Friday Five

Tahoe is synonymous with skiing (or snowboarding, if you’re cool.) And we get it, skiing can be fun, and Tahoe has great slopes. But it’s also really expensive and involves gliding down a mountain while looking death in the eye. If you’d simply rather not, Tahoe is also full of other magical winter activities.

With the year’s first heavy snowfall arriving this week in Lake Tahoe, the winter season has officially begun. We’ve compiled five winter activities you can partake in at Lake Tahoe that allow for proper social distancing — with no skis or snowboards needed. As always, mask up. Believe me, your face will enjoy the warmth.

1. Go sledding or tubing

Okay, we know we just said we don’t want to go down a mountain — but c’mon. Whether your weapon of choice is a toboggan or a tube, it doesn’t get any more fun than going down a giant white slide. But this time, you’re on your butt and not your legs!

If you happen to be accompanying some skier friends at Sierra-at-Tahoe, the resort offers both tubing and sledding at Blizzard Mountain. But if you want to go to the sledding destination, Adventure Mountain is the spot to be.With over 40 acres, the family-owned snowy playground has up to 18 sledding/tubing lanes and boasts mountaintop views from the top of Echo Summit.If you’re staying in North Lake Tahoe, make sure to visit Granlibakken Tahoe, a historic winter recreation area that has welcomed locals and visitors since 1926.

2. Lace up your skates

Here’s a fun activity you can do while you’re waiting for your skier and snowboarder friends at the resorts that doesn’t just involve you stuffing your face: ice skating. Some of the biggest ski resorts, like Squaw Valley, Northstar, and Heavenly, all have outdoor ice skating rinks where you can practice your spins and pretend you’ll qualify at the next Olympics, whenever that will be.

If you’re feeling like going off on your own to find a little frozen body of water, check out this Facebook group that regularly shares where to skate on frozen ponds across Tahoe. If you’ve got a sporty team, maybe you can even treat yourself to a game of pond hockey.

3. A winter hike

This one will convince your skier and snowboarder friends to ditch the mountains for the day. Rent a pair of snowshoes or cross-country skis and get explorin’. It’s just like taking a leisurely winter walk with slightly larger footwear. Really, you can go anywhere where you see snow, but who are we if we don’t recommend a few trails? If you’re a complete novice, start with Eagle Rock, an easy and rewarding trail that spans a mere 0.7 miles. Another beginner favorite is the 2.1-mile trail around Spooner Lake State Park. For more ambitious hikers, we recommend the 10-mile trail out and back to Marlette Lake via North Canyon or Marlette Lake Trail starting at the same trailhead. Even with gaining just 1,000 feet, you’ll still get magnificent valley views at the peak. Fancy walking on an actual frozen lake? Echo Lake Sno-Park is just 10 miles south of Tahoe and offers visitors the chance to walk across Echo Lake, conditions permitting. Even if you don’t dare walk across the snow-covered, frozen lake, walking through the white oasis is guaranteed to be the stuff of your winter wonderland dreams.

4. Take a magical tour

Need a little help on where to go in Tahoe? There are a few fun tours you can take to explore the area for whatever you’re feeling. Cruise through the pines and mush through hundreds of snowy miles at the back of a dog sled — you can book your dog sled tours with Wild Sierra. If you’re more of a Hallmark Christmas movie fan, a horse-drawn sleigh ride awaits with the Borges. This family-run business has been running horse-drawn sleigh rides around Tahoe since 1969, so your tour will come with a side of intimate history of the area.

If you’re feelin’ like an adventure, take a snowmobile tour and cruise through the forests in style. With Lake Tahoe Adventures, Zephyr Cove Snowmobiling Tours, and Lake Tahoe Snowmobiling Tours, you can get spectacular views of the Sierra peaks. Maybe you’re feeling more like a tour that takes flight? Take a hot-air-balloon tour and view the peaks from the sky.

5. Sip at craft breweries

With outdoor dining reopening again, it’s the perfect time to support all the small businesses you can. And after having to close down during the holidays, Tahoe’s many local craft breweries are ready to welcome you back. For those staying in South Lake Tahoe, there’s always the South Lake Tahoe Beer Trail. If you’re looking for our favorites, don’t miss South Lake Brewing Company and their classically Californian IPAs, Sidellis and their great seasonal menu of sours, and South of North Brewing Company, where you can cozy up by the brewery’s fire pits and enjoy the live music.

On the North Shore, make sure to visit nano-brewery Bear Belly Brew; owner and brewmaster Adam Latham will be happy to serve any of the five beers on tap. And if you find yourself in Truckee, The Good Wolf is a small-batch craft brewery specializing in hop-forward and forest beers. Wherever you decide to sip, try to call ahead and check if the breweries have space for you and your quaranteam — that way, you know you can safely enjoy your pours.

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