Summer in Lake Tahoe is just dreamy. Picture the most crystal clear, sparkling waters in every shade of blue you can imagine lined with tall pine trees, rocky shoreline and sandy beaches, and you will find yourself at one of the prettiest alpine lakes you ever did see.
Lake Tahoe is not only world-renown for its striking blue waters, but it is a top adventure destination of choice for families in all seasons, especially in the Winter and Summer. For those preferring the warmer months, Summer is definitely the time to enjoy a plethora of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, water sports, and mountain biking.
If you only have a few days in Lake Tahoe, we’ve got you covered with some of the best summer outdoor activities in Lake Tahoe for kids, most of which are FREE.
If you get to Sand Harbor State Park early in the morning you’ll be rewarded with calm water and no one around!
Camping and Lodging
If you plan to camp, some of our favorite spots to camp around Lake Tahoe (most of which are located in the South Lake area) include:
- Bayview Campground
- Nevada Beach Campground
- Camp Richardson Campground
- DL Bliss State Park
- Lake Forest Campground
If you aren’t much of a camper and are looking for affordable yet comfortable lodging, these are are some great choices around Lake Tahoe:
- Holly’s Place (located in South Lake)
- Hotel Azure (located in South Lake)
- Basecamp Tahoe (located in Tahoe City)
- Postmarc Hotel and Spa (located in South Lake)
- North Lake Lodge and Villas (located in Incline Village)
Hiking
The perks of hiking around Lake Tahoe–the stellar views.
There are endless hiking trails around Lake Tahoe, but we’ve narrowed it down to a few of the best hikes to do with kids that also offer some of the best views of Lake Tahoe too!
DL Bliss State Park, situated next to the stunning Emerald Bay State Park has some of our favorite hiking trails along the entire lake. The great thing about the trails here are that most don’t have much elevation change, making them perfect for little legs that tire easily. There are options that are 1 mile loops up to 13 miles round trip, or you can choose to do just part of a trail and turn around whenever you’d like.
We especially love hiking the Rubicon trail from Rubicon Point to Emerald Point (about 7 miles round trip) which is mostly flat. The trail to Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay (2 miles round trip) is also great and if you are up to it, you can even combine these two trails. *Tip: Parking at DL Bliss State Park is generally less crowded than parking at Emerald Bay.
The views along the Rubicon trail in DL Bliss State Park are hard to beat!
The Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake trail is a short 2 mile round trip accessed from Emerald Bay is a very popular trail in the Summer, so get there early. The trail up to Eagle Lake is only one mile up, but the first part of the trail is steep and rocky. However, about halfway up, you will get some stunning views of Emerald Bay. Eagle Lake itself is really beautiful and this trail will give you access to additional hiking in the Desolation Wilderness.
On the north side of the lake are two of our favorite hikes that often get overlooked, but are equally gorgeous and not to be missed! We love the Flume trail to Monkey Rock, which might have some of the most undisputed views of the entire lake. The entire trail from start to finish is less than 4 miles–perfect for kids.
Looking towards Incline Village from the top of Monkey Rock along the Flume trail
Park by the Tunnel Creek Café, located on the East end of Incline Village. Walk behind the cafe and follow the paved road that goes up a short hill and then heads South along the lake. The paved road ends in a few hundred yards at a forest service gate and from there you will be on a trail that will be flat for a bit. After a mile or so, you will come to the new post and another Forest Service gate.
Walk around it and after a few hundred yards, you will spot a narrow trail on the left that goes up a steep, short hill. At the top of the hill, go to the left and up to some rocks and you will stumble upon Monkey Rock. You can’t miss this famous rock, which resembles a very distinct profile of a monkey, or more like a gorilla. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy these spectacular views before heading down.
Monkey Rock resembles more of a gorilla, but it’s hard to miss!
We also love this short, relatively easy hike to the Stateline Fire Lookout (just under 2 miles round trip), situated near Crystal Bay and right on the CA and NV border. To get there, take the Reservoir Road near Crystal Bay (located just east of the Tahoe Biltmore), and park near the Forest Service gate.
This trail follows a gravel road going all the way to the top. Once at the top, you’ll enjoy a dirt interpretive walking loop with benches to sit on and panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. Go here at the end of the day so you can watch the sun set over Kings Beach!
The Statefire Lookout trail borders both the California and the Nevada side.
Paddleboarding
If you have a day to spend at Sand Harbor State Park near Incline Village in NV, you will not be disappointed. Home of the crystal clear waters and rocky boulders doting the shoreline made famous in photographs, along with secluded coves of sandy beaches, this area is one of our all-time favorite places to spend a day (or two) in Lake Tahoe.
Our biggest tip is to get here early (close to 8AM), especially if you come on a weekend. Parking at the state park requires a small fee, but you will have quick access to the beaches, restrooms, cafe, and a rental shop where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards for the day (if you don’t have your own). Getting here early also ensures that you get a prime spot to “set up camp” on the beach for the day.
No filter needed paddling along the crystal clear waters of Sand Harbor State Park.
Most people choose the main beach right in front of the parking lot to set up camp, but we prefer some of the other spots found in Sand Harbor, such as Diver’s Cove and Boat Beach. Both of these beaches are quieter, more protected and more beautiful in our opinion, but you have to get here early since they are smaller and have limited space. You can get a map from the park ranger or the Visitor’s Center.
While playing and relaxing at the beach is great in itself, we recommend getting out on the water on a paddleboard or kayak. It’s the BEST way to see all that Sand Harbor and the surrounding area has to offer. We love paddling around Diver’s Cove (there are rocks to jump off here too) and Boat Beach, but if you are up for a real adventure, we suggest paddling down to Secret Cove from the main beach at Sand Harbor (about 5 miles).
The trip to Secret Cove from Sand Harbor is worth the effort.
Stay relatively close to the shoreline as it can get choppy farther out on the water. The water is so clear here that you can see straight to the bottom from 100 feet down! It’s also fun to weave between the boulders that dot the shore.
Don’t miss Bonsai Rock, which is located about a mile from the main beach (look for a bonsai looking tree sticking out of a rock). There are places you can stop along the way to Secret Cove to park your water vessel on the sandy patches for a picnic and a swim. It makes for an all day activity, but trust us, it’s worth it!
Paddling near Bonsai Rock
Biking
Biking is such a fun family activity and Lake Tahoe has plenty of trails–both paved and dirt. We thought we would highlight a few, some good for kids of all ages and others better suited for older kids with more ability and endurance. In South Lake Tahoe, there are a few easy paved trails such as the Pope to Baldwin Beach bike path, which is flat and only 3.4 miles one way and runs parallel to SR 89.
This popular path passes through historic Camp Richardson Resort and offers several scenic side trips to Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach, the Lake Tahoe Visitor Center and Fallen Leaf Lake. You can rent bikes nearby at Camp Richardson or Anderson’s Bike Rental.
The Lakeside trail near Incline Village is an easy, paved path perfect for families with little ones.
A couple other great paved trails around Lake Tahoe are the Tahoe Trailways bike path in Tahoe City, which offers 15 miles of pathways in 3 different directions and the Lakeshore Drive bike path which is located in Incline Village and only 2.5 miles.
As for mountain biking, the Flume trail and the Tahoe Rim trail are the trails to ride in Lake Tahoe because they offer incredible views, narrow single-track and a full day of adventure! Most people grab a shuttle bus from Tunnel Creek Cafe in the morning to either Spooner Lake and ride the Flume trail or to Tahoe Meadows to ride the Rim trail. Both trails are 12 and 14 miles one way. You can also rent bikes if you don’t have your own.
Mountain biking along the Flume trail in Lake Tahoe.
Other Activities
New to the Lake Tahoe area as of 2018 is the Tahoe Via Ferrata, located at Squaw Valley. A Via Ferrata is a protected climbing and hiking route with a qualified mountain guide. It is a great introduction to rock climbing without the pure vertical nature, technical skill and movement techniques required in traditional rock climbing. This particular Via Ferrata is for kids and adults ages 10 and up and makes for the perfect adventure for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurous people.
The Tahoe Via Ferrata offers something fun for everyone! Photo courtesy of Tahoe Via Ferrata.
If you’re looking for another adrenaline packed adventure in Lake Tahoe, zip lining is another awesome family activity for kids of almost every age. Tahoe TreeTop Adventures offers both zip line and aerial park tours and 3 different locations around Tahoe. In South Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Ski Resort is the Blue Streak Zip Line, which is 2 parallel zip lines that run over 3,000 feet down the mountain!
The iconic Emerald Bay.
Whether you have 3 days or a full week in Lake Tahoe over the Summer, you can pack a lot of fun in with many of these outdoor activities and adventures.