River (Tahoe City)
Watershed Area: 312 square miles (808 sq km)
Average Water Temperature: 42.1˚F (5.61˚C)
Average Surface Water Temperature: 51.9˚F (11.1˚C)
Average Surface Temperature in July: 64.9˚F (18.3˚C)
Highest Peak: Freel Peak at 10,881 feet (3,317 m)
Average Snowfall: 409 inches (10.4 m)
Permanent Population: 70,000
Number of Visitors: 17 million annually
HOW THE LAKE WAS FORMED
About 3 to 5 million years ago, the valley that would become the Tahoe Basin sank between parallel fractures in the Earth’s crust as the mountains on either side continued to rise. A shallow lake began to form in the resulting valley.
Roughly 2 to 3 million years ago, erupting volcanoes blocked the outlet, forcing the lake to rise hundreds of feet above its current elevation, and eventually eroded down to near its current outlet.
Between 1 million and 20,000 years ago, large masses of glacial ice covered the west side of the Tahoe Basin. Current geologic theory suggests an earthen berm (moraine) left by a receding glacier near Olympic Valley acted as a dam, causing the lake level to rise and then draw down rapidly when the dam catastrophically failed. Between 7,000 and 15,000 years ago, a 4-mile segment of
the West Shore collapsed into the Lake causing a massive submerged debris avalanche, widening the Lake by 3 miles and creating McKinney Bay.
The Tahoe Basin is mostly granite, with little topsoil, and therefore few nutrients have washed into the lake to promote the growth of algae and other organisms that make water murky. As well, 40 percent of the precipitation falling into the Tahoe Basin lands directly on the lake.
The remaining precipitation drains through the decomposed granite soil found in marshes and meadows, creating a good filtering system for water. Urbanization of the Tahoe Basin has eliminated 75 percent of its marshes, 50 percent of its meadows and 35 percent of its steam zone habitats. About 85 percent of all wildlife in the Tahoe Basin use these habitats.
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LAKE CLARITY
The University of California, Davis, operates the Tahoe Environmental Research Center (tahoe. ucdavis.edu), which monitors the clarity of Lake Tahoe. Clarity has been measured since 1968 and was first recorded at 102.4’.
The waters of Lake Tahoe were clear to an average depth of 71.7’ (21.9m) in 2022. Lake Tahoe is losing clarity because of algae growth fueled by nitrogen and phosphorus.
ABOUT THE LAKE
Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California. It is fed by 63 streams and two hot springs.
The Truckee River is Tahoe’s only outlet and flows from the dam in Tahoe City east through Reno and eventually drains into Pyramid Lake in Nevada.
Email anne@yourtahoeguide.com
Lake Tahoe is located in the states of California and Nevada, with two-thirds in California.
LAKE CLARITY:
2022: 71.7 feet depth (21.9 meters)
1968: First recorded at 102.4 feet (31.21 m)
AVERAGE DEPTH: 1,000 feet (304 m)
MAXIMUM DEPTH: 1,645 feet (501 m)
Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the U.S. (Crater Lake in Oregon, at 1,932 feet, or 589 m, is the deepest), and the 11th deepest in the world.
There is enough water in Lake Tahoe to supply everyone in the United States with more than 75 gallons (284 liters) of water per day for 5 years.
NATURAL RIM: 6,223’ (1,897 m)
Lake Tahoe sits at an average elevation of between 6,223’ and 6,229.1’. (1,897-1,899 m) The top 6.1’ (1.8 m) of water is controlled by the dam in Tahoe City and holds up to 744,600 acre feet of water (91,845 m).
SIZE: 22 miles long, 12 miles wide (35 km long, 19 km wide) Lake Tahoe is as long as the English Channel is wide.
SHORELINE: 72 miles (116 km)
Lake Tahoe has a surface area of 191 square miles (307 km). If Lake Tahoe were emptied, it would submerge California under 15 inches of water (.38 m)
Sources: Tahoe Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Forest Service, “Tahoe Place Names,” Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan, The Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, and David Antonucci (denoted by 1).
However, water releases are not permitted when the lake surface level falls below the natural rim at 6,223’ (1,897 m). The lowest lake level on record (measured since 1900) was 6,220.26’ (1,896 m) on Nov. 30, 1992.
The Lake of the Sky appears blue in color as other colors in the light spectrum are absorbed and blue light is scattered back.
LAKE TAHOE’S DISCOVERY
The first recorded discovery of Lake Tahoe by white explorers was on Feb. 14, 1844, when John Charles Frémont and Charles Preuss spotted the lake from atop Red Lake Peak. The lake went through many names before it was officially named Tahoe in 1945. Tahoe is a mispronunciation of the first two syllables of the Washo’s word for the lake – Da ow a ga, which means “edge of the lake." n
for the 4th of July include parades, fun runs, beach parties, concerts and both fireworks and drone shows with festivities starting June 30.
Pack a picnic, stake out your spot early, bike or take public transit and bring cash for food, beverages and donations to fund local fireworks and drone shows. Many restaurants offer viewing parties and local tour companies offer cruises and guided kayak tours on Lake Tahoe during the shows; make reservations early.
Note: Placer County has an alcohol ban in place on the Truckee River the week of July 4 from Tahoe City to Alpine Meadows.
Graeagle 50th anniversary celebrations
July 5-7 | Graeagle
This year marks the 50th Celebration of this hometown tradition with the 5th Annual Cornhole Tournament, Day in the Park and fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. on July 6; and Fireman’s Pancake Breakfast, Day in the Park and hometown Parade on July 7. Additional events for July 5 TBA. | graeagle.com
Red, White & Tahoe Blue concerts
June 30, July 3 & 7 | area venues
Revel in full orchestra and chorus performances of patriotic favorites by TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony Orchestra. Join in a sing-along, and, if you’re the highest bidder, have the honor of conducting the orchestra in “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” | tahoesymphony.com
Incline Village 4th of July celebration
July 2-4 | area venues | Incline Village, Nev.
The festivities begin on July 2 with a flag-raising and pancake breakfast at Station 11, followed by a kids’ bike parade, a Local Heros Parade, Local Heros Community Fair, Highlander Pride backyard barbecue and Incline-Tahoe Foundation SummerFest! (details in festival guide on page 27).
On July 3, local veterans and heroes are honored with a veterans’ reception and a flag retirement ceremony, along with a basketball tourney and TOCCATA performance. On July 4, enjoy the Veterans Club Pancake Breakfast and fireworks near Incline Beach at 9:30 p.m. | ivcba.org
Truckee 4th of July festivities
July 4 | Truckee
Independence Day is an all-day event in Truckee, starting with a pancake breakfast hosted by the Truckee Fire Department at the station next to Wild Cherries from 7 to 10 a.m. The annual 1-Mile Firecracker Run starts at 9:45 a.m. followed by the
parade from 10 a.m. to noon. The fun continues at West End Beach with live music, dancing, games and barbecues until the fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. The beach event is for Truckee residents and homeowners only. Viewing is also available from Donner Memorial State Park beaches and 37 public piers on Donner Lake’s north shore. Shuttles are available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. from Truckee neighborhoods for the parade and from 3 p.m. to midnight from Truckee High School to West End Beach. On-demand shuttles will also be running using the TART Connect app. | visittruckeetahoe.com
Parade & Airshow
July 4 | Highway 50 | South Shore
The Stars & Stripes for Service parade starts at 9 a.m. along Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Hwy. 50) from Ski Run to Al Tahoe Boulevard to Bijou Community Park. Stay after the parade for an Airshow over the lake featuring the 129th Rescue Wing at noon. | cityofslt.us
Tahoe City Independence Day
July 4 | Commons Beach | Tahoe City
Enjoy fun at the lake in Tahoe City starting at 12 p.m. with an exciting list of activities, such as face painting and live performances from 12 to 10 p.m. along with DJs and live music. An aerial drone show, orchestrated to music broadcast on 101.5 FM, is at 9:30 p.m. A free shuttle will be offered to and from Northstar, as well as an on-demand shuttle available using the TART Connect app. | visittahoecity.org
Lights on the Lake
July 4 | South Shore
The fireworks display, visible from all over South Shore, is from 9:45 to 10:05 p.m. Pick a spot on the shoreline, a beach, a park or a cruise on Lake Tahoe. Prime viewing locations at Lakeview Commons/El Dorado Beach, Nevada Beach and Tallac Historic Site. Music will be simulcast with the fireworks show on KRLT-FM 93.9. | visitlaketahoe.com
FIREWORKS PROHIBITED
Other than the licensed and permitted shows listed, all fireworks are illegal in the Tahoe Sierra. This includes City of South Lake Tahoe, Town of Truckee, and Douglas, El Dorado, Douglas, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sierra and Washoe counties. Fireworks are also prohibited on all federal lands, as well as in all California and Nevada state parks.
the outdoors | recreation | events | mountain life
South Shore fireworks. | Visit Lake Tahoe
Sierra State Parks Foundation celebrates 50 years
BY HEIDI DOYLE
GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY
June 26 | Sugar Pine Point State Park, Tahoma Tickets sierrastateparks.org
The Sierra State Parks Foundation was born when a group led by local women of the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, persuaded the Department of Parks and Recreation to scrap its plans for razing the 1903 Ehrman Mansion after it was acquired by the state in 1965. As a result, the concept of creating formulized public-private partnerships to improve the management of the state’s park system was formed.
In 1968, the Lake Tahoe Advisory Committee was formed by state parks director William Penn Mott to advise for the development of four newly acquired state parks at Lake Tahoe: Sugar Pine Point, Emerald Bay, DL Bliss and Tahoe State Recreation Area. The early meetings centered around the use of the Ehrman Mansion, at Sugar Pine Point State Pak (now Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park) as an Interpretive Center and plans for Vikingsholm Castle at Emerald Bay State Park. The Foundation was later asked to support the education and interpretive efforts at Bodie State Historic Park, Plumas Eureka and Empire Mine State Parks, and did so for 25 years before those parks were able to establish its own cooperating associations.
The ladies in the Hellman-Erhman Gazebo are Jackue Mielke and Lorraine Stribling, co-chairs of the Ehrman Mansion art show, one of the early fundraisers for the upkeep of the property. | Sierra State Parks Foundation
Now named the Sierra State Parks Foundation, the seeds of this public-private partnership have grown into a steady and valued State Park partner to eight California State Parks in the Tahoe region. The Foundation has granted California State Parks more than $15 million and thousands of volunteer hours toward historic building restoration, interpretive staffing, educational programming, enabling historic house museum tours at two sites, trail construction and other projects.
Thanks to the Foundation, visitor centers are open, historic landmarks are available to visitors with restoration projects completed, accessible trails are built and lined with interpretive signage, innovative park stores operate and a collaborative relationship exists with park staff. | sierrastateparks.org
Postcard of Pine Lodge (Ehrman Mansion). | Sierra State Parks Foundation
Avoid drowning from cold water shock
An average of seven people drown in Lake Tahoe every year due to cold-water shock, according to Take Care Tahoe. These drownings are preventable by wearing a life jacket.
When a person falls or jumps into cold, alpine water, the first instinct is to gasp in shock – cold water shock. This initial reaction sets off a chain reaction that often leads to drowning. Life jackets give people a few minutes to control their breathing, calm down and self-rescue. Without a life jacket, most people experiencing cold water shock will quickly drown.
• Avoid cold water shock and hypothermia — enter water slowly and control your breathing.
• Always wear bright colors, carry bright paddles along with a whistle and flashlight.
• Notify someone of your departure location and time and when you plan to return.
• Stay close to shore when paddling and swimming to avoid boat traffic.
Knight Monsters announce schedule
Tahoe’s first hockey team, Tahoe Knight Monsters, have announced the team’s 2024-25 game schedule for the upcoming inaugural season set to begin in October. The Knight Monsters will play a 72-game regular season schedule (36 home, 36 away). The Knight Monsters will open the season on the road on Oct. 18 and 19 in Allen, Texas, to take on the Americans.
By law, all boaters on Lake Tahoe must always have a life vest with them while on the lake, including paddleboarders. Children younger than 13 years old are required to always wear a life vest. Adults should also always wear a life vest. | takecaretahoe.org
Before going out, check the weather, including the wind. | tahoe.ucdavis.edu/ lake-conditions
Water safety tips
• Children younger than 13 must wear life jackets while on a vessel in Nevada and California, including standup paddleboards, kayaks, personal watercraft and other craft.
• Everyone should wear a life jacket and a SUP leash. If you fall in, it will keep your head above water and keep you insulated.
• Drinking and boating is the same crime as drinking and driving.
• Paddling is boating and subject to the same rules and safety guidelines.
• Take a boat education class to learn boat safety. Online boating courses are offered free at boatus.org/nevada or boatus.org/california.
• All boaters in California aged 60 and older are required to have a California Boater Card available at californiaboatercard.com.
The team’s home opener at the Tahoe Blue Event Center is set for Oct. 24 against the Jacksonville Icemen. Ticket packages for the 2024-25 season are available. | knightmonstershockey.com
Sand Habor to require reservations
Reservations will be required for parking at Sand Harbor State Park starting Aug. 17 before 10:30 a.m. on weekends and holidays, according to a press release form the Nevada Division of State Park. The reservation system is designed to reduce traffic congestion on Highway 28, which often sees the popular East Shore park fill to capacity within minutes of opening during the summer. Entry after 10:30 a.m. will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis based
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Nevada Division of State Parks
Adobe Stock
SUMMER FUN
Always check operating schedules before visiting. No smoking or vaping of cigarettes, e-cigarettes or marijuana.
DISC GOLF
EAST SHORE
INCLINE VILLAGE (775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
18-hole course at Incline Park at 980 Incline Way. Free. Daily dawn-dusk.
NORTH SHORE
NORTH TAHOE REGIONAL PARK (530) 546-4212 | northtahoeparks.com
18-hole, o National Ave. Parking $5. Daily dawn-dusk.
PALISADES TAHOE’S HIGH CAMP (530) 583-6985 | palisadestahoe.com
18-hole course. Free to play; must register at restaurant.
SIERRA COLLEGE (530) 550-2225
18 holes on campus. Free. Daily dawn-dusk.
TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK (530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
18-hole course, o Brockway Road. Dogs must be on leash. Free. Daily dawn-dusk.
MINI GOLF COURSES
SHOPS AT HEAVENLY theshopsatheavenly.com 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
VILLAGE AT NORTHSTAR northstarcalifornia.com Free. First-come, first-served.
PUBLIC POOLS
INCLINE VILLAGE
(775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
25-yard, 8-lane indoor pool at Incline Recreation Center, swim lessons, aqua fitness, 1-meter spring diving board, inflatable slide (weekends). Daily rates & memberships available.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
(530) 542-6056 | cityofslt.com
25-yard indoor/outdoor year-round pool. Lessons.
TRUCKEE
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
Lap & recreation pool. Kids swimming area, slides.
ROCK CLIMBING WALLS
TRUCKEE
COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER
(530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
O ers 29’ climbing wall & 12’ bouldering wall. All ages & levels. Lessons available.
SKATE PARKS
EAST SHORE
INCLINE SKATE PARK (775) 832-1300 | inclinerecreation.com
Intermediate/advanced area with two, 5-foot tall bowls with a spine, 3-foot box and 2.5 foot bowl for beginners. Street course on top, with 8-foot flat rail, 6-foot down rail, four stairs and a 10-foot downward ramp. Corner Hwy. 28 & Southwood. Daily dawn-dusk.
SOUTH SHORE
BIJOU COMMUNITY PARK cityofslt.us
Bijou Community Park features a skateboard park on Al Tahoe Boulevard o Highway 50.
SKATEHOUSE
@skatetahoe
40’x80’ warehouse with indoor skate rink. 867 Eloise, South Lake Tahoe.
TAHOE CITY
SCOTTY LAPP MEMORIAL SKATE PARK scottylappmemorialskatepark.org
4,000-square-foot pop-up park behind Alpenglow Sports. Open 10 a.m.-sunset daily.
TRUCKEE
TRUCKEE RIVER REGIONAL PARK (530) 582-7720 | tdrpd.com
Truckee River Regional Park with several bowls with a spine and channel, a long rail and ledges. Knee and elbow pads and helmets required. Free. Daily dawn-10 p.m.
WOODWARD TAHOE (530) 426-1114 | rideboreal.com Featuring two skateparks – The Sierra Skatepark and the Eastern Sierra Skatepark, and indoor skate park at The Bunker.
North Shore & Truckee: laketahoetransit.com South Tahoe: tahoetransportation.org
Tackling Tahoe’s wildfire worries Campfires, forest health biggest threats
BY PRIYA HUTNER
Easily sign up for alerts
A new system to sign up for emergency alerts was released in spring 2024 – TahoeAlerts.com.
Anyone who lives, works or recreations in the Tahoe Basin and surrounding communities can use the system, which includes Placer, Nevada, Washoe, El Dorado, Douglas and Alpine counties, along with the Town of Truckee, City of South Lake Tahoe and Carson City.
Sign Up
1. Visit TahoeAlerts.com.
2. Click the search box & type in an address.
3. Click “Use current location.”
4. Click within the map.
5. Follow links to sign up for alerts.
Wildfires loom in the Tahoe region every summer. Smoke and fear fill the air. The Caldor Fire in 2021 caused the evacuation of 50,000 residents on the South Shore and decimated 221,835 acres.
According to the USDA Forest Service, 85 percent of wildland fires in the United States are caused by humans. This includes campfires left unattended, burning debris, equipment uses, discarded cigarettes, firearms and arson. The Forest Service determined that the Caldor Fire was likely started by a bullet strike. Abandoned campfires are the No. 1 cause of fires in the Tahoe Basin, according to Carrie Thaler, forest fire chief for Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Other causes of wildfires include poor forest health and weather conditions such as drought and lightning strikes.
Threat from campfires
Millions of tourists visit Tahoe annually with camping one of the top activities. Abandoned campfires that aren’t properly extinguished and illegal campfires rank as the main cause of wildfires locally.
Campfires are only allowed in metal fire rings in designated camping areas. Fires using a ring of rocks are not allowed and no campfires are allowed outside designated camping areas.
Make sure to douse campfires before going to bed, and never leave a fire unattended. Keep a bucket of water and a shovel on hand to extinguish the fire.
Learn more in the article “Tips for using, putting out campfires” in the Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide.
Too many dead, dying trees
Forest health is vital to forest ecology and too many trees and overgrowth have created unhealthy forests that are a wildfire hazard. Before the Comstock logging era from the 1860s to the 1890s, the forests in Tahoe contained larger trees with wider spacing between trees, explains Lisa Herron, public affairs specialist for Forest Service, Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Fires were common in the Basin and maintained the health of the forests. Logging companies clear-cut the entire Basin to support mining
operations in Nevada and left the forests decimated. Over the years, the forests have become overgrown and a major wildfire threat.
“We are still dealing with the aftermath [of the logging era] and working on getting the lands in the basin to a place where they are healthy,” explains Thaler.
“Priorities are the wild and urban interface around homes and evacuation corridors, and a plan must be developed along these corridors to get the information to everyone” to know how to evacuate, says Thaler.
“I would say that we have too many dead or dying trees in our forest. The biggest impediment to fixing our forests faster and increasing the pace and scale of forest health work is the time it takes to permit things, and the permitting process is very outdated,” explains Amy Berry, executive director of the Tahoe Fund, a nonprofit agency that funds projects that restore and enhance the Tahoe Basin.
Berry adds that there is too much wood in the forest and nowhere to take the excess wood.
“The only solution is to chop the trees down and then create these burn piles,” explains Berry. There are currently 750,000 burn piles scattered throughout the Tahoe Basin.
Thaler explains that many of these burn piles need to be cured before they can be burned.
“Trees can take up to three years to cure,” says Thaler. Much of this depends on where the piles are and whether there is access to them.
“When we use mechanical thinning, we can move the material. Hand thinning in steeper, rockier areas can be more difficult to access,” adds Herron.
Benefits of fire
Fire naturally contributes to the well-being of forests by releasing nutrients into the soil, fostering species diversity and reducing the accumulation of flammable vegetation known as fuels. Prescribed burns are essential to maintaining forest health and reducing the risk of wildfires. Prescribed burns reduce hazardous fuels; protect homes and infrastructure; decrease the spread of pests, insects, diseases, and invasive species that threaten native flora and fauna; improve habitats
SMART FOREST FUND
TAHOE FUND WILL MATCH ANY DONATION | TahoeFund.org
for threatened and endangered species; and promote the growth of trees and plants, according to the Forest Service.
“In addition to thinning, we must put good fire back on the landscape. So prescribed fires are happening in the communities, and I think acceptance that those are a necessary part of living in an area with wildfire danger,” says Berry.
Tackling fire danger
The Tahoe Fund has also been helping by funding several new technologies that have come to market to combat wildfire risks.
Land Tender is a software that uses high-resolution imaging and artificial intelligence to help land managers address wildfire threats and plan forest health and restoration treatments. Berry says that forest health projects often take years to plan and execute but that time can be drastically cut by using Land Tender.
“Land Tender can create forest health plans in a matter of weeks instead of months or years. It illuminates what is happening on the forest floor,” explains Berry. Land Tender has made it possible to plan preventative projects like thinning forests, clearing fuels and conducting prescribed burns.
The Tahoe Fund is also helping to fund a pilot program with the Zamboni-looking BurnBot, a remote-operated machine that conducts self-contained prescribed burns in difficult-to-access areas. The BurnBot uses robotics, drones and state-of-the-art software and can ignite up to 2,000 acres a day.
Tahoe Fund and Vail Resorts also have contributed fund to support the new Northstar Community Services District Wood Energy Facility. The district is replacing gas-powered boilers with wood-powered boilers and will use wood from the forest to heat the Village at Northstar. The 6,000-square-foot facility will process tree materials and green waste and is expected to consume 3,800 bone-dry tons of woody biomass per year when built.
As well, Tahoe Fund is supporting the Nevada Division of Forestry’s efforts to reopen the Carson City biomass facility and working with private investors
DOWNLOAD
Campfires Tahoe’s biggest threat
FROM LEFT: USDA Forest Service conducts prescribed burns of piles in the forest. | USDA Forest Service.
The BurnBot operating on steep terrain. | Tahoe Fund. USDA Forest Service crews chip limbs and branches during a fuel’s reduction project. | USDA Forest Service.
to get the Loyalton biomass facility restarted. Placer County is also looking to build a biomass facility at the Eastern Regional Landfill outside Truckee.
The Forest Service and several agencies are also working on the Lake Tahoe West restoration project. The project aims to reduce the high risk of wildfire in this area, which encompasses 60,000 acres from Emerald Bay to Carnelian Bay and has the highest tree density and mortality in the Tahoe Basin. The restoration project includes forest thinning, biomass utilization, prescribed burns and habitat restoration.
What can you do?
Forest Service officials say one of the biggest impacts that homeowners can make is to participate in the Fire Adapted Communities Program. The program encourages homeowners to take steps such as home hardening and creating defensible space, as well as prevention, planning and education.
Volunteers in neighborhoods and homeowners’ associations are needed to participate in this program, says Michelle McLean Fire Adapted Communities program director for Tahoe Resource Conservation District.
“Neighborhood leaders are the core aspects of our programming,” says McLean, who explains that there are 70 fire-adaptive communities around the Tahoe Basin.
Find more details on the Fire Adapted Communities Program in the Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide.
Donate
“We need money to solve this problem,” says Berry. “… Supporting local, state and federal initiatives that are going to provide more public funding to increase the pace and scale of restoring the forests is critical.
“We need millions,” Berry says. n
This content was first published in the 4th annual Tahoe Wildfire Preparedness Guide. Hard copies available throughout the North Shore and at all regional visitors’ centers. Download a digital copy at YourTahoeGuide.com/fire.
Abandoned campfires that aren’t properly doused are the biggest wildfire threat in the Tahoe Basin, according to USDA Forest Service, and are also one of the most preventable. In the Tahoe region, campfires are only allowed in metal fire rings in designated campgrounds (fires using a ring of rocks are not allowed).
Use these tips for safely building and putting out a campfire. Find more tips at fs.usda.gov/visit/know-yougo.
Before you build a fire
• Check with the local, state or federal agency that manages the campground where you are camping to see if fires are allowed. Restrictions may vary by agency and location and can change daily or hourly depending on conditions.
• Keep open fires and fuel-burning appliances far enough away from the tent to prevent ignition from sparks, flames and heat.
• Never use a flame or any other heating device inside a tent.
• Have a shovel and bucket of water nearby before lighting a fire.
• Keep fires small and bring firewood purchased locally. Firewood brought from another area could bring invasive pests.
• Don’t burn dangerous things like aerosol cans, pressurized containers, glass or aluminum cans, which can explode, shatter and/or create harmful fumes or dust.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
Put out the fire completely
• Allow the wood to burn completely to ash, if possible.
• Put out a campfire by slowly pouring water onto the fire and stirring with a shovel.
• Continue adding and stirring until all material are cool to touch.
• If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
• Do not bury your fire. The coals can smolder and re-ignite for hours.
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Adobe Stock
on parking availability. The reservation system will be in place on weekends and holidays through Oct. 13. The system is slated to be in place daily starting in April 2025.
Advance reservations will cost $5 in addition to the daily parking fee, with no charge for same-day bookings. Parking fees are $10 for cars with Nevada plates and $15 for out-of-state vehicles (cash only).
The East Shore Express offers free transit service from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from Incline Village, Nev., to Sand Harbor State Park from June 28 to Sept. 2. Hourly paid parking is available at the Tunnel Creek parking lot on Highway 28 at the Tahoe East Shore trailhead where the bus will pick up beachgoers. Visitors from the North Shore and Truckee can use TART to Incline Village or TART Connect within Incline Village to ride free to Tunnel Creek. From the South Shore, there’s a daily bus that departs from the Kingsbury Transit Center at 8:45 a.m. and returns at 7:15 p.m. | eastshoreexpress. com, parks.nv.gov
Book of lists for outdoor life
An interesting new book, “Outdoor Life Lists,” by Barbara Ann Kipfer from Falcon was recently released. The guidebook features 73 checklists covering the essentials needed and potential extras to consider for enjoying outdoor sports, recreation and activities. Also included are informative callout lists that may come in handy in various outdoor situations.
The lists include everything from essential gear for sports from basketball to bouldering, to tips for dealing with outdoor situations from coyotes, how to build a fire to how to escape a sinking vehicle. The guide also includes safety and first aid, including wilderness first aid essentials. | rowman.com
parking at Zephyr Cove Beach
Douglas County has instituted a new parking program in and around the popular Zephyr Cove Beach on the East Shore through Aug. 31. Fees will vary from $20 to $100 a day.
Douglas County will have limited paid parking on Warrior Way, Zephyr Cove Park, Zephyr Cove Elementary School and George Whittell High School in designated areas (map available at YourTahoeGuide.com). Additional restroom facilities will also be available in these areas.
Douglas County residents will be exempt from parking fees in the Warrior Way parking area. License plate readers will be installed to monitor compliance and fees may be made using any cell
phone. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed and possibly towed. As well, parking is now prohibited on both sides of Highway 50.
Proceeds will support Douglas County school and park programs. | communityservices.douglascountynv.gov
Cindy Gustafson
Wildfire town hall planned
Placer Supervisor Cindy Gustafson will host partner agencies to discuss wildfire preparedness at a North Lake Tahoe Town Hall on June 25 at 6 p.m. at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. The meeting will also be broadcast through Zoom and Facebook Live at Placer County Government.
There will be a joint presentation by CAL FIRE and Placer County Fire Department, the Placer County Sheriff’s Office and the Placer County Office of Emergency Services, followed by a Q&A. The event will be translated in Spanish and accommodations will be provided for the hearing impaired. | placer.ca.gov
Outdoor Life Lists
Help keep Tahoe bears wild
Bears are hungry and scavenging for food anywhere they can find it, which includes trash cans, grills, garages, vehicles and homes. There are easy steps to keep bears wild and from you destroying your home and cars. And, if you encounter a bear at a local beach or park, yell at it to get it to move along. Never abandon food on beaches or picnic tables, take it with and yell at the bear.
Follow these tips from the BEAR League and California Department of Fish & Wildlife:
• Never approach cubs. This is one of few times that a bear will charge humans to protect its cubs. Even if you don’t see the mother, she is often nearby.
• Never pick up or touch a cub you think is hurt or may be abandoned. Mothers will leave cubs at times to search for food and will return. Call the BEAR League if you have questions or need help.
• Dispose of garbage in a bear-resistant container.
• Remove bird feeders.
• Store pet food in secure, indoor locations.
• Put up electric fences around chicken coops and beehives.
• At campgrounds, store food in bear-resistant containers (storage lockers/bear boxes), dispose of garbage in Dumpsters and close and lock these containers or risk fines, jail time or both.
• Both California and Nevada law prohibits the feeding of any big game mammals.
• All counties in Nevada that border Lake Tahoe have ordinances in place that prohibit residents and visitors from allowing wildlife access to garbage. Citations and fines can be issued for code violations.
• Never feed wildlife. This encourages unnatural and harmful foraging behavior.
• Never leave groceries, animal feed or anything scented in vehicles. Bears can easily rip open car doors to gain access.
• Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
• Keep doors and windows closed and locked when the home is unoccupied.
• Vegetable gardens, compost piles, orchards and chickens may attract bears. Use electric fences where allowed to keep bears out.
• Consider using electric doormats and/or electric fencing on windows and/or doors where allowed. Electrified windows and doors should have signs posted for safety and to alert the public and emergency personnel.
• If a bear enters a home when you are present, keep out of its way and do not block its escape route.
CONTACT
24-hour hotline | (530) 525-7297 (BEAR League)
Emergencies | 911 (a bear in your yard is not an emergency; only if they are trying to enter your home)
Injured wildlife | Lake Tahoe Wildlife Center | (530) 577-2273, ltwc.org
RESOURCES
Attract birds, not bears info | bit.ly/birds_not_bears
Bear Aware Guide for Homeowner & Renters | bit.ly/bear_home_guide
Bear & Dog Conflicts | bit.ly/bear_and_dogs
BEAR League | savebears.org
BearWise | bearwise.org
BearWise Home Checklist | bit.ly/bear_checklist
Calif. Fish & Wildlife | keepmewild.org
Nevada Dept. of Wildlife | ndow.org
Report trash issues (list of local contacts) | bit.ly/tahoe_trash
BIKE PARKS & MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
Always check to see if trails & parks are open before visiting. Check in advance for e-bike access. Trail conditions tamba.org or tahoerimtrail.org.
BIKE PARKS
MOUNT ROSE
SKY TAVERN (775) 323-5125 | skytavern.org
The mountain bike park features downhill, climbing and dual slalom trails, designed as a series of progressive trails. Open sunrise to sunset spring to fall.
NORTH SHORE
INCLINE BIKE PARK
Incline Bike Project on Facebook Park terrain and features for all ages.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
BIJOU BIKE PARK bijoubikepark.org
The 5-acre park features pump tracks, BMX Track, striderfriendly pump track, jump lines and loop trail. Dawn-dusk.
KIRKWOOD (209) 258-7277 | kirkwood.com
The mountain bike park o ers a network of lift-accessed trails for all levels with 21 trails, with 11.5 miles of single track. The bike park features log rides, pump tracks and other terrain features. Open as conditions permit.
O ering mountain biking on its trails with varied terrain and great views. Open as conditions permit.
NORTHSTAR CALIFORNIA (530) 562-2268 | northstarcalifornia.com
All levels | Varied terrain
Northstar’s Mountain Bike Park boasts more than 100 miles of trails for mountain biking including its signature trail, LiveWire, and the most extensive life-accessed trail network in the Western United States. The park features Skill Development Areas and terrain features including jumps, rails and bridges.
TRUCKEE BIKE PARK truckeebikepark.org
The Park has the sweetest flow lines and the smoothest strider/pump track for all skills levels to progress along with beginner to advanced jump lines. Featuring a dual pump track, dirt jumps, flow lines, dual slalom track, xc trail, drop zone, medium slopestyle line and more. Open from sunrise to sunset. Helmets & brakes required.
The Slabs lift-served bike park featuring flow lines with natural elements, granite rock and obstacles with berms, wall rides and jumps. And, visit The Trenches BMX park. All levels. Open as conditions permit.
MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS
EAST SHORE
FLUME TRAIL
Strenuous | 14 miles
There are several mountain biking trails o the Flume Trail, but if you follow the Flume Trail the whole way you will be rewarded with magnificent views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. The Flume Trail rises 1,600’ above the East Shore of Lake Tahoe. At the end of the Flume Trail, there is a 3-mile, 1,600’ descent down to Tunnel Creek Station on Hwy. 28. It is a moderately di cult ride at 7,000’ to 8,000’ in elevation with more than 1,000’ of climbing and 4.5-miles of single track. It has several steep sections. Shuttle available at Tunnel Creek Café o Hwy. 28 in Incline Village to Spooner Lake State Park. Shuttle info flumetrailtahoe.com. Parking fee.
MOUNT ROSE TO SPOONER LAKE
Strenuous | 20 miles
The beginning of this beautiful section of the Tahoe Rim Trail is at 8,700’ above the Sheep Flats (aka Tahoe Meadows) on Mount Rose. The first part of the trail parallels the highway and then descends through the meadows
and briefly joins the Ophir Creek trail. Look for Rim Trail signs, then after a quarter-mile up and to the right of the Ophir Creek trail (don’t stay on the Ophir Creek Trail). After a 300’ climb out of the meadows, you begin to contour your way to the Tunnel Creek road. At 9 miles, you will come to the Tunnel Creek Road. Follow it a half-mile with the Flume Trail on the right. Continue straight for an 800’ switchbacking climb. Near the top of the climb, consider taking the vista trail to the Sand Harbor overlook.
Once at the top, the trail winds down past the Marlette Peak campground to Hobart Road. The Rim Trail past this point is closed to bikes, so your only path back to Spooner is along this road to the right and down to Marlette Lake. A short, but tough climb leads out of the Marlette basin and then it is downhill back to Spooner Lake. Mind the speed on this descent due to heavy equestrian and hiking use. Shuttle info flumetrailtahoe.com. Parking fee.
NORTH SHORE
TAHOE XC
(530) 583-5475 | tahoexc.org
All levels | Varied terrain
Tahoe XC o ers marked mountain biking and hiking trails in the Burton Creek State Park area just north of Tahoe City. Trail access is free and the terrain is ideal for beginner and intermediate mountain bikers. Advanced riders can find challenging terrain on the Tahoe Rim Trail and around Mount Watson.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
CORRAL AREA TRAILS
tamba.org
All levels | Varied terrain
Corral area trails include Sidewinders, Cedar and Armstrong Connector. This area has a high density of trails for all ability levels and serves as the uno cial hub of mountain bike activity in the South Shore. Featuring log rides, jumps and rock rolls including the new jumps, berms, rollers and hips. The trails all run parallel to the Fountain Place paved road. These trails link to Armstong Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, Powerline, Railroad Grade and this is also where Toads ends. Trails may be closed during fire restoration work; check in advance.
MR. TOADS WILD RIDE
Moderate-Strenuous | 6.2 miles
Mr. Toad’s heads mostly downhill from the Tahoe Rim Trail with several options for making a loop. The upper section of this trail is much more technical than either section of the TRT and has many big drops and sections of nothing but rocks. There is also a huge stair step section that comes up on you quickly.
TRUCKEE
COLDSTREAM VALLEY
Easy to moderate | 6 miles RT
This loop o ers a mellow ride o ering views of the Sierra Crest, has nice flowers in the spring and circumnavigates a series of ponds. From Donner Pass Road, take Coldstream Road, which alternates pavement and dirt. After a short climb up the old terminal moraine of the glacier that once filled this valley, the valley opens up. Proceed on this road until you come to private property signs at the last pond, then turn left on the dirt road and return on the east side of the valley. Park outside the white gate on Coldstream.
EMIGRANT TRAIL
Moderate | 15+ miles
O ers rolling, wide, single-track through high desert, winding through sagebrush, seasonally wet meadows and Je rey Pine forests. North of Truckee on Hwy. 89 to Donner Camp picnic area. If too wet, proceed 2.5 miles on Hwy. 89 to Prosser Creek Bridge pullout. 15 miles to Stampede, but can continue on to other areas.
TRUCKEE RIVER
WESTERN STATES TRAIL
Strenuous | 11.6 miles RT
This is a challenging and exhilarating ride (sometimes referred to as Three Bridges Trail) that will a ord you a fun downhill swoop and beautiful mountain views. You can ride it either way, starting on either side of the Midway Bridge between Alpine Meadows and Olympic Valley o Hwy. 89.
BOATING
Schedules subject to change. Check Lake Tahoe conditions | tahoe.ucdavis.edu/lake-conditions
BOAT INSPECTIONS
INTERSTATE AIS HOTLINE (844) 311-4873
Inspections are required for Lake Tahoe, Echo Lakes, Fallen Leaf Lake, Donner Lake, area reservoirs, Lake of the Woods, Webber Lake and Lakes Basin waters.
LAKE TAHOE, FALLEN LEAF LAKE & ECHO LAKES (888) 824-6267 | tahoeboatinspections.com | Inspections first-come, first-served. Appointments: (888) 824-6267
Inspections open 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
NORTH SHORE | Alpine Meadows: Hwy. 89 at Alpine Meadows Rd. EAST SHORE | Spooner Summit: Junction of Hwys. 28 & 50. No vessels more than 30’. SOUTH SHORE | Meyers: At the junction of Hwys. 89 & 50.
DONNER LAKE (530) 550-2323 | bit.ly/donner_boating
Current Lake Tahoe sticker applies to boats on Donner Lake (inspections at above stations). OR, self-inspection through Town of Truckee to obtain a no-fee sticker. Info at bit.ly/donner_boating.
RESERVOIRS, WEBBER LAKE, LAKE OF THE WOODS & LAKES BASIN WATERS (888) 824-6267 | truckeeboatinspections.com
Mandatory self inspections are in place at Prosser, Boca, Jackson Meadows & Stampede reservoirs and all lakes in Sierra and Nevada counties. Forms available at ramps or online.
CALIFORNIA BOATER CARD
CALIFORNIA REQUIRES BOAT OPERATORS TO PASS A MANDATORY BOAT SAFETY EDUCATION COURSE. Everyone ages 60 years and younger who operate a boat must have the card; this includes non-residents. californiaboatercard.com
INDEPENDENCE LAKE
(775) 322-4990
Independence Lake Rd., 20 miles north of Truckee
Restricted to on-site watercraft: kayaks, tubes & small motor boats available on first-come, first-served basis. No outside craft. Call for schedule.
PROSSER RSVR.
(530) 542-2981 | cityofslt.us Hwy. 50 at Lakeview Ave., South Lake Tahoe Fri.-Wed. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed Thurs. No in and out after 5 p.m. Picnic area, restrooms.
LAKE FOREST | N ORTH S HORE (530) 583-3796 | 1.5 miles east of Tahoe City, o Hwy. 28 Mon-Thurs. 5:30 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sun. until 8 p.m. until Sept. 4. (Closed all major holidays.)
RACOON ST. BOAT LAUNCH | K INGS B EACH (530) 546-9253
Hwy. 28, Bottom of Racoon St. in Kings Beach Opening TBA. Restrooms.
SAND HARBOR | E AST S HORE
(775) 831-0494 | Hwy. 28, 2 miles south of Incline Village
6 a.m.-8 p.m.
Gates locked promptly at close; line up at boat ramp 30 minutes before closure to get o lake. Parking lot open with limited parking for nonmotorized launch only. Picnic area, beach, Visitors’ Center, food, restrooms. Sealed boats only.
TAHOE VISTA REC. AREA
(530) 546-4212 | Hwy. 28, Bottom of National Ave.
7 a.m.-7 p.m. until Sept. 2. Picnic area, beach, restrooms.
AREA LAKES
BOCA/STAMPEDE RSVR.
(530) 587-3558 I-80, Hirschdale exit 45 mph speed limit. No launching fee. Parking fee. Subject to closure during low water levels. Mandatory inspections.
DONNER LAKE
(530) 550-2318 I-80, Donner Lake exit 2 boat lanes, fish cleaning station, restrooms. Call for hours.
(530) 587-3558 | Hwy. 89, 2 miles north of Truckee 10 mph speed limit strictly enforced. No fees for parking or launching. Mandatory inspections.
WEBBER LAKE
(530) 582-4711 | Henness Pass Rd., 26 mi. north of Truckee 5 mph speed limit. Boat ramp & trailer parking. Self inspection required. Sierra County Inspection form at sierracounty.ca.gov.
PUBLIC PIERS
Limited to loading & unloading. Fenced piers are private
DONNER LAKE
DONNER LAKE
37 public piers on north shore from the boat ramp east.
LAKE TAHOE
GAR WOODS
Carnelian Bay
Access to restaurant, small beaches. Restrooms.
GROVE STREET
Center of Tahoe City
Open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Located east of Commons Beach. Restrooms at Commons Beach.
KASPIAN PICNIC AREA
West Shore 4 mi. south of Tahoe City. Picnic area, beach. Restrooms.
KINGS BEACH
Bottom of Racoon St.
Pier adjacent to town, public beach, picnic sites. Restrooms.
SKYLANDIA PARK
Lake Forest Small beach, picnic facilities. Restrooms.
The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 164.8-mile loop trail that encircles Lake Tahoe. The trail is open to hikers and equestrians, and mountain bikers in some sections. It is generally moderate in di culty, with a 10 percent average grade and elevations ranging from 6,300 to 10,333’. tahoerimtrail.org
ALPINE MEADOWS
FIVE LAKES
Strenuous | 5 miles RT
Five Lakes is a great hike inside Granite Chief Wilderness, with the first 1 mile+ a steady ascent with great views of Alpine Meadows. Trailhead 1.8 miles up Alpine Meadows Road from Hwy. 89 across from Deer Park Drive. Dogs prohibited May 15-July 15 for deer fawning.
EAST SHORE
MARLETTE LAKE
Moderate | 9 miles RT
Walk along the dirt path through the picnic area and follow signs to Marlette Lake. Mostly sun exposed. Great wildflowers in early summer. Start at Spooner Lake State Park. Parking fee. parks.nv.gov.
SPOONER LAKE
Easy | 1.8 miles RT
Spooner Lake is a great, easy hike for any season with interpretive displays. At Spooner Lake State Park. Parking fee. parks.nv.gov
PICNIC ROCK
Moderate | 3.6 miles RT
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SOUTH SHORE
LOWER & UPPER ECHO LAKES
Easy | 2.4-4.8 miles RT
Lower and Upper Echo Lakes is a little-known paradise perched atop Echo Summit, 5 miles west of Meyers on Hwy. 50. The trailhead begins next to the dam.
TRUCKEE
WEST
Just o the Tahoe Rim Trail, the expansive view from the top provides a panorama of both Lake Tahoe and the Martis Valley. A single track winds up, o ering a gradual climb with no technical challenges, until reaching Picnic Rock, an old volcanic rock. O Hwy. 267.
NORTH SHORE
STATELINE LOOKOUT
Easy-moderate | .5 miles RT
This short, but steep, paved hike o ers superb views of Lake Tahoe. A short, self-guided nature trail explains the history of the North Shore. Hwy. 28 in Crystal Bay.
OLYMPIC VALLEY
SHIRLEY CANYON & SHIRLEY LAKE
Moderate-Strenuous | .5-5 miles RT
This hike follows a creek as it passes by waterfalls and spectacular granite boulders along Washeshu Creek. Park at the end of Shirley Canyon Road. The first section that follows the creek is great for kids. As you climb, the trail may sometimes be hard to distinguish, so keep the creek on your right going up and on your left going down. Can continue a strenuous climb to High Camp and take the Aerial Tram to the valley (schedule at palisadestahoe.com). Check Tram schedule in advance. Opens June 14.
WASHESHU & EMIGRANT PEAKS
Moderate | 3.4-4.4 miles RT
Ride the Aerial Tram to High Camp, elev. 8,200’, and choose from a variety of trails (maps from Guest Services or palisadestahoe.com). Climb to the weathered buttresses atop Washeshu Peak, visit the historic Watson Monument at Emigrant Peak or meander through the meadows covered with wildflowers, and enjoy the panoramic views a orded from the spacious upper mountain. Tram ticket required (schedule at palisadestahoe.com). Hikes in the meadows good for small children. Check Tram schedule in advance. Opens June 14.
EAGLE ROCK
Parking fee. parks.ca.gov
Moderate | 1 mile RT Quick hike to the top of a volcanic outcropping o ers panoramic views of the area o Hwy. 89 south of Tahoe City.
EMERALD BAY & VIKINGSHOLM CASTLE
Moderate | 2.5 miles+ RT | No dogs Steep descent to Vikingsholm Castle (tours until Sept. 30). Can continue to Eagle & Emerald Points around the bay for easy hikes. Connects to Rubicon Trail (see below). Park on either side of rocky overlook in Emerald Bay on Hwy. 89. ADA access. Parking fee. (530) 525-9529 | parks.ca.gov
GRANITE LAKE
Moderate | 2.2 miles RT
A small alpine lake situated on the cusp of Desolation Wilderness, the hike is a popular entrance for hikers and equestrians to the back country and a spectacular trek towering over the pristine waters of Emerald Bay. Steady ascent of 850’ in less than 1 mile. Trailhead at Bayview Campground o Hwy. 89.
PAGE MEADOWS
Easy-Moderate | 4-6 miles RT
The hike to Page Meadows is a local favorite because of its easy access and beautiful scenery through forests to an expanse of several meadows. You can start the hike to Page Meadows from 64 Acres o Hwy. 89 along the Tahoe Rim Trail for a longer hike or from Ward Creek Boulevard o Hwy. 89.
RUBICON TRAIL & LIGHTHOUSE
Easy-Moderate | .5-9 miles | No dogs
Hike starts at Calawee Cove at D.L. Bliss State Park (Bliss access closed 2024) or Emerald Bay. Trail follows cli s and coves along Lake Tahoe, nesting ospreys and eagles, short side trail to Rubicon Lighthouse, which is easy to access with small children. Parking fee. parks.ca.gov.
Riders in the Sky Sky Tavern, Reno, 9-11 a.m., skytavern.org
Mother Goose on the Loose
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10:30 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org
Family Story Time
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30-11 a.m., (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us
Trail Stewardship Days + Guided Tours
Various Locations, Truckee, 4-7 p.m., tahoedonner.com
Social Gathering
American Legion, S. Lake Tahoe, 5 p.m., (530) 541-8788
Truckee Thursdays
Downtown Truckee, 5 p.m., historictruckee.com
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Broken Arrow Skyrace
Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 7 a.m., (800) 4030206, palisadestahoe.com
Mamá Gansa Anda Suelta
South Lake Tahoe Library, South Lake Tahoe, 10:30 a.m., (530) 573-3185, eldoradolibrary.org
Ski Run Farmers Market
Ski Run Farmers Market, South Lake Tahoe, 3-8 p.m., skirunfarmersmarket.com
Mono Lake Chautauqua
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Incline Village, 3:30-4:30 p.m., (775) 298-0060, tinsweb.org
Second Serving
Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church, South Lake Tahoe, 4 p.m., breadandbroth.org
Cool Car Cruizen Fridays
Heavenly Gondola & Highway 50, South Lake Tahoe, 5-8 p.m., (530) 541-7300
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Broken Arrow Skyrace
Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 7 a.m., (800) 4030206, palisadestahoe.com
Tahoe Big Blue Adventure Race
Tahoe Cross-Country, Tahoe City, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., (530) 546-1019, bigblueadventure.com
Riders in the Sky
Sky Tavern, Reno, 9-11:30 a.m., skytavern.org
27th Annual Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day
Tallac Historic Site, South Lake Tahoe, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., (530) 541-5388, keeptahoeblue.org
Fs 73 Bypass Dig Days
Varied Locations, South Lake Tahoe, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,
Tamba 11th Annual Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival
TAMBA, South Lake Tahoe, 7 a.m., tamba.org
Burton Creek Trail Run
Tahoe XC, Tahoe City, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., (530) 5835475, tahoexc.org
Mono Lake Chautauqua
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science, Incline Village, 3:30-4:30 p.m., (775) 298-0060, tinsweb.org
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Getting Ready for School - New TK & K Students
El Dorado County Community Hub 5, South Lake Tahoe, 5:30 p.m., eldoradocommunityhubs.com
Crawl Space (2 Groups)
SLT Library, South Lake Tahoe, 9:30 p.m., (530) 5733185, eldoradocommunityhubs.com/hub-5
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Farmers Market
American Legion Hall parking lot, South Lake Tahoe, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., eldoradofarmersmarket.com
El Dorado County Certified Farmer’s Market
American Legion Hall Parking Lot, South Lake Tahoe, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Truckee Certified Farmers Market
Truckee Certified Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Kaspian Rim Volunteer Dig Day
Kliner Park, Tahoe City, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., tamba.org
Play & Learn Group (Ages 2-5 Year Olds)
El Dorado County Community Hub 5, South Lake Tahoe, 9:30 a.m., eldoradocommunityhubs.com
upport Tahoe Guide’s work as a locally owned, independent media outlet covering the Tahoe Sierra since 1982.
We tell the stories of the people and places of the Tahoe Sierra from visitor impacts, trash and traffic, microplastics, public access to the backcountry, recreating in Tahoe, food & wine, arts & culture, and much more in every edition of Tahoe Guide. Only local, independent media outlets can identify and respond to local, community needs quickly. Consider becoming a Patron Circle member or support us by purchasing advertising in Tahoe Guide.
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prohibited in most areas.
• It is illegal to ride all bikes on sidewalks.
• Cyclists must follow same tra c laws as vehicles while in bike lanes (yielding, using turn signals, stopping at lights & stop signs, etc.).
EAST SHORE
EAST SHORE TRAIL
Easy-moderate | 6 miles (10km) RT | tahoefund.org
Runs along Lake Tahoe and connects to Hwy. 28 from south end of Incline Village, Nev., to Sand Harbor State Park. Parking near Ponderosa Ranch Road. Paid parking.
INCLINE VILLAGE
LAKESHORE BOULEVARD
Easy | 5 miles (8 km) RT | washoecounty.us
Runs along Lake Tahoe and connects to Hwy. 28 at each end of Incline Village. Park at Preston Field on Hwy. 28.
VILLAGE BOULEVARD
Easy | 7.4 miles (12 km) RT | washoecounty.us
Bike path runs along Hwy. 28 through Incline Village. Access to shopping and parks. Park at Preston Field on Hwy. 28.
OLYMPIC VALLEY
OLYMPIC VALLEY
Easy | 4 miles (6 km) RT | tcpud.org
A 2-mile trail runs beside Olympic Valley Road to the ski area, with views of the meadow and surrounding peaks. Public parking at Olympic Valley Park or Village at Palisades Tahoe.
TRUCKEE
TRUCKEE LEGACY TRAIL
Easy | 6 miles (10 km) RT | tdrpd.org
Stretches from downtown Truckee to Truckee River Regional Park, River View Sports Park and Glenshire. Park at either park or East River Street.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
CAMP RICHARDSON BIKE PATH
Easy | 6 miles (10 km) RT
The trail parallels State Route 89 (Emerald Bay Road) for more than 3 miles, o ering access to a number of local historic and recreational amenities. Park at Taylor Creek, Baldwin or Pope beaches.
SOUTH SHORE BIKE PATH
Easy | 7 miles (11 km) RT | cityofslt.us
Follow the bike trail along South Shore, with sections along Lakeview Commons, Reagan Beach and playgrounds. Public parking at Parks and Recreation lot on Rufus Allen Blvd., Regan & El Dorado beaches & Bijou Community Park.
TAHOE CITY
TAHOE CITY TO CARNELIAN BAY
Easy-moderate | 8+ miles (13+ km) RT | tcpud.org
First 2.5 miles
WEST
BARKER
Moderate-strenuous
HOPE VALLEY TO BLUE LAKES
Moderate | 28 miles (45 km) RT
You can explore Highway 88 in either direction of Hope Valley, but 12-mile ride from the valley to Blue Lakes is a biker’s dream: smooth roads, doable climbs and spectacular alpine scenery with a lake at the end. Park at the intersection of Highways 88 and 89 and turn right. In 2 miles, turn onto Blue Lakes Road. The ride starts out mostly level until you pass the Hope Valley campground where it begins to steadily ascend before reaching the pass with a panoramic view of the area. Then descend for several miles to end at Blue lakes before the return trip.
INCLINE TO MOUNT ROSE SUMMIT
Strenuous | 16 miles (26 km) RT
Ride about Lake Tahoe for panoramic views of the basin climbing to 8,900’ on the Mount Rose Highway out of Incline Village, Nev., to the Mount Rose Pass. While 8 miles of climbing is tough, it’s a fairly gentle grade. Just put it in your lowest gear and keep pedaling, followed by 8 miles of downhill at fast speeds with sandy bike lands. Keeping your speed under control is vital. Parking at Preston Field in Incline Village or start at the top and park at Tahoe Meadows or at the summit.
OLD 40 TO CISCO GROVE
Moderate-strenuous | 39 miles (63 km) RT
This route is one of the easiest to follow, and one of the best. It has it all the views, a good climb, a technical descent, a restaurant en route, Donner Lake and miles of lightly traveled roads. From downtown Truckee head west on Donner Pass Road until it ends in Cisco Grove.
After passing Donner Lake, you begin the long and challenging, but scenic, grind up the summit. This climb has a vertical rise of less than 1,000’. From the top of the summit, it is a rolling downhill along the Yuba River all the way to Cisco Grove. The descent down to Donner Lake is a tech-nical one. Watch your speed, and make sure your brakes work. Parking at West End Beach and boat ramp.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25 CONT’D
Family Story Time
Incline Village Library, Incline Village, 10:30-11 a.m., (775) 832-4130, washoecountylibrary.us
North Tahoe Senior Lunches
North Tahoe Event Center, Kings Beach, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., (530) 550-7600, sierraseniors.org
IVCBA, Incline Village, noon, (775) 833-5252, ivcba.org
Project Mana Food Distribution Kings Beach
Sierra Community House, Kings Beach, 3 p.m., (775) 298-4161, projectmana.org
Meyers Mountain Market Farmers Market
Tahoe Paradise Park , South Lake Tahoe, 3-7:30 p.m., (805) 857-4103, meyersmtnmarket.org
Red, White & Tahoe Blue - A Salute to America
St Francis of Assisi Church, Incline Village, 7-8:30 p.m., (775) 298-6989, toccatatahoe.org
Contact Anne@YourTahoeGuide.com
ARTS PATRONS NEEDED
Tahoe Guide is seeking an Art Patron to fund our coverage of the arts and local makers. We are looking for a business or private donor to fund our Arts & Culture reporter. Over the years, Tahoe Guide has profiled hundreds of artists, writers, art events, art galleries, bookshops and other creators. If you’re interested in funding our Arts & Culture reporter, contact publisher@yourtahoeguide.com.
the arts
Featured Exhibit: “And Then There Were Trains...” Gatekeeper’s Museum, Tahoe City, June 19-July 3, 11 a.m., (530) 583-1762, northtahoemuseums.org
creative awareness | arts & culture | makers’ movement
Obi Kaufman featured at Tahoe Literary Festival
BY PRIYA HUTNER
Award-winning
author, artist and naturalist Obi Kaufman will headline the inaugural Tahoe Literary Festival, taking place Oct. 11 and 12 in Tahoe City.
The best-selling author writes about California’s ecology, biodiversity and geography.
Kaufman will be the keynote speaker on Oct. 12 and the event will be part of the tour for his newest book, “The State of Fire, Why California Burns,” to be released in September.
Kaufmann depicts the natural world layer after layer in each of his books. Kaufman blends science and art to illuminate the multifaceted array of living, connected systems. An avid backpacker, podcaster and artist, his passion and love of California is illuminated through his writing and art. His books are filled with beautiful watercolor drawings, maps and information that take the reader on a visual and written journey of California. Described as a modern-day John Muir, Kaufman explores California one word at a time, one step at a time, one map at a time in an unfolding journey that illuminates the magnificent wilderness many of us long to belong in.
The Tahoe Literary Festival celebrates the region’s rich and diverse literary community. The Festival features an open mic night, workshops, panels, readings and a songwriting showcase. Whether you’re an established writer, aspiring writer, avid reader, poet or passionate about the literary arts, The Tahoe Literary Festival is set to inspire, educate and illuminate Tahoe’s rich culture and creativity. The theme of this year’s Festival is the Spirit of Place.
The Festival, created by Tahoe Guide Publisher Katherine E. Hill and Food Editor and writer Priya Hutner, was born out of their mutual love of the arts. Tahoe is a beautiful environment that inspires creativity. It is home to many diverse writers who write in several genres, from New York Times Best-Selling authors to fiction and nonfiction writers, poets, environmental writers, those who write about Tahoe’s magnificent outdoors and journalists.
Mend, repair clothing
Keep Truckee Green’s free monthly mending and repair workshops are at Truckee Roundhouse to rethink, restore and repair garments. Upcoming classes are t-shirt modification on June 28; zipper repair on July 12; upholstery repair on Aug. 9; visible mending on Sept. 20; denim repair on Oct. 11; and sweater and sock repair on Nov. 15. Space is limited. | Register truckeeroundhouse.org
YourTahoeGuide.com
Proposals for programming are now being accepted until July 29. Events can be a panel discussion, workshop, solo book talk, reading, masterclass or something completely new and original.
Proposals may be sent to priya@tahoelitfest.com and must include your name, contact information and bio of 150 words or less. A succinct (one page or less) outline of the proposal, including theme, content, brief participant bios and how the event will contribute to the festival and the theme. | tahoelitfest.com
The Lake Tahoe Railway and Transportation Company’s narrow-gauge rail line once ran along the Truckee River connecting Truckee to Tahoe City first to transport lumber then visitors coming to Lake Tahoe for vacation. The rail line was abandoned in the 1940s and revived as the Truckee River Trail decades later. Today, the multiuse trail is a popular destination for locals and visitors to ride bikes, stroll, fish and access the Truckee River’s waters. It’s also one of the rail trails highlighted in the new book “Best Rail Trails Northern California” by Tracy Salcedo. Rail trails – or rail lines that have been transformed into trails – are an ideal way to explore, relax and enjoy the scenery.
The book features 37 accessible trails are walkers, runners and bikers, including mile-by-mile descriptions of rural and urban rail trail and trail maps. | rowman.com
Adobe Stock
Falcon Guides
Obi Kaufman
MARK’S COLUMN IS SPONSORED BY
Lake Tahoe facts, myths & legends, Part I
Preserved corpses in Tahoe?
BY MARK MCLAUGHLIN
The Tahoe Sierra is an awe-inspiring physical world of geographic superlatives. But like the region’s fascinating human history, sometimes reality is not enough; existing authenticity fails to stop the embellishment and enhancement of facts.
“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story” is an adage attributed to American humorist Mark Twain (Sam Clemens), who cut his teeth on foolish Comstock journalism at the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise newspaper in the 1860s. As my friend and colleague Guy Rocha, a former Nevada archivist, observes, “People are adrift in a sea of misinformation.”
There is a persistent rumor that human corpses can last for decades suspended in Big Blue’s perpetually chilly water. It’s a fabricated tale that is decades old, but never seems to die. The recovery of a drowned scuba diver from the depths of the lake in 2011 again stirred up the falsehood. The fact that the recreational diver drowned nearly 20 years before and his body was recovered intact, reinvigorated this Tahoe legend.
The Tahoe Sierra is the ancestral homeland of Indigenous Native Americans who call themselves The Washo, which means the people. Big Blue is the tribe’s spiritual center and integral to its origin story. An old Washo legend claimed that Lake Tahoe’s water was so clear and cold that it would not support someone trying to swim or float on the
surface. Perhaps the cautionary lore served as a warning to each generation about the dangers inherent in its liquid beauty. In a lake as cold as Tahoe, sudden immersion in its frigid water from, say, falling out of a canoe, could cause instantaneous death when the nervous system stops the heart. (Learn more about cold water shock in this edition.)
The chilling nature of the lake’s deep, icy-cold water refrigerates the human body and inhibits the production of gases that would normally form to bloat and float a corpse back to the surface.
There is solid science for why the body of a Lake Tahoe drowning victim can last a long time and is sometimes not recovered promptly, if ever. The chilling nature of the lake’s deep, icycold water refrigerates the human body and inhibits the production of gases that would normally form to bloat and float a corpse back to the surface. Eerily, a slow process known as adipocere trans-
forms submerged skin into a soap-like material that preserves flesh. Strong currents can carry objects away from the point of immersion, which complicates a search.
A missing diver
On July 10, 1994, Donald “Chris” Windecker was reported missing while scuba diving off Rubicon Point with a friend. The underwater Rubicon Wall near D. L. Bliss State Park is a popular spot among technical divers and is also near California’s first underwater shipwreck park, 2 miles south at Emerald Bay. According to a police report released at the time: “Windecker experienced an unknown complication while diving” and he sank to the depths before his partner could get him to the surface.
Seventeen years later, Windecker’ body was spotted on July 23, 2011, at a depth of 265 feet by a deep-water diver. The corpse was lodged in a rock crevice. Authorities located the body using a self-powered remote operated vehicle (ROV) that searched the pitchblack water using a small light and camera. It took the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department most of a day to find Windecker’s body and get it back to the surface using a mechanical claw mounted on the ROV.
Sheriff Lt. Bryan Golmitz said that the water temperature at 265 feet is less than 40 degrees and helped to preserve the corpse. But finding Windecker intact and preserved after 17 years doesn’t confirm that human bodies can remain suspended in time in Lake Tahoe. Scientists estimate that there are more than 220 million crayfish crawling around the lake’s basin in a constant search for food. Crayfish were introduced to the lake in the late 1800s and the voracious non-native species would make short work of any unusual snacks that came their way.
If Windecker’s body was wedged into the Rubicon Wall or similar feature, it’s possible that it was harder for scavengers to access. It’s likely that the insulated wetsuit that Windecker wore (including booties, gloves and hood) offered significant protection from crayfish and other flesh-eating critters like fish.
Myths of bodies in Tahoe
Today, a quick Internet search will turn up stories about bodies fully clothed in period attire submerged in Lake Tahoe. As macabre or intriguing as it may
Official Sponsor of Good Times in North Lake Tahoe & Truckee! TahoeDaves.com
sound, there appears to be no truth or logic to the idea that there are various bodies dressed in period attire floating in the depths. Some people believe that Chinese workers building the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s were thrown into Donner Lake instead of being paid and that Mafia murder victims were dumped into Tahoe water to sink and never be found. There is a scene in the movie “Godfather Part II,” filmed on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore, where one guy gets whacked and dumped into the lake to “swim with the fishes.”
Cousteau never visited Tahoe
This urban myth is based on Jacques Cousteau, a famous underwater explorer who is alleged to have plumbed Tahoe’s depths in a submersible watercraft during the 1960s or 70s. When he returned to the surface ashen faced, Cousteau allegedly said, “The world isn’t ready for the horrors I have seen,” referring to floating bodies dressed in period clothes. But there is no evidence that Jacques Cousteau ever visited Lake Tahoe.
In the 1960s, Dr. Charles Goldman, a renowned UC Davis limnologist (a scientist who studies inland bodies of water), initiated the first modern, methodical studies of the Lake Tahoe ecosystem. Dr. Goldman also formed what is now U.C. Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. Goldman knew Jacques Cousteau. He told me that because Cousteau raised his own funds for international research, he would have taken the shocking Tahoe footage and made it into a National Geographic TV special to bring awareness and financial support for his work.
No, the legend of submerged and drifting corpses in Lake Tahoe belongs with the other tall tales about sea serpent monsters, such as Tahoe Tessie, or the plug at the bottom of the lake.
Stay tuned for Part II in the next edition and at YourTahoeGuide.com/ history. n
Tahoe historian Mark McLaughlin is a nationally published author and professional speaker. His award-winning books are available at local stores or at thestormking. com. | mark@thestormking.com
Note: Tahoe Guide use the spelling “Washo,” the preferred spelling for the tribe.
As a joke, Dr. Charles Goldman feigns concern about an “ocean shark” caught at Lake Tahoe, circa 2016. | Mark McLaughlin
Music, Events&Festivals
Rock, Jam & Chill
Music festivals kick off summer in Tahoe
June 21-23 | Woollystar Music Festival
June 22 | Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers July 4-7 | High Sierra Music Festival
“As a person who loves the arts, I prefer the feel of a smaller festival where I can go to a beautiful setting and not feel as if I’m being pushed around like a sheep. … The thing about an intimate festival this size is that it creates a real feel of community and family, so you seek out people who will make a positive connection with the audience.”
— Avery Hellman
It’s officially summer music festival season in the Tahoe Sierra. And to be honest, there might not be anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere where you can live in the high country and still have access to such a broad spectrum of live music outside your doorstep. From remote micro-festivals to intergenerational jam rock gatherings to pop-punk pop-ups, the next few weeks really have something for everyone.
Woollystar Music Festival
From June 21 to 23, Woollystar Music Festival celebrates a third year of music, arts and community in Alpine County. This laid-back gathering at a scenic 250-acre ranch on the West Fork of the Carson River outside of Markleeville was founded in 2022 by Avery Hellman, lead singer of alt-roots group ISMAY and the granddaughter of Hardly Strictly Bluegrass founder F. Warren Hellman. She grew up backstage in the presence of folk icons such as Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris.
“As a person who loves the arts, I prefer the feel of a smaller festival where I can go to a beautiful setting and not feel as if I’m being pushed around like a sheep,” says Hellman. “It’s a place for people to enjoy quality music without the hustle and bustle and insane commercialism. Also, there are so many great bands people might not know that deserve the chance to perform for an audience who appreciates them. The thing about an intimate festival this size is that it creates a real feel of community and family, so you seek out people who will make a positive connection with the audience.”
A curated lineup stars Nashville country rocker Lilly Hiatt, Bay Area indie-folk luminary Vetiver, Virginia songsmith Skyway Man, cosmic mountain rockers Wolf Jett plus the melodious musings of Kacey Johansing, Nightbirds, Kacie Hill and the Stella Heath Quartet.
BY SEAN MCALINDIN
ABOVE: Stella Heath | Bradley Jacob Cox. OPPOSITE TOP: Larkin Poe | Eric Ryan Anderson. OPPOSITE BELOW: The Starting Line | Lupe Bustos
“I’m really looking forward to playing a music festival in one of my favorite places anywhere,” says Heath, who camped in the Eastern Sierra as a child. “As a jazz singer, I often find myself excluded from outdoor festivals because my creative outlet is in finding, reinterpreting and improvising on the Great American Songbook and international standards. From Edith Piaf to Billie Holiday, people can expect a lively melding of grooves and rhythms.”
Amidst campground jamming and community art projects, Robby Hecht leads a songwriting workshop and Hellman premieres a documentary she starred in entitled “Finding Lucinda,” which traces the footsteps of folk-rock icon Lucinda Williams.
“The film is really about what it takes to become an artist and how you reconcile your own place and where you belong by looking at an inspiring person who’s done it so well,” says Hellman, who moved to the area in 2018. “I think Markleeville is a wonderful place with wonderful people, so we love to share this with the public at large and feature some of the artists in the community alongside touring acts.” | woollystar.com
Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers Festival
On June 22, some of the greatest pop-punk bands in history will gather for a oneday concert experience in South Lake. Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harvey’s in Stateline, Nev., hosts a veritable who’s who of 00s indie groups as the third annual Lake Tahoe Is For Lovers Festival delivers The All-American Rejects, Movements, The Starting Line, Finch, Armor for Sleep, I See Stars and Free Throw. This traveling emo fest is curated by Hawthorne Heights, the only band to play each of the seven locations on the 2024 festival tour.
“Is For Lovers Festival is designed to put fans in a time machine and transport them back to the most vibrant years of their lives,” stated Hawthorne Heights singer JT Woodruff. “We try to make it an easy day spent in beautiful locations with bands that helped shape who they are.” | isforloversfestival.com
High Sierra Music Festival
The world-famous High Sierra Music Festival returns to Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy from July 4 to 7. An overflowing bill gathers a motley crew of leading rock, folk, reggae, EDM, funk and bluegrass bands from across the land with headliners Primus and Ziggly Marley.
Headliners include Greensky Bluegrass with pianist extraordinaire Holly Bowling, Southern rockers The Allman Betts Band, indie folkies Larkin Poe and funk powerhouse The California Honeydrops alongside surefire dance-party generators The Floozies, ALO and The Polish Ambassador. Even the undercard is jam-packed with breakout stars such as Madeline Hawthorne, Glitterfox, AJ Lee & Blue Summit, Dogs in a Pile and so, so much more. | highsierramusic.com n
June 20 th Blü Egyptian
PRESENTED BY | The Rock Garden
June 27 th New Wave Crave
PRESENTED BY | Alpenglow Expeditions
July 11th — Michelle Lambert
PRESENTED BY | Tahoe Forest Health System
ARTS & CULTURE
Benefit Poetry Reading
June 21 | Olympic House | Olympic Valley
The Community of Writers presents poetry from six poets who will read from their published and unpublished work. This event is in person and online. | communityofwriters.org
Makers Market
June 22-Sept. 14 (select dates) | Tahoe Backyard, Kings Beach
Enjoy locally made arts & crafts, food, live music, craft beer, yard games and more from 3 to 7 p.m. | tahoebackyard.com
Visiting Artists Workshops
June 24-July 26 (select dates) | UNR at Lake Tahoe | Incline Village, Nev.
The Fine Arts department at University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe hosts the annual Summer Art Workshops with a variety of summer workshops given by nationally known painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists and more. | unr edu/lake-tahoe
Lake Tahoe History Talks
June 25-Aug. 6 (Tues.) | Lakeview Commons | South Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Historical Society hosts a summer speaker series every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Donations welcome. | laketahoemuseum.org
UC Davis TERC Lecture Series
June 27, July 31, Aug. 8, Oct. 10 | Granlibakken Tahoe | Tahoe City
UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center offers lectures from prominent UC Davis professors and researchers on a variety of subjects from ecology to the science of memory. | tahoe.ucdavis.edu
Historical Talks
June 29, Aug. 8 & 24 | Gatekeeper’s Museum | Tahoe City
Authors and historians will talk about Tahoe’s rich history and culture from the Donner Party to transportation, railways and famous characters such as George Whittell. | RSVP northtahoemuseums.org
Truckee Arts & Crafts Fair
June 29-30 | Truckee River Regional Park | Truckee
More than 100 artisans and crafters will be displaying their wares at Truckee River Regional Park from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Relax to the sound of live music or grab a bite to eat from specialty food vendors. | greatamericancraftfairs.com
Book Sale
July 5-7 | North Lake Tahoe Event Center | Kings Beach
Kings Beach Friends of the Library hosts their annual book sale. Bring your own bag. | ntpud.org
TRAILS & VISTAS
First Fridays Summer Markets
July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4 | Boatworks Mall | Tahoe City
Come see what local artists have to offer at these North Tahoe handmade arts and crafts shows on the first Friday of the month from 3 to 8 p.m. | @mountainglowarts
Community of Writers
July TBA | Olympic Valley
Community of Writers presents a series of public talks and panel discussions from acclaimed writers. | communityofwriters.org
Craft Markets
July 14, Aug. 11 | South of North Brewing Co. | South Lake Tahoe
Check out local vendors and artisans from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at South of North Brewing Co in South Lake Tahoe. | South of North Brewing on Facebook
Sierra Speaker Series
July 20, Aug. 17, Sept. 21 | Donner Memorial State Park | Truckee
Free educational programs are given on various historical, ecological or community subjects. On July 20 John C. Fremont’s accomplishments are reenacted, on Aug. 17 living alongside black bears is presented and on Sept. 21 water management practices at Donner Lake are discussed. Doors open at 5 p.m.; donations are welcome. | sierrastateparks.org
Graeagle Arts & Crafts Fair
July 20-21 | Town Park | Graeagle
Expect numerous booths featuring quality, handmade crafts and fine art by the exhibitors. Live bluegrass music is also featured along with an assortment of foods and beverages at nearby specialty booths. | graeagle.com
Tahoe Art League Artist Studio Tour
July 26-28, Aug. 2-4 | Area venues | South Lake Tahoe
The 17th annual tour invites the public into artists’ private studios to view and purchase unique local art for two weekends. Paintings, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography and art jewelry are among some of the featured works of the league’s fine artists. | talart.org
Washo Cultural Tours
July 26-Oct. 11 (select days) | Palisades Tahoe High Camp
Join members of the Washo Tribe at High Camp where they will share stories of Washo history and culture from the valley and surrounding mountains. The tour is free with the purchase of a tram ticket. | palisadestahoe.com
Art Hikes
July 27-28 | Royal Gorge XC Ski Resort | Soda Springs
On Trails & Vistas Art Hikes, participants in small groups are led by guides to various art installations where artists, musicians, dancers or poets perform. Hikes leave every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to noon each day. | trailsandvistas.org
Waší.šiw PitdéP: Indigenous Culture & Arts Festival
July 27-28 | Meeks Bay Resort | Tahoma
The Washo Tribe of Nevada and California present this festival of Native American arts & crafts, a basket competition, indigenous demonstrations, cultural activities, food vendors and raffle prizes. | washoetribe.us
Kings Beach Art Tour
Aug. 10-11 | Kings Beach venues
The Kings Beach Art Tour features local artists who will open their studios to display and sell their art through a self-guided studio art tour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista. | northtahoebusiness.org
Chalk Art in the Park
Sept. 7 | North Tahoe Regional Park | Tahoe Vista
Chalk artists will create chalk masterpieces on the playground blacktop from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. when the judging by local celebrities begins. | ntpud.org
Reno Tahoe International Art Show
Sept. 12-15 | Reno-Sparks Convention Center | Reno, Nev.
This event will showcase 200+ curated regional artists and bespoke furniture designers, presenting more than 1,000 pieces of original fine artworks. Showcased in the adjacent ballrooms will be 40+ national and international galleries presenting the works of renowned artists from around the world. Tahoe Guide is a sponsor. | rtiashow.com
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LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS
Free outdoor summer concerts
Ongoing | Area venues
Enjoy the summer with one of Tahoe’s free summer concert series: Tuesdays features Bluesdays in the Village at Palisade Tahoe; Wednesdays there’s Music in the Park at Truckee River Regional Park; Thursdays offer Truckee Thursdays, Live at Lakeview in South Lake Tahoe and Tunes on Tap at Alibi Ale Works in Incline Village; Fridays go to Music on the Beach in Kings Beach or SunSet Live Series at the Village at Palisades Tahoe; Saturday and Sundays there are Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series; and on Sundays Tahoe City offers Concerts at Commons Beach. Markleeville, Valhalla, Marie Sluchak Park and Tahoe Paradise Park host free summer series on select dates this summer. Read the full Free Summer Concerts lineup at YourTahoeGuide.com/live.
Rhythms of India
June 21 | Lakeview Commons | South Lake Tahoe
India Arts & Cultural Center of Northern Nevada presents this free outdoor event starting at 6 p.m. Dance to the rhythms of India on El Dorado Beach against the crystal-clear backdrop of Lake Tahoe. | IACCNN on Facebook
Wollystar Music Festival
June 21-23 | Wollystar Ranch | Alpine County
Woollystar Music Festival celebrates a third year of music, arts and community at a scenic 250-acre ranch on the West Fork of the Carson River outside of Markleeville. | woollystar.com
Lake Tahoe Is for Lovers Festival
June 22 | Harveys Outdoor Arena | Stateline, Nev.
Hawthorne Heights presents this music festival featuring The All-American Rejects, Movements, The Starting Line and more. | apeconcerts.com
Music in the Meadow
June 22-Oct. 5 | The Brewing Lair | Blairsden
The Brewing Lair hosts Saturday night bands this summer, starting at 6 p.m. Come early to enjoy games, craft beers and food from Ricochet Food Truck. | thebrewinglair.com
Tahoe Improv Comedy Players
June 25, July 23, Aug. 6 | Valhalla Boathouse | South Lake Tahoe
Tahoe Improv Comedy Players celebrate their 31st year of turning audience suggestions into hilarious scenes all made up on the spot. They are Lake Tahoe’s longest running comedy show with entertainment for the whole family. | valhallatahoe.com
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
June 28-Aug. 25 | Sand Harbor State Park | Incline Village, Nev.
This season the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival presents “The Merry Wives of Windsor” and “Always…Patsy Kline” along with the Monday Night Showcase Series featuring live music and dance performances each week. | laketahoeshakespeare.com
LAKE TAHOE DANCE FESTIVAL
Summerfest
June 30 | White Sulphur Springs Ranch | Clio
The 14th annual Summerfest features music from 3 to 7:30 p.m. with Matt Axton & Badmoon. Enjoy Big Western BBQ, two auctions and house tours. | whitesulphurspringsranch.com
Red, White & Tahoe Blue
June 30, July 3 & 7 | area venues
Revel in full orchestra and chorus performances of patriotic favorites by TOCCATA Tahoe Symphony Orchestra. Join in a sing-along, and, if you’re the highest bidder, have the honor of conducting the orchestra in “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” | tahoesymphony.com
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival Showcase Series
July 1-Aug. 26 | Sand Harbor State Park | Incline Village, Nev.
Mondays feature music from classical to jazz and pop. The lineup includes Reno Philharmonic Orchestra, Boney James and Reno Jazz Orchestra featuring Camile Thurman. | laketahoeshakespeare.com
Summerfest
July 2 | UNR at Lake Tahoe | Incline Village, Nev.
Summerfest is an annual fundraiser for Incline Tahoe Foundation. The family-friendly event includes lawn games, music by local band Jacked Up and dancing. Tunnel Creek Café will supply the food and Incline Spirits & Cigars the craft brews. There will also be wine selections, drinks and watermelon. | ivcba.org
“Enter the Guardsman”
July 4-14 (select dates) | Valhalla Boathouse | South Lake Tahoe
This musical romance is directed by Ethan Niven with music by Craig Bohmler, lyrics by Marion Adler and book by Scott Wentworth. The story concerns an actor who tests his actress wife’s love by sending her roses as a secret admirer and disguising himself as a guardsman to seduce her. | valhallatahoe.com
High Sierra Music Festival
July 4-7 | Plumas-Eureka County Fairgrounds | Quincy
High Sierra Music Festival, celebrating 31 years, offers a massive lineup featuring Primus and Ziggy Marley. | highsierramusic.com
Summer Concerts on the Green
July 5-6 | Tahoe Donner Driving Range | Tahoe Donner
Step back a couple decades and enjoy two nights of classic rock by four tribute bands. This year brings The Deckheads, Pop Fiction, Decoy and Jumping Jack Flash. | tahoedonner.com
Tahoe Music Alive series
July 6 | Olympic Valley Chapel
Tahoe Music Alive presents the Queen of Flutes, legendary Carol Wincenc, with the Rock Star of Flutes Ráyo Furuda and a rising star of the piano Alexandria Le. The concert will thrill guests with the players’ virtuosity and wide-ranging emotional power. | tahoemusicalive.org
Micro Mania Midget Wrestling
July 6 | Bally’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
MicroMania Tour is a high powered, athletic Pro Wrestling show with a touch of comedy. | lateniteproductions.com
Latitude 39
July 6 | McIver Rodeo Arena | Truckee
This mountain music experience will feature Joe Nichols, Mark Mackay with special guest CJ Solar, the Cripple Creek Band and Everyday Outlaw. | latitude39truckee.org
Classical Tahoe
July 7-Aug. 15 | UNR, Lake Tahoe | Incline Village, Nev.
Classical Tahoe features performances from some of the nation’s best classical musicians. It starts with the Brubeck Jazz Summit, continues with selections from Classical Tahoe Orchestra, a Family Concert & Music Maker Faire and concludes with the Summer Gala at a lakeshore estate. | classicaltahoe.org
By William Shakespeare / Directed by Terri McMahon
Palmtree Music Festival
July 12 | Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena | South Lake Tahoe Palmtree Music Festival brings together Gryffin, Disco Lines, Drama Club set and Vandelux DJ set. | palmtreemusicfestival.com
Lake Tahoe Dance Festival
July 23-26 | Area venues
Lake Tahoe Dance Collective brings the top performers in the world to three locations this year: Gatekeeper’s Museum in Tahoe City, the lakefront in Incline Village, Nev., and Kings Beach. Audience participatory demonstrations and meetthe-artist talks help further the collaboration between artists. Sponsored by Tahoe Guide. | laketahoedancecollective.org
Music in the Castle
July 26 & 27 | Vikingsholm Castle | Emerald Bay Enjoy a twilight reception in the Vikingsholm courtyard with live music, wine bar and hors d’oeuvres. | sierrastateparks.org
Gambler’s Run Music Festival
July 26-28 | Crystal Bay Casino | Crystal Bay, Nev. Crystal Bay Casino presents the second annual Gambler’s Run Music Festival featuring Pigeons Playing Ping Pong with Karl Denson, The Wood Brothers, Jackie Greene with Eric Lindell, a kick-off party with Samantha Fish and late-night after parties. | crystalbaycasino.com
Johnsville Summer Concert
July 27 | Intorf Lodge | Johnsville Plumas Ski Club is hosting a fundraiser festival to raise funds for the club’s longboard races. There will be food, beer and art for sale, as well as DJ McBurger and music by Boot Juice and Big Sticky mess. | plumasskiclub.org
Lake Tahoe Summer Jam
July 27 | Bally’s Lake Tahoe
Late-Nite Productions and One Vision Entertainment present Lake Tahoe Summer Jam 2024 featuring one of the biggest and most influential names in Bay Area hiphop, E-40. LaRussell will also be performing to warm up the show. | lateniteproductions.com
BIG BLUEgrass Benefit Concert
Aug. 2 | Sugar Pine Point State Park | Tahoma Jam with family and friends to professional live bluegrass bands that will get you on your feet, dancing and singing along. Tasty food vendors, beer and wine are available for purchase. | sierrastateparks.org
Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival
Aug. 3-4 | Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
The impressive lineup for the seventh annual event includes Shaggy, Atmosphere, Rebelution, Cypress Hill, Tribal Seeds and Mike Love at this all-ages event. | laketahoereggaefest.com
Tahoe Music Alive series
Aug. 5 | Everline Resort | Olympic Valley
Tahoe Music Alive presents George Cables, Essiet Essiet and Jerome Jennings in concert. | tahoemusicalive.org
Live at the Launch
Aug. 5-26 | Tahoe Vista Recreation Area
Monday nights in August come listen to music from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the boat launch in Tahoe Vista. Rogue Coyote will kick things off on Aug. 5, followed by Truth Cartel on Aug. 12, Jeff Jones on Aug. 19 and Picked Over on Aug. 26. | ntpud.org
Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys
Aug. 9-Sept. 21 | Harveys Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
Harvey hosts some of the biggest headliners in the region at an outdoor venue overlooking Lake Tahoe. Concerts include Jordan Davis, Rod Stewart, Alabama and continue through the summer, ending with Lainey Wilson. | apeconcerts.com
Truckee Music Fest
Aug. 9-10 | Riverview Sports Park | Truckee
How about some family-friendly outdoor fun, music and food? On Aug. 9 enjoy Kip Moore, Charles Kelley and A Thousand Horses and on Aug. 10 enjoy Sublime, G. Love & Special Sauce and Makua Rothman. | truckeemusicfest.com
Tahoe Show
Aug. 10 | Bally’s Lake Tahoe | Stateline, Nev.
Center Podium NPC and IFBB Pro Contest shows feature fitness, physique, bikini and bodybuilding events. | centerpodium.com/tahoe-show
Ladies of Emerald Bay
Aug. 16 | Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | Zephyr Cove, Nev.
All aboard the “Tahoe Serenity” for an elegant night listening to two historical icons, Rosie Smith and Sarah Robertson, recount the Tahoe glory days of their youth. | sierrastateparks.org
Tahoe Music Alive series
Sept. 7 | North Tahoe Hebrew Congregation | Tahoe Vista Tahoe Music Alive presents a performance by Telegraph Quartet. | tahoemusicalive.org
In A Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild
Sept. 19 | Sugar Pine Point State Park | Tahoma
In A Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild is an outdoor concert series where America’s most stunning landscapes replace the traditional concert hall. Guests explore the surrounding environment while listening to the music through wireless headphones, creating an immersive experience. | sierrastateparks.org
FESTIVALS & FRIVOLITIES
Cool Car Cruizen Fridays
Until Oct. 13 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
All cool vehicles are welcome every Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. | goodsamsaferide.com
Truckee Thursdays
June 20-Aug. 15 (Thurs.) | Downtown Truckee
Truckee Thursdays returns with a street party featuring live music, vendors, food, local art, kids’ activities, beer garden and more. Tahoe Guide is a sponsor. | truckeethursdays.com
Truckee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival
June 22 | Truckee Tahoe Airport | Truckee
Truckee Tahoe Air Show & Family Festival is known as one of the region’s most family-friendly events with free parking and free admission. Experience a breathtaking and world-class air show with aerobatic performers. Visit the STEM Expo, the Family Festival, free rides for kids by EAA Young Eagle’s pilot volunteers, displays, vendors and more. | truckeetahoeairshow.com
Truckee River Railroad
June 22-Sept. 28 (select days) | Truckee River Regional Park | Truckee
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Truckee River Railroad will offer rides on its 7.5-foot gauge railroad for kids and adults. The railroad runs around the children’s playground area in the park. | tdrrs.org
LAKE TAHOE CONCOURS DE ELEGANCE
Golden Anniversary Celebration
June 26 | Sugar Pine Point State Park | Tahoma
Join Sierra State Parks Foundation on the grounds of the Hellman-Ehrman Estate to honor 50 years of park philanthropy. Enjoy live music, appetizers, wines, silent and live auction, special guests and more. Wear a touch of gold. | sierrastateparks. org
Movies on the Beach
June 26-Aug. 14 (no movie July 3) | Commons Beach | Tahoe City
Enjoy summer Waterfront Wednesdays at Tahoe City’s Commons Beach. Bring low-back chairs, blankets, sleeping bags and a flashlight. Family-friendly movies play at dusk on Wednesday nights from 6 to 9 p.m. | tcpud.org
Native Species and Lake Tahoe Bird festivals
June 29-30 | Taylor Creek Visitor Center | South Lake Tahoe
Tahoe Institute for Natural Science presents two family-friendly days to learn about bird research on June 29 and native species of the area on June 30. Attend walks with experts, visit educational booths and more. | tinsweb.org
4th of July celebrations
July 2-7 | Area venues
The Tahoe Sierra knows how to put on a party and the 4th of July is no different with festivities starting on July 2, fireworks and drone shows throughout the area and patriotic concerts. Find details in this edition and at YourTahoeGuide.com.
Car, Truck and Motorcycle Shows
July 4-Sept. 15 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
Good Samaritan Safe Ride offers eight different car, truck and motorcycle shows throughout the summer, from Rolling Chrome/Tahoe Thunder to Hot Tahoe Cruisin’ and celebrity invitational. | goodsamsaferide.com
Big Boy 4014 visit
July 10 | Wester Pacific Railroad Museum | Portola
Union Pacific’s Big Boy 4014 tour will make a stop in Portola, providing an opportunity to see the world’s largest operating steam locomotive up close from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be caboose train rides, historic tours, model train exhibits, food trucks and more. | wplives.org
American Century Championship
July 10-14 | Edgewood Tahoe
The 35th annual American Century Championship, celebrity golf’s most prominent tournament of sports and entertainment superstars, returns to Edgewood. Spectators can watch the action up close. | americancenturychampionship.com
Big Boy 4014 visit
July 14 | Truckee Train Depot
Union Pacific’s legendary Big Boy No. 4014, the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, will make 19 whistle-stops in five states this during its 2024 Westward Bound Tour from Wyoming to California. It will be passing through Truckee from 3:30 to 4 p.m. | up.com
Barracuda Championship
July 18-21 | Old Greenwood | Truckee
The Barracuda Championship combines amazing golf featuring PGA Tour professionals. Spectator tickets available. | barracudachampionship.com
Gold Discovery Days
July 20-21 | Plumas-Eureka State Park | Johnsville
Take advantage of a fun-filled family weekend at this historic state park for an opportunity to step back in time. Get a taste of what mining life was like from the 1851 discovery of gold on Eureka Peak, through the 1890s. Educational activities, music food and period costumes. | pespa.org
Plumas-Sierra County Fair
July 25-28 | Plumas County Fairgrounds | Quincy
Mountains of Memories is the theme of this year’s county fair. The fair will be filled with food, fun, exhibits, music and more. | plumas-sierracountyfair.net
KIP MOORE
SUBLIME
June 14 Marty O’Reilly
June 21 Mescalito
June 28 Blü Egyptian
July 5 Lumanation
July 12 Broken Compass Bluegrass
July 19 GrooveSession
July 26 Boot Juice
August 2 Matt Axton & Badmoon
August 16 Sneaky Creatures
August 23 Wolf Jett
August 30 Bicicletas Por La Paz
Learn more:
Heritage Trail
Aug. 3 | Area venues | Tahoe City
Celebrate Placer County museums with free admission from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Gatekeeper’s Museum, with live music from 1 to 3 p.m., and Watson’s Cabin. | theheritagetrail.blogspot.com
The Great Gatsby Festival
Aug. 3-4 | Tallac Historic Site & Valhalla Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe
Come to the Valhalla Grand Lawn on Aug. 4 at 2 p.m. for tea sandwiches, sweet treats, tea and a glass of champagne to toast the end of prohibition. | thegreatbasininstitute.org
Lake Tahoe Concours d’Elegance
Aug. 9-10 | Obexer’s Boat Company | Homewood
This year’s 50th annual Concours will be staged at the historic Obexer’s Boat Company in Homewood with the two-day show open to the public. | laketahoeconcours.com
Heritage Trail
Aug. 10 | Area venues | Truckee
Celebrate Placer County museums with free admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to Museum of Truckee History, Truckee Railroad Museum and Truckee Old Jail Museum. | theheritagetrail.blogspot.com
Tahoe Yoga Festival
Aug. 10-11 | Heavenly Mountain Resort | South Lake Tahoe
OMNI presents the second annual Tahoe Yoga Festival featuring yoga, unity and holistic well-being. | omnitahoe.com
Truckee Professional Rodeo
Aug. 16-17 | McIver Arena | Truckee
See barrel racing, mutton busting and bull riding during the annual Truckee Professional Rodeo. The event includes an arena dance with live music. | truckeerodeo. org
Heritage Trail
Aug. 17 | Area venues | Donner Summit
Celebrate Placer County history with Summit Tunnel Conservation Association Hike at 9 a.m. and enjoy the Donner Summit Historical Society’s 20 Mile Museum and History Hub. | theheritagetrail.blogspot.com
Valhalla Renaissance Faire
Aug. 24-25 | Tahoe Valley Campground | South Lake Tahoe
At the 28th Valhalla Renaissance Faire, embark on a journey through Elizabethan England. Enjoy action-packed shows, enchanting music, spirited dancing, jesters, a bustling thoroughfare teeming with 800 costumed actors and archery tournaments. | valhallafaire.com
Wild West Fest
Aug. 31 | Alder Creek Adventure Center | Truckee
Mosey over to the Equestrian Center for a high-country hoe-down, featuring live music, ace-high activities for kids and more. | tahoedonner.com
Mexican Heritage Festival
Sept. 14 | Truckee River Regional Park
Fox Cultural Hall will host the 4th annual Mexican Heritage Festival in honor of Día de La Independencia. Activities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. include performances, arts & crafts, traditional games, food and drinks. | foxchall.org
Donner Summit Fest
Sept. 21 | Soda Springs Mountain Resort
Soda Springs Mountain Resort is the place to be for great food, lively music and a benefit auction to support Donner Summit Association’s ongoing activities. | donnersummitca.com
THE MOUNTAINS ARE CALLING
Mountain Running Fest
Until June 29 | Area venues
Join the Donner Party Mountain Runners for a celebration of trail and mountain running featuring group runs, clinics, trail work days, Western States practice run and more leading up to the Broken Arrow Skyrace. | donnerpartymountainrunners. com
Big Blue Adventure Race Series
Until Sept. 28 (select dates) | Truckee/Tahoe area venues
Big Blue Adventure offers a cornucopia of Lake Tahoe and Truckee endurance events in triathlons, running, biking, swimming, adventure racing, open water swims and paddling. | bigblueadventure.com
Broken Arrow Skyrace
June 21-23 | Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
Broken Arrow Skyrace is a three-day, eight distance event where elite and recreational participants will experience an unforgettable trail running experience. | brokenarrowskyrace.com
Adventure Sports Week
June 21-30 | Area venues | North Lake Tahoe
Adventure Sports Week Tahoe is a 10-day event featuring human-powered sports, music, film and fun for all. Trail running, triathlon, mountain biking, stand-up paddleboarding and other competitive events to choose from. Concerts, films, clinics, gear demos and more. | adventuresportsweektahoe.com
Tahoe Forest Stewardship Day
June 22 | Tallac Historic Site | South Lake Tahoe
Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to Keep Tahoe Blue’s hands-on, in-the-field event to improve the ecosystem and the wildlife habitats around Lake Tahoe. From 9 to 1:30 p.m., participants will be picking up litter, fence building, trail maintenance and more. | keeptahoeblue.org
Wooden Boat Challenge
June 22 | Commons Beach | Tahoe City
Fox Cultural Hall’s eighth annual fundraiser combines a festival with a unique competition event. Teams of two to four builders have three hours to build a boat by hand, then race it on Lake Tahoe. Enjoy food, drinks, entertainment and kids’ activities. | foxchall.org
Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival
June 22-23 | Tahoe Paradise Park | Meyers
The 12th annual Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival is a two-day event full of pedaling and community celebration. The main festival is on June 23 from 12 to 6 p.m. with music, beverages, food, a raffle and vendors. For riders, there’s a Bike Demo at Corral Trail on June 22 and a registered Bike Ride on June 23. | tamba.org
BIKE-A-THON
Hike for Hope
June 23 | Donner Memorial State Park | Truckee
Join the Speedy Foundation for this gathering of support and suicide prevention while enjoying the accessible 3.2-mile hike to benefit local school Hope Squad projects and local nonprofit outreach efforts. | mentallycovered.org
5Ks for a Cause
June 28, July 29, Aug. 26 | North Tahoe Regional Park | Tahoe Vista
Participate in a free 5ks and give back to the community. On June 28 support the North Tahoe Regional Park in the Friends of the Park 5k, on July 29 support local youth programs in the Great Futures 5k and on Aug. 26 support North Tahoe High School athletes in the Laker Dash. Donations welcome. | ntpud.org
Alta Alpina Challenge
June 29 | Turtle Rock Park | Markleeville
The Alta Alpina Challenge is a personalized event. Every rider bib is personalized based on his or her choice of ride. Riders collect special pass stickers on the bib. | altaalpina.org
Truckee Tahoe Gravel
June 29 | Riverview Sports Park | Truckee
The event features three scenic and challenging routes. This year, participants can register for a 30-mile, 70-mile or 102.1-mile courses. All courses start and end on the grass at Riverview Sports Park. | truckeegravel.com
Western State 100-Mile Endurance Run
June 29-30 | Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
The Western States 100 Mile Endurance run is the world’s oldest 100-mile trail race. Following the historic Western States Trail, runners climb more than 18,000 feet and descend nearly 23,000 feet before they reach the finish line in Auburn. | wser.org
Keep Memory Alive
Rodeo
June 29-30 | Shakespeare Ranch | Glenbrook
Enjoy a fundraiser featuring a rodeo with bulls, bucks and barrels, barbecue, dancing, kids’ activities on June 29, with a gourmet dining experience and live music with Rick Springfield and Richard Marx on June 30. | keepmemoryalive.org
Run to the Beach
July 4 | North Tahoe Regional Park | Tahoe Vista
Run, walk or stroll the 5k or 10k course. Starting at the North Tahoe Regional Park, the courses offer scenic and fun trails. The finish is on the beach at Tahoe Vista Recreation Area. | tahoetrailrunning.com
Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue
July 5 | area venues
League to Save Lake Tahoe hosts the 11th annual Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue beach cleanup after the festivities of July 4th. Tahoe residents and visitors turn out to remove litter from beaches and surrounding areas at this largest beach cleanup of the year. | keeptahoeblue.org
Downieville Classic
July 11-14 | Sierra Crest | Downieville
Race or ride the epic cross country to the Sierra Crest and back to town or take in a double dose with 15 miles of the Downieville Downhill in the All Mountain World Championships. Or just come to enjoy the bike festival for the weekend. | sierratrails.org
BioBlitz
July 13 | Sagehen Creek Field Station | Truckee
Join Tahoe Institute for Natural Science naturalists to look for birds, mammals, insects, spiders and wildflowers. No experience necessary. All ages welcome. | tinsweb.org
Building Connections
July 13 | Valhalla Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe
Building Connections is a Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association fundraiser for Tahoe Trails and the Basin Wide Trails Analysis Project. Collaborate with TAMBA land-manager partners and its members, volunteers and donors. Guests will enjoy a gourmet menu from The Hidden Table, beverages, lawn games and the chance to prizes in the silent auction. | tamba.org
Tour de TD
July 13 | Alder Creek Adventure Center | Tahoe Donner
This event is for mountain bikers, hikers and equestrian riders. Each participant tries to make it to as many checkpoints as possible while collecting colored wristbands at each one. Checkpoints will be spread throughout the Tahoe Donner trail system. | tahoedonner.com
Trans Tahoe Relay
July 13 | Sand Harbor | Incline Village
The Olympic Club and League to Save Lake Tahoe partner for this invitational swimming event to protect and Keep Tahoe Blue. Relay teams compete to race across Lake Tahoe and raise funds for the league. | keeptahoeblue.org
Death Ride: Tour of the California Alps
July 13 | Turtle Rock Park | Markleeville
The 103-mile course begins at 5 a.m. and covers both sides of three mountain passes: Monitor Pass, Ebbetts Pass and the Pacific Grade. The full course is not for the faint at heart. | deathride.com
The Wake and Bake
July 20 | Truckee River Regional Park | Truckee
This disc-golf singles tournament with 18 holes will tee off at 10 a.m.; registration starts at 9 a.m. | discgolfscene.com
Palisades Mountain Run
July 20 | Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
For the past 42 years, runners and hikers have made the annual pilgrimage to the top of Palisades for this event with stunning views of Lake Tahoe. The course climbs 3.6 miles up Mountain Run to High Camp where awards, raffle, music, refreshments and beer are provided. | farwestnordic.org
Tahoe Rim Trail 100-Mile Endurance Run
July 20-21 | Western Nevada College | Carson City, Nev. Tahoe Rim Trail 100-Mile Endurance Run is one of the best ultra runs in the country. This race will be run on single-track trails and dirt roads within Spooner State Park and on the Tahoe Rim Trail located within the state park and on National Forest land all at or above 8,000 feet of elevation. | trter.com
Full Moon Kayak Tours
July 21, Aug. 19 | Sugar Pine Point State Park | Tahoma Kayak along the shore of Sugar Pine Point State Park between the highest elevation operational lighthouse in the U.S. to the park’s southern boundary overlooking Meeks Bay. State Park staff will provide insight into the region’s cultural and natural history. | sierrastateparks.org
Bike-A-Thon
July 27 | Sky Tavern Bike Park | Incline Village, Nev.
Sky Tavern Bike Park, Pedal for Positivity and High Fives Foundation presents a Bike-A-Thon from 9 a.m. to p.m. to promote mental health awareness and support local community resources. There will be laps with prizes, vendor and food truck village and a raffle. | skytavern.org
Tahoe Pro/Am & Legends of the Lake
July 27-28, Aug. 9-11 | Bijou Community Park | South Lake Tahoe
South Tahoe Disc Golf Association presents the 30th annual Tahoe Pro/Am on July 27 to 28 and Legends of the Lake on Aug. 9 to 11; both are part of the 2024 Sierra Tahoe Series. | discgolfscene.com
Tahoe Paddle Race Series
July 29, Aug. 26, Sept. 15-17 | Area venues
Tahoe Paddle Race series celebrates its 15th anniversary with three events on Lake Tahoe. The series offers both the recreational paddler and the race enthusiast an opportunity to participate in SUP, prone paddleboard or OC1 class races and ends with the Tahoe Cup Lake Crossing. | tahoepaddleracing.com
Point Mariah Trail Marathon
Aug. 3 | Soda Springs Resort
The third annual Point Mariah Trail Marathon offers expansive views of the Granite Chief Wilderness, the Pacific Crest between Sugar Bowl and Olympic Valley, and the breathtaking Royal Gorge of the North Fork of the American River (one of the deepest canyons in the western United States). | donnerpartymountainrunners. com
Poker Ride
Aug. 10 | Alder Creek Adventure Center | Tahoe Donner
Mountain bikers, hikers and equestrians will try to achieve the best poker hand from cards collected at five different checkpoints located throughout the Tahoe Donner trail system. | tahoedonner.com
Ragnar Trail Tahoe
Aug. 16-17 | Sugar Bowl Resort | Norden
Teams of eight will test their limits on three trails through Sugar Bowl surrounded by breathtaking scenery. Relay style, they’ll divide and conquer, taking turns running three trails that vary in difficulty, until they’ve conquered each individually and collectively as a team. | runragnar.com
Downieville Mountain Epic
Aug. 16-18 | Pack Saddle Campground | Downieville
Help Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship on a fun-filled weekend of trail work, camping, barbecues and beer. | RSVP sierratrails.org
Northstar Enduro
Aug. 17-18| Northstar California | Truckee
This world-class enduro event is for anyone, amateur to pro, on Northstar California’s Bike Park terrain. Racers can expect steep, loose, rocky, challenging, technical terrain, consisting of Blue, Black and Double-Black terrain. | californiaenduroseries.com
B4BC’s Skate the Lake
Aug. 20-21 | area venues | North Lake Tahoe
Boarding for Breast Cancer’s Skate The Lake is a 28-mile skate/bike/roll starting at Sugar Pine Point State Park to Palisades Tahoe and ending at Common’s Beach. B4BC welcomes anyone on wheels of all ages and abilities to join this push for prevention to raise funds for B4BC’s education, prevention and survivorship programs. | b4bc.org
Lake Tahoe Electric Transportation Forum
Aug. 22 | Tahoe Blue Event Center | Stateline, Nev.
The second annual Lake Tahoe Electric Transportation Forum brings together local, regional and national leaders who share a vision of making the Lake Tahoe Basin a model of clean transportation. The forum includes a showcase of AWD electric vehicles and other zero- and low-emission products. | keeptahoeblue.org
Labor Day Cleanup
Sept. 2 | North Lake Tahoe venues
Join the League to Save Lake Tahoe, residents and visitors to make a positive impact on the environment by removing litter from Lake Tahoe’s shores after the Labor Day rush. | keeptahoeblue.org
Donner Party Hikes
Sept. 7 & 8 | Donner Summit
Explore scenic Donner Summit with local historians on interpretive walks and hikes. | donnerpartyhike.com
Rose to Toads
Sept. 8 | Mount Rose to South Lake Tahoe
More than 62 miles in length with 8,000 feet of climbing and 10,000 feet of descent, this is the most amazing (and tough) mountain bike ride, starting at Mount Rose and ending on Mr. Toads Wild Ride trail. This self-supported ride has three rest stops with snacks and drinks and a finish-line celebration. | tamba.org
Adventure Van Expo
Sept. 14-15 | Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
This gathering for adventurers of all sorts will showcase a variety of custom and stock adventure vehicles, camping tents and gear. There will be van builds, open house vans and 4-wheel campers and more with solar talks, demonstrations and food and beer. | adventurevanexpo.com
J O I N U S F O R T H E
C E L E B R A T I O N
From 12-2 PM, Lazar; from 2-4 PM, Disco Terrorist; from 4-6 PM, Funksalot; from 6-8 PM, ZEBUEL; and from 8-10 PM, All Good Funk Alliance.
THURSDAY, JULY 4 • 12NOON - 10PM •
Music and Face Painting • Bubble Show and Hula Hooping LED Laser Show and Glow Show • Drone Show over Tahoe City at 9:30pm
CULINARY DELIGHTS
Farmers’ markets
Until October | Area venues
Truckee Certified and South Lake Tahoe farmers’ markets are on Tuesdays; Meyers Mountain Market is on Wednesdays; Tahoe City and Incline Village farmers’ markets are on Thursdays; Romano Certified and Ski Run farmers’ markets are on Fridays. Find details at YourTahoeGuide.com/eat
Summer Wine Tasting
June 28 | PlumpJack Inn | Olympic Valley
Achieve Tahoe hosts the inaugural Summer Wine Tasting fundraiser, with more than 20 wineries from Napa and Sonoma from 6 to 8:30 p.m. | achievetahoe.com
Brunch/Dinner in the Barn
June 30-Sept. 15 (select dates) | Sierra Valley Farm |Beckwourth
This brunch and dinner series celebrates farm, food and community. Brunch is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and dinner is from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Each event is an all-inclusive brunch or dinner, farm tour and live music. | sierravalleyfarm.com
Pouring for Paws
July 6 | Tahoe Time Plaza | Incline Village
Wylie Animal Rescue Foundation’s annual fundraiser offers music by Jacked Up; beer, wine and specialty cocktails for sale; food truck; silent auction and raffle. | tahoewarf.org
TRUCKEE BREW FEST
Crawdad Festival
July 6 | Valhalla Tahoe | South Lake Tahoe
The Rotary Club of South Lake Tahoe offers a Louisiana-style crawdad boil using crawfish from Lake Tahoe. Beer and wine will be served as well. Funds raised from the event will support scholarships and opportunities for South Lake Tahoe highschool students interested in pursuing a trade career. | valhallatahoe.com
Lobster Feed
July 11 | The Chateau | Incline Village, Nev.
North Lake Tahoe Community Health Care Auxiliary Lobster Feed will benefit medically related student scholarships, Incline Village Community Hospital equipment and medical needs of the community. | tfhd.com/ivch
Pints for Pups
July 13 | The Brewing Lair | Blairsden
High Sierra Animal Rescue’s fundraiser Pints for Pups is from 4 to 8 p.m. There will be live music, disc golf and a raffle. Leashed dogs are welcome. | highsierraanimalrescue.org
Truckee Brewfest
July 13 | Truckee River Regional Park | Truckee
The 17th annual Truckee Brewfest features specialty brews from Northern California and Nevada breweries, live music dancing, barbecue and silent auction. Sponsored by Tahoe Guide. | truckeeoptimist.com
Old Timer’s Picnic
July 20 | Truckee River Regional Park
Truckee Donner Historical Society announces the annual Old Timer’s Picnic from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Catch up with old classmates, neighbors and friends. Bring something to throw on the barbecue and something to drink. | Truckee Donner Historical Society on Facebook
Vatican Speakeasy Fundraiser
Aug. 2 | Pope Estate | South Lake Tahoe
This annual fundraiser includes 1920s music, drinks, costumes and finger foods. Held outdoors at the Pope Estate, guests can participate in a silent auction, try out the Charleston or watch a live demonstration. | thegreatbasininstitute.org
Taste of Gold
Aug. 10 | Lake Tahoe Community College | South Lake Tahoe
The annual fundraiser brings the community together on campus to enjoy pours of regional wines, small-batch crafted beers and locally produced spirits along with tasty bites. Enjoy live music, dancing and a silent auction. | ltccfoundation.org
Sierra Forage Dinner
Aug. 10 | Mitchells Meadows | Independence Lake
This is Mountain Area Preservation’s annual fundraiser, featuring a farm-to-table, multicourse dinner paired with wines. The event also includes live music and live auction to help raise critical funds to support local environmental advocacy. | mountainareapreservation.org
Tahoe Bloody Mary Competition
Aug.11 | Tahoe Beach Retreat & Lodge | South Lake Tahoe
The 12th annual Tahoe Bloody Mary Competition will host 15 of the best bartenders in the Tahoe/Reno/Carson region. It will be held under the sun on the beach with bands, live DJs and the most exquisite Bloody Marys you’ve ever tasted. | FNCTN on Facebook
Brews, Jazz & Funk Fest
Aug. 17 | Village at Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley Festivalgoers can sip on a wide array of tasty beers from different breweries, as well as enjoy an incredible lineup of music. | palisadestahoe.com
Tahoe Brewfest
Aug. 24 | Ski Run Blvd. | South Lake Tahoe
The seventh annual Tahoe Brewfest will offer craft-beer tasting, Lake Tahoe DJ, dancing and fun. Use the LakeLink app and get free ride to and from the event. Must be age 21 and older to attend. | tahoebrewfest.com
Wine in the Garden
Aug. 24 | Markleeville Library | Markleeville
Enjoy music, a raffle, appetizers and beer tasting in the beautiful Markleeville Library garden. | alpinecountyca.gov
Alpen Wine Festival
Sept. 1 | Village at Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
The 34th annual Alpen Wine Fest includes wine tasting from more than 40 vineyards, music by Indigo Grey and Peter DeMattei, a silent auction and raffle. | palisadestahoe.com
Guitar Strings vs. Chicken Wings
Sept. 6 | Village at Palisades Tahoe | Olympic Valley
Six local bands go head-to-head in a battle to be crowned the best band in the Village. Meanwhile, six restaurants face off in competition pitting the best wings against each other. You decide the winners. Benefits Tahoe Institute For Natural Science. | palisadestahoe.com
Incline Food + Wine
Sept. 7 | Incline Village, Nev.
Spend the day at Incline Wine + Food and explore a 6-acre lakefront estate in a walk-around wine tasting and a one-of-a-kind gathering to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of North Lake Tahoe. | inclinefoodandwine.com
Fly-In Pancake Breakfast
Sept. 8 | Nervino Airport | Beckwourth
Airplane enthusiasts should navigate to the Nervino Airport in Beckwourth for the annual Portola Rotary Club Fly-In Breakfast. | portal.clubrunner.ca
Fall Ale Fest
Sept. 14 | Heavenly Village | South Lake Tahoe
Oktoberfest in Heavenly Village is from 1 to 5 p.m. For a $40 donation, enjoy a wing cook-off; live music; beer, spirits, kombucha and soda tasting; commemorative glass and wristband. | theshopsatheavenly.com
Cowgirls + Cocktails
Sept. 14 | Alder Creek Adventure Center | Tahoe Donner
Cowgirls and cowboys are invited to gather for an early evening trail ride followed by a social hour with beer, wine and appetizers. This event is for ages 21 and older. | tahoedonner.com
Sample the Sierra
Sept. 21 | Bijou Community Park | South Lake Tahoe
Sample the Sierra brings together local chefs/restaurants with neighboring growers/producers to turn out samples craftily paired with an appropriate wine, brew or spirit. The festival marketplace includes locally made goods along with specialty products such as fine art, jewelry and crafts. |
Downieville Mountain Brewfest
Sept. 21 | Main Street | Downieville
Downieville Mountain Brewfest offers fresh mountain air, small-town charm, music, food and some of the finest craft beer available in northern California and Nevada. | downievillebrewfest.com
THE lineup
GOLD COUNTRY ROOTS
Red Dirt Ruckus
From deep in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada comes a toe-tappin’, hip-shakin’ sound that just can’t be pinned down. With a healthy dose of bluegrass, a sprinkle of reggae and a big spoonful of funk, Red Dirt Ruckus has developed their own brand of high-energy rudegrass.
This fun-loving group plays June 23 at 4 p.m. for Concerts at Commons Beach in Tahoe City and June 30 at 4:30 p.m. on the Grand Hall Lawn at Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. | reddirtruckus.com
FOLK & BLUEGRASS
Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays
From the Grand Ole Opry and Ryman Auditorium, Eastern Kentucky native Nicholas Jamerson is part of a new generation of country artists who’ve redefined what Appalachian music can be. His deftly penned compositions
EVENTS summer
Don’t miss the chance to reach Tahoe Guide’s nearly 48,000 readers in every edition. Submit your summer events now to our FREE CALENDAR at YourTahoeGuide.com/events. The calendar is for both online and our print editions.
revolve around relationships with the natural world, ironically warm-hearted characters and the plight and triumphs of a modern-day hillbilly.
Jamerson & The Morning Jays perform on June 19 at 6 p.m. with Tahoma folk rockers Dead Winter Carpenters for a special opening night of Music in the Park at in Truckee River Regional Park in Truckee. | Nicholas Jamerson Music on Facebook
Blü Egyptian | Chloe Edington Blü Egyptian
Electrifying Chico quartet Blü Egyptian mash up funk, Latin, reggae, bluegrass and rock into extended jams that inevitably lead to wild dance frenzies. Their tantalizing third studio album, “Chantress of Amun,” came to life in January.
The Blü Egyptian experience comes to North Lake Tahoe several times this summer including June 20 at 5 p.m. for Truckee Thursdays; June 23 at 7 p.m. at Three Sheets Brewing Company in Tahoe City; June 28 at 6 p.m. for Music on the Beach in Kings Beach; July 24 at 6:30 p.m. for Music in the Park in Truckee; and July 27 at 2 p.m. at Gambler’s Run Music Festival in Crystal Bay, Nev. | bluegyptianband.com
COSMIC AMERICANA
Boot Juice
What began as a wild party of raft guides jamming on the Payette River in Idaho grew into a multi-piece rock ensemble with a reputation for off-thecuff performances that shift effortlessly between hard-driving Americana and cosmic rock. Boot Juice blends folk-
rock and R&B traditions with a rambling New Orleans-style brass section, threepart vocal harmonies, rolling percussion and dynamic instrumental arrangements to create a one-of-a-kind show where the audience becomes a living, breathing member of the band.
They take the stage June 28 at 5 p.m. for Music in the Park in Tahoe Paradise Park in Meyers and June 30 at 4 p.m. for Concerts at Commons Beach in Tahoe City. | bootjuicejams.com
HARD ROCK
Sierra
Sierra Roc is a classic, hard-rock band that delivers high-energy covers of radio-driven, chart-topping, 80s hair bands such as Aerosmith, Van Halen, Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Billy Idol, Skid Row, Journey, Foreigner, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and more.
These ride-or-die Reno rockers are laying it down throughout the Tahoe Sierra this summer with shows June 26 at 6:30 p.m. for Music in the Park in Truckee; July 19 at 7 p.m. in Portola City Park; July 25 at 5 p.m. at Truckee Thursdays; Aug. 10 at 5 p.m. in the Shops at Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe; and Aug. 16 at 4 p.m. at Incline Spirits Barefoot Bar in Incline Village, Nev. | sierraroc.com Submit your EVENTS for FREE at YourTahoeGuide.com/Events
Courtesy Red Direct Ruckus
Nicholas Jamerson & The Morning Jays | Joe Wilkins
JAM GROOVE
Courtesy Boot Juice
Sierra Roc | Nick McCabe
Roc
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19
Live Music CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6 p.m.
Music in the Park
Truckee Donner Rec. & Park District, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Line Dancing
The Woods Restaurant & Bar, S. Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, JUNE 20
Live at Lakeview
Lakeview Commons, S. Lake Tahoe, 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Truckee Thursdays
Downtown Truckee, CA, Truckee, 5 p.m.
Tiki Thursday
Bowl Incline, Incline Village, 5-10 p.m.
Wolves & Friends Live
The Good Wolf, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Rustler’s Moon Bar of America, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Latin Night Blu Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 21
Arty the Party Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 a.m.
Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series
Shops at Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 5 p.m.
Sunset Sidewalk Soundwaves Party Stateline
Lake Tahoe AleWorX, Stateline, 5-9 p.m.
Music on the Beach: Free Concert Fridays
Kings Beach State Rec. Area, Kings Beach, 6-8:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Lakefront Live Music
Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay, 8-11 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m-12:30 a.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Magic After Dark (18+) Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ HQ! Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Party at Opal Opal Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Peek Nightclub
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Live DJ Center Bar, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 22
Arty the Party Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 a.m. Lake Tahoe Is for Lovers
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 1:30 p.m.
Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series
Shops at Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 5 p.m.
Sunset Sidewalk Soundwaves Party Stateline
Lake Tahoe AleWorX, Stateline, 5-9 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Lamont Landers
Crystal Bay Casino, Crystal Bay, 8 p.m.
Country Songwriter’s Series
Blu Nightclub, Stateline, 8-9:30 p.m.
Lakefront Live Music
Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay, 8-11 p.m. Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ HQ! Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Party at Opal Opal Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Peek Nightclub
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Live DJ Center Bar, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 23
Sunday Sessions | Incline Public House
Incline Public House, Incline Village, 4-7 p.m.
Concerts at Commons Beach
Commons Beach, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m.
Blü Egyptian
Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Live DJ Center Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 24
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
TUESDAY, JUNE 25
Bluesdays Concert Series
Village at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 6-8:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Matt Marcy
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Tahoe Improv Players
Boathouse Theater, South Lake Tahoe, 7:30-10 p.m.
Techno Tuesdays
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26
Live Music CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6 p.m.
Music in the Park
Truckee Donner Rec.n & Park District, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Line Dancing
The Woods Restaurant & Bar, S. Lake Tahoe, 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, JUNE 27
Live at Lakeview
Lakeview Commons, S. Lake Tahoe, 4:30-8:30 p.m.
Music at the Castle
Emerald Bay State Park , S. Lake Tahoe, 4:45 p.m.
Truckee Thursdays
Downtown Truckee, CA, Truckee, 5 p.m.
Tiki Thursday
Bowl Incline, Incline Village, 5-10 p.m.
Wolves & Friends Live
The Good Wolf, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Rustler’s Moon Bar of America, Truckee, 8 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Latin Night Blu Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.
FRIDAY, JUNE 28
Arty the Party
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 a.m.
Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series
Shops at Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 5 p.m.
Sunsets Live Music Series
Village at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 5-7 p.m.
Tahoe Paradise Park | Music in the Park
Tahoe Paradise Park, South Lake Tahoe, 5-8 p.m.
Sunset Sidewalk Soundwaves Party Stateline
Lake Tahoe AleWorX, Stateline, 5-9 p.m.
Music on the Beach: Free Concert Fridays
Kings Beach State Rec.Area, Kings Beach, 6-8:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.
Always ... Patsy Cline
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
Lakefront Live Music
Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay, 8-11 p.m.
Dead Seagals
Fox Cultural Hall, Kings Beach, 8:30-11 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Magic After Dark (18+) Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
HQ! Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Party at Opal
Opal Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Peek Nightclub
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Live DJ
Center Bar, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
SATURDAY, JUNE 29
Arty the Party
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 9 a.m.
Heavenly Village Summer Concert Series
Shops at Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe, 5 p.m.
Sunset Sidewalk Soundwaves Party Stateline
Lake Tahoe AleWorX, Stateline, 5-9 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
The Dreamboats
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 7:30 p.m.
Always ... Patsy Cline
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
Lakefront Live Music
Gar Woods Grill & Pier, Carnelian Bay, 8-11 p.m.
Dueling Pianos
Harveys Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 8:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
Live Music With Brother Dan Palmer
Grand Lodge Casino, Incline Village, 9 p.m.
Karaoke Nights
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 9 p.m.
Live DJ
HQ! Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Phutureprimitive With Murkury & Beatkarma
Bally’s, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Party at Opal
Opal Nightclub, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Peek Nightclub
Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, Stateline, 10 p.m.
Live DJ
Center Bar, Stateline, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
SUNDAY, JUNE 30
Red, White & Tahoe Blue: A Salute to America
Lake Tahoe Christian Fellowship Church, South Lake Tahoe, 4-5:30 p.m.
Sunday Sessions
Incline Public House, Incline Village, 4-7 p.m.
Concerts at Commons Beach
Commons Beach, Tahoe City, 4-7 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, S. Lake Tahoe, 4:30 p.m., 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Red Dirt Ruckus
Grand Hall Lawn, South Lake Tahoe, 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Dark Corners & Keyser Soze
Moe’s Original Bar B Que, Tahoe City, 7 p.m.
Always ... Patsy Cline
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
Live DJ
Center Bar, Stateline, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
MONDAY, JULY 1
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Country Line Dancing Alibi Ale Works, Truckee, 7-9 p.m.
Steelin’ Dan: The Music of Steely Dan Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
TUESDAY, JULY 2
Bluesdays Concert Series
Village at Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, 6-8:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starting Taylor Hughes
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m.& 9 p.m.
Always ... Patsy Cline
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
Techno Tuesdays
Rojo’s Tavern, South Lake Tahoe, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 3
Live Music
CB’s Bistro, Carnelian Bay, 6 p.m.
Music in the Park Truckee Donner Rec. & Park District, Truckee, 6:30 p.m.
Magic Fusion Starring Robert Hall
The Loft Theatre, South Lake Tahoe, 7 p.m. & 9 p.m.
Red, White & Tahoe Blue - A Salute to America St Francis of Assisi Church, Incline Village, 7-8:30 p.m.
Always ... Patsy Cline
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Incline Village, 7:30 p.m.
for
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THURSDAYS INCLINE VILLAGE | 2–3:30pm St. Patrick’s Church, 341 Village Blvd Food Distribution Anyone can pick up a bag and no application, ID, or proof of income is required. Home delivery is available on a case by case basis. To sign-up or cancel, e-mail food@sierracommunityhouse.org or call 530-546-0952 . Check website for updates: SierraCommunityHouse.org
TUESDAYS TRUCKEE | 12–6pm Warehouse, 12116 Chandelle Way, Unit 2D WEDNESDAYS K INGS BEACH | 3–4:30pm Community House, 265 Bear St
EAT & drink
The charm of charcuterie
BY PRIYA HUTNER
A charcuterie board is not just a mix of items but a carefully curated selection that generally includes a variety of salty, crunchy and sweet items.
vibrant array of colors draws the eye to the fruits, vegetables and cheeses spread out on a beautiful piece of butcher block. The charcuterie board, pronounced “shar-koo-tuh-ree,” is not just a French party platter that can dazzle and impress guests. It’s a versatile dish that can be the perfect appetizer for entertaining, a simple summer dinner for the family or even a creative dessert board. And best of all, no cooking is required. The base ingredients for a charcuterie board include cured meats, cheeses, crackers, fresh and dried fruits, vegetables, nuts, condiments, crackers, breads or breadsticks. A charcuterie board is not just a mix of items but a carefully curated selection that generally includes a variety of salty, crunchy and sweet items. I like incorporating the five flavor profiles of sweet, sour, bitter, salty and umami for a well-rounded gastronomic taste experience.
The Cheese
A variety of cheeses include aged, soft and hard cheese, along with some blues. Brie, Camembert, triple-cream, Boursin, feta and goat cheese are excellent choices for soft, easy-to-spread cheeses. I love Italian Caseificio dell’Alta Langa and Meredith Dairy Marinated Cheese sheep and goat cheese.
Aged and hard cheeses to consider are aged cheddar, Gouda, Gruyere or manchego. Point Reyes Blue, Gorgonzola and Stilton are great options for the blues. These add a nice salty, earthy, umami flavor. Dedrick’s Cheese offers a selection of delicious cheese that can be purchased either at the farmers’ market in Tahoe City or Truckee or The Pour House in Truckee. While you’re there, don’t forget to pick up a bottle of wine to accompany your board.
The Meat
Cured meats might include salami, prosciutto, dry-cured pork, capicola, soppressata and mortadella.
The Fruit
For dried fruits, try figs, dates plain or stuffed and apricots. Fresh grapes, Bing or Rainer cherries and stone fruits add a nice touch and complement the meats and cheeses.
The Olives & More
Remember to include olives and lots of them. Cured, pitted, black and green, the more unique, the better. Olives add the perfect amount of saltiness. Make sure to drain olives prior to adding them to the board. Peppadew Peppers, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and pickles add a nice tang to the array of items. Marcona almonds, candied walnuts, pecans or spicy pistachios add depth and dimension to the array.
The Spread
Specialty jams — such as jalapeño or fig — chutney, whole-grain mustard, honey, pâté, tapenade or hummus add dimension to the board’s personality. Small appetizer bowls can be used for some of the condiments and spreads.
The Arrangement
It’s time to arrange the board. Think of it as a blank canvas. How you present your board is aesthetically up to you, but here are some tips. The 3-3-3 rule — three cheeses, meats and condiments — is meant to be broken, especially if you have a lot of guests or a large board.
Choose a good foundation; wood or marble creates a lovely base. Place the meats and cheeses in the middle of the board. For ease of serving, cube or slice cheeses and roll meats to make them easy to pick up. For soft cheeses include a small cheese knife. Add the condiments.
Place crusty sliced breads, crackers or crostini on the two corners of the board to serve as a vehicle for delicious ingredients. Fresh and dried fruits, nuts and vegetables fill in the gaps on the board. Make sure to include toothpicks, small appetizer spoons and cocktail napkins for serving.
Fun ways to make your charcuterie board stand out are to create a unique twist such as a dessert board, a themed board (think Fourth of July) or a regional board (Italian or Asian).
For a vegan, vegetarian or plant-forward charcuterie board, emphasize fresh and pickled vegetables and non-dairy spreads such as nut cheese, pesto, hummus, artichoke dip and vegetable-nut-forward pâtés.
4th of July board
For a Fourth of July Charcuterie Board, think red, white and blue. Include a blue cheese, a round of brie and a nice, hard goat cheese. Mini caprese skewers with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes create a charming red-and-white color. Prepare a whipped lemon ricotta or feta dip, keeping it white or add a touch of organic blue food coloring.
Add some fruit, such as blueberries, raspberries and watermelon slices. For vegetables, jicama slices and red pepper strips are perfect. Include condiments such as strawberry jam, pico de gallo or salsa. Add blue corn chips, crackers and bread to round out the board. Cured meats are optional. n
Priya’s board. | Priya Hutner
Each of our resorts and towns offers a unique array of local boutiques and artisan shops where you’ll find treasures of all kinds. North Lake Tahoe also offers some of the most unbelievable dining venues. Whether you’re hoping for a quick, simple bite before exploring the beach or you’re looking to sit down and experience the upscale meal of a lifetime.
