Lake Tahoe is a world-class skiing area in California and Nevada. It offers dozens of ski resorts and incredible slopes with views overlooking the beautiful Lake Tahoe. During my time in California, I was lucky enough to visit Lake Tahoe several times with my host family. We stayed at their house in Truckee and spent our days skiing, enjoying the snowy scenery and experiencing winter in Tahoe. In this guide, I’m sharing my personal experience, where we stayed, what skiing in Lake Tahoe was like and some of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe in winter besides skiing. I also visited Lake Tahoe during summer, and it was amazing to see how completely different the area feels depending on the season. While summer is all about the lake, beaches and outdoor adventures, winter transforms Tahoe into a beautiful snowy mountain destination.
Where we stayed in Lake Tahoe
During my time at Lake Tahoe we stayed at Squaw Valley. My host family owns a house in Truckee and because of that they are spending time there during summer and winter. It was only a 3 hours car ride from our home in San Francisco. Here is a picture of the house during summer time. During the winter time there was a lot of snow.
That was our balcony view from the house during winter time. It was so amazing to see the trees covered with snow.
Skiing in Tahoe
We were skiing in the area called Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows. Skiing in Tahoe was a really nice and fun experience. As I am an Austrian, I already saw a lot of different ski regions, and Tahoe is one of my favourite ones.
Although skiing in Tahoe was really nice, the prices are much more expansiv compared to Austria.
Après-Ski
On a few days my host family asked met if I wanted to do Après-Ski with them. I already knew it from Austria, how we celebrate it, and because of that I said yes and was really excited to find out more about the “American Après-Ski style”. It was really funny to see because it is totally different then in Austria. They do not really have a lot of huts where they celebrate it and people do not get that much drunk as in Austria.
Things to Do in Lake Tahoe in Winter Besides Skiing
Skiing might be one of the main reasons to visit Lake Tahoe in winter, but there are plenty of other things to do if you want to take a break from the slopes or don’t ski at all.
Ice Skating
Ice skating is a fun way to enjoy the winter atmosphere in Lake Tahoe without hitting the ski slopes. Several areas around the lake offer seasonal ice skating rinks, making it a great activity for a relaxed winter afternoon or evening.
Snowshoeing
Snowshoeing is another great way to experience Lake Tahoe’s snowy landscape. It allows you to explore the winter scenery at a much slower pace and enjoy the peaceful forests and mountain views away from the busy ski slopes.
Spa and Hot Tub
After spending the day outside in the snow, relaxing in a spa or hot tub is the perfect way to warm up. I especially loved ending a cold winter day in the hot tub and simply enjoying the cozy mountain atmosphere.
