Amazing Things to Do in North Lake Tahoe (2026)
Looking for things to do in North Lake Tahoe, year-round? North Lake Tahoe is much smaller than South Lake Tahoe (which is the more touristy area), but its quieter, more pristine and nature-based.
North Lake Tahoe isn’t all nature. There are restaurants, bowling alleys, movie theatres, pubs, and a bunch of things to do. Tons of small towns to visit, beaches, hiking teails and some lesser-known attractions compared to the ones in ‘South Lake.’
I have family that lives in North Lake Tahoe, and I go there every so often to visit. I enjoy visiting South Lake Tahoe while we’re there, but ‘home’ is in North Lake Tahoe, and there’s plenty of stuff to keep us busy there too.
South Lake Tahoe is less than an hour’s drive, so you’re not far from the other side of the lake if you choose to venture there as well. So, let’s jump in – here’s my guide of things to do in North Lake Tahoe!
Things to Do in North Lake Tahoe
*I will be heading back to North Lake Tahoe in March 2026 – come back after that, and there will definitely be some updated photos and details to add to this article*
1. Go for some incredibly scenic hikes
Part of what I love about North Lake Tahoe is the access to nature. There’s great skiing and hiking in the area. In the winter, you can snowshoe instead of hike.
Hiking trails in North Lake Tahoe include:
- Eagle Rock: a moderate, 7 mile hike near Tahoe City. There’s a way to reach the summit in 20 minutes using a new trail that just opened. The view from the top is a panoramic view of the lake and so gorgeous
- Chickadee Ridge: a fairly easy 3-mile hike that’s apart of the Tahoe Rim Trail. It’s named after the chickadee birds, which are popular for feeding. There are also many views of the lake
2. Walk around the Palisades Tahoe ski village
Palisades (formerly known as Squaw Valley) is a nice resort village to just walk through, anytime of year. You’ll find restaurants, souvenir shops, cafés, and Olympic relics. Palisades hosted the Olympics in 1960, so you’ll see signage, souvenirs and regalia for the Olympics too.
In the seasons with snow (December through as late as June or July) you can ski at Palisades Tahoe- but I recommend coming regardless of the season, just to walk around the village.
Palisades is like Heavenly Village in South Lake, but much smaller. In the months where the ski resort is closed, (usually July through November) there’s a scenic Aerial Tram that can take you to the top of the mountain for some panoramic views. It’s a 10 minute ride and takes you up 8,200 feet.
You can also rent a bike, to explore the trails surrounding the mountain. Buy tram tickets or book bike rentals (summer only) here.
3. Go skiing or snowboarding (seasonal)
In my opinion, North Lake Tahoe has the best ski resorts because many of them have better views of the lake. The North Lake Tahoe ski resorts tend to be closer to the lake than the ones in South Lake Tahoe.
Here are some of the North Lake Tahoe ski resorts, and what sets them apart from other ski resorts in the area:
- Palisades Tahoe – Mentioned above, as a resort to visit regardless of whrther you’re skiing. Located north west of Lake Tahoe, the closet town is Tahoe City. Palisades Tahoe hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics! It would take 30-40 minutes to drive here from most places in North Lake Tahoe
- Northstar California Resort – A bit more closer and central than Palisades Tahoe, you could get here in 10-30-minutes from most places in North Lake Tahoe. The views are so pristine, great views of the lake. North Star tends to be the priciest though. Expect to pay over $100 for a lift ticket
- Sugar Bowl Resort – 30-minute drive from North Lake Tahoe, prices are average
- Boreal Mountain California – similar distance as sugarbowl, but pricier
- Tahoe Donner Downhill Ski Resort located near Truckee, about a 30 minute drive. Excellent for beginners, because its a smaller resort
Read my guide on Lake Tahoe in winter for more winter ideas and ski resorts
4. Have a night out at the Alibi brewery
Alibi has two different locations in North Lake Tahoe. They’re a brewery that make their own beer and homemade kombucha. They also have a signature pretzel which is matches their moustache-shaped logo.
Alibi is a nice place to eat for a night out if you’re staying in North Lake Tahoe. I come almost every time I visit. Its popular with locals, but tourists too. They holds trivia nights and other events throughout the year. I came in once when they had line-dancing lessons, and it looked like people were having so much fun.
Check their schedule of events at Alibi here.
5. Visit the town of Truckee
Truckee, California is apart of North Lakle Tahoe, only about a 15 minute drive from the more central area of Lake Tahoe. It has a quaint and walkable main street with old-fashioned 60s-style diners, souvenir shops.
We visited Palisades Tahoe on the way to Truckee, and it was a good day trip. Downtown Truckee is a nice main street to walk down, and there are tons of things to do in the area well.
Truckee has a lot of historical significance; being the location for the construction of the first transcontinental railway in America, and the location of the fall of the Donner party.
Good to Know: There’s an amazing educational kid’s museum in Truckee, which is especially perfect if you’re in Lake Tahoe with toddlers or young kids
Fun fact: North Lake Tahoe consists of a few small towns or communities – Truckee, Tahoe City, Incline Village, Crystal Bay and Kings Beach. Most are of these towns are a part of Nevada, except for Truckee which is apart of California.
6. Visit the beaches (seasonal)
A big draw to Lake Tahoe in general is the beaches, in order to admire the stunning coastline of crystal clear water, granite rocks and alpine mountains in the background.
Regardless of where you are in Lake Tahoe, the beaches offer a gorgeous view. There are a few beach options in North Lake Tahoe, they are:
- Sand Harbour Beach – Very popular with families, and parking spots often fill up by 9am. Get here early. There are picnic areas and water sport equipment rental on-site
- Kings Beach – large and lively beach where events are often held in the summer. Very close to hotels and restaurants, and has amenities such as water sports equipment rentals.
- North Tahoe Beach – 540 feet of public shoreline, family friendly with volleyball nets. 39 parking spaces which get snatched up quickly, so arrive early.
- Moon Dunes Beach – sandy shoreline, mostly natural with very few amenities (portable restrooms provided in the summer months.) Entrance is free, with street parking only available
- Burnt Cedar Beach – this is a resident’s only beach, but some tourists are able to enter through staying at an Airbnb. Keep in mind, it can still get fairly busy even though its resident’s only. Regardless, its a great little beach. There’s a swimming pool, washrooms, water sport equipment rentals and kid’s playground on-site.
Good to Know about beaches in North Lake Tahoe:
- ALL beaches in Lake Tahoe (including the North Lake Tahoe beaches) get extremely busy in the summer months, and parking lots fill up early. Try to be there in the morning.
- Dogs aren’t allowed on any of the North Lake Tahoe beaches, except for a very specific area (end of Racoon street) on North Tahoe beach. So if you want to bring a dog, that is the beach to go to.
7. Go for a walk along the Impossible trail (aka East Shore Trail)
My favourite thing to do in North Lake Tahoe is walk along the Impossible trail, which is a 3 mile (4.8 km) walkway that walks along the lake. The Impossible Trail’s official name is the “East Shore Trail” and as the name suggests, it runs along the east shoreline of the lake, starting in Incline Village.
There are a few designated parking areas long the trail. The parking lots are only about a 5 minute drive from Incline Village.
You can do as much or little of the trail as you want at a time. Its a relaxing and easy paced walk, and especially beautiful at sunset.
Fun Fact: The East Shoreline Trail is called “The Impossible Trail” by locals, because of how long it took to build the trail!
8. Visit the Gatekeeper’s Museum (seasonal)
The Gatekeeper’s Museum is located in Tahoe City, which is on the west side of North Lake Tahoe and is run by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society. The museum is a log cabin right on the lake, so you can enjoy a nature trail, short walk through a trail in the woods, and views of the lake while you’re there.
At the museum, you can learn about some of the families that lived in North Lake Tahoe, the 1966 winter Olympics, and a bit of the Native American culture of the area. The museum is small, but I would give yourself at least an hour to enjoy the museum, and the outdoor grounds outside of it.
The Gatekeeper’s Museum tends to be closed from November through to the end of March.
Good to Know: The Gatekeeper’s Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10-4, and its $10 to get in (kids 12 and under are free.)
9. Take a leisurely walk and enjoy the views at the Lake Tahoe Dam
The Lake Tahoe Dam is right beside the Gatekeeper’s Museum, so I would plan to do them both together.
There are some pretty views of the lake ahead from the dam and the bridge across from it. There’s also a some billboards where you can learn about the history of the dam, when and how it was built and its significance for Lake Tahoe.
10. Go bowling at Bowl Incline
One thing I love about Lake Tahoe is the old fashioned bowling alleys. Bowl Incline in North Lake Tahoe is the place to go for some retro, family-friendly bowling as well as axe-throwing and arcade games.
Bowling is a fun thing to do if you’re in Lake Tahoe with kids, or a fun outing as a couple or with friends.
Bowl Incline is open every day except for Mondays, until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. They have food and drinks, including cocktails.
11. See a movie at Incline Village Cinema
Incline Village Cinema is an old-fashioned movie theatre (a one-man show) in Incline Village, which is a community in North Lake Tahoe. They typically have one movie playing at a time for a few set times per day, on certain days. Check their website to find out whats currently airing.
12. Take breathtaking photos from a lookout
There are some incredible lookout areas in North Lake Tahoe. In South Lake Tahoe, you have Emerald Bay, which is gorgeous, but there are some very scenic lookouts in North Lake Tahoe that are worth checking out as well.
Some of the best scenic lookouts in North Lake Tahoe area:
- Memorial Point Scenic Overlook, on the northeast side of the lake. There’s a parking lot, visitors center and a short dirt path to the lookout
- Stateline Fire Lookout, You’ll park on the road and from there its an easy, paved walking path of 1.8 miles (2.8 km) to a beautiful lookout of the lake
- Tahoe East Shore Trail / Impossible Trail (details below – its a tip in itself)
Good to Know: There are also a few spots to turn off on the highway heading towards Reno from North Lake Tahoe, for gorgeous panoramic views of the lake below (that is where I took the photos above, which don’t do it justice.)
13. (Bonus) Go on a day trip
In North Lake Tahoe, you’re actually closer to a lot of the towns/cities worth checking out nearby than in South Lake Tahoe.
Here are some of the towns nearby that I’d recommend, and their approximate driving distance from the general North Lake Tahoe area (these driving distances are approximate because it depends where in North Lake Tahoe you are.)
- 45 minutes to Carson City, Nevada (the state capital) – known for scenic hiking, boating and casinos
- 1 hour to Virginia City, known as the ‘haunted town’ and ‘city of silver.’ There are a number of things to do including a mine tour, haunted tour, museums, and riding an old fashioned steam train. Read my post on things to do in Virginia City with kids – a lot of it can be applicable to adults too!
- 1 hr, 20 minutes Nevada City, known for its preserved ‘gold rush era’ downtown
Where to Stay in North Lake Tahoe
There are some great places to stay in North Lake Tahoe, which are well suited to the attractions there are to do in the area. You can have a fulfilling time in North Lake Tahoe staying at one of these highly rated places
- Budget: Nordic Retreat -Well priced apartments with outdoor pool right near Kings Beach
- Mid-Range: Gravity Haus Truckee-Tahoe Coszy and rustic hotel located in Truckee
- Luxury: SpringHill Suites by Marriott Truckee Free breakfast, and outdoor pool in Truckee
North Lake Tahoe: FAQs
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about visiting North Lake Tahoe, and comparisons with South Lake Tahoe
What is North Lake Tahoe known for?
Lake Tahoe is known for being as beautiful and scenic as many areas in South Lake Tahoe, but its smaller and less touristy than the south. Most parts of North Lake Tahoe are located in California,
Is North or South Lake Tahoe better?
Neither of them is better or worse, it just depends on your personal preference and priorities. There are a lot of things to do in South Lake Tahoe, but the same can be said about North Lake Tahoe. They both have beaches, and hiking trails. South Lake Tahoe has Heavenly Village, and is close to Emerald Bay and boat cruises that can take you out onto the lake. North Lake Tahoe is a lot closer to tourist towns like Truckee and Virginia City.
What is the difference between North and South Tahoe?
South Lake Tahoe is in California, whereas North Lake Tahoe is in Nevada. South Lake Tahoe has a population of about 20,000 – its much more touristy, with more attractions and things to do. North Lake Tahoe’s population is has some attractions too, but its smaller, and quieter than South Lake Tahoe.
Things to Do in North Lake Tahoe: Conclusion
Whether you’re travelling to Lake Tahoe as family with kids, or as a group of adults- there’s enough to do in North Lake Tahoe to make your trip memorable. There are some gorgeous scenic spots, beaches, ski resorts (open year round for various activities) as well as restaurants and places to stay.
North Lake Tahoe is just as worthwhile of a place to visit or stay as South Lake Tahoe. It provides a lot of great things to do in and around the Lake Tahoe, which is the 2nd deepest lake in the United States (second to Crater Lake, which is about a 6 hour drive from North Lake Tahoe.)