Tahoe is a great place to unwind, relax and get away from the hustle and bustle, and many people love to come here and relax with their dogs. We have several dog-friendly vacation homes as well as some suggestions while you are here for some places to take your pet, including pet-friendly beaches, trails or restaurants. As with any natural setting, we do ask that you leash your dog and clean up after your pet to help reduce damage to the natural surroundings.
Here is a list of some dog-friendly beaches, trails, and parks.
BEACHES
1. Skylandia State Park & Beach - North Lake Tahoe
Lake Forest Rd, Tahoe City, CA 96145
(530) 583-3796
Skylandia Park and Beach are located on the West Shore near Tahoe City. The beach is still fairly unknown in the summer and doesn't get as crowded as other beaches. A great time to visit is during the fall and winter months where the dog can run free on the beaches and in the water. Pets are permitted only on dog-friendly beaches at Skylandia and they must be on a leash. There are doggy waste bags available at the park.
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2. Patton Beach - North Lake Tahoe
5002 North Lake Blvd. Carnelian Bay, CA 96140
Patton Beach is located in Carnelian Bay and is a small rocky beach with picnic tables, restrooms, and a nature walk. This beach allows dogs and tends to stay fairly uncrowded in the summer.
Our Closest Dog-Friendly Rental Homes or Condos: LAKEVIEW DELIGHT IN DOLLAR POINT
3. Carnelian West Beach - North Lake Tahoe
5074 North Lake Boulevard Carnelian Bay, CA
(530) 542-5580
The Carnelian West beach in Carnelian Bay has a free parking facility and boating buoy area by the Gar Woods restaurant. This wide, flat beach has year-round public restrooms and accepts leashed dogs. Barbecues and picnic tables allow you to picnic at the water's edge. There are some grassy spots at this beach that can be rented for special events, but dogs are not allowed in these areas.
Our Closest Dog-Friendly Rental Homes or Condos: LAKEVIEW DELIGHT IN DOLLAR POINT
4. Tahoe XC Ski Park - Tahoe City
925 Country Club Dr, Tahoe City, California 96145
(530) 583-5475
Dogs love the Tahoe snow just as much as you do and they are allowed to ski with you on the cross country trails at Tahoe XC. There area few special green loops where dogs are allowed to "ski" without leashes. The cost is an extra $4 a dog and poop bags are offered free of charge.
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5. Coon Street Beach & Boat Launch
N Lake Blvd & Bear Street Kings Beach, CA 96143
This is the designated dog-friendly beach, but let's be honest, when "no one" is looking, the dogs are all loose on the other side of the boat launch. However, it is a designated on-leash area. It's a great place for sunset shots when the water is calm and there is a hint of clouds.
Our Closest Rental Homes or Condos: SOLITUDE RETREAT IN TAHOE VISTA
6. Echo Lakes - South Lake Tahoe
9900 Echo Lakes Rd, Echo Lake, CA 95721
(530) 543-2600
Echo Lakes near Highway 50 and South Lake Tahoe is a fun place for hikers and for the family dog. These two lakes nestled in a granite basin are just before Desolation Wilderness and have some easy hiking paths around them. The Echo Chalet has parking, a restaurant and a water taxi in the summer that takes people and their pets across Lower Echo Lake.
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7. Bijou Community Park - South Lake Tahoe
1201 Al Tahoe Blvd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Bijou Park is centrally located and an easy place to let your dog run and play with other dogs in either of 2 large fenced areas complete with a watering station. Another nice aspect of Bijou Park is that it is set up for multiple outdoor activities for the whole family to take advantage of. These include disc golf, volleyball, skate and bike parks as well as some historic exhibits. Separate fenced areas allow dog Owners to choose which crowd seems to fit their dog's disposition best. Clean up bags are provided.
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8. Taylor Creek Trail - South Lake Tahoe
Take Emerald Bay Road (89) about 3.5 miles from the intersection of 89/ Hwy 50. There are usually a fair amount of open parking spots.
A beautiful and easy stroll with your dog along Taylor Creek can be a perfect part of the day. The rush of the rapids below adds an air of tranquility and also provides several convenient watering holes to quench your dog's thirst. Dogs are allowed off leash here as long as you keep them under voice control. This trail will bring you up to Fallen Leaf Lake and continues all the way around it if the mood commands.
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9. Donner Memorial State Park
Highway 80 Truckee, California
530-582-7892
While dogs are not allowed at the China Cove Beach Area and the nature trail behind the museum, they are allowed on the rest of the trails at this park. Dogs are also allowed in the lake. Pets must be on a leash at all times and please clean up after them. It is located off Highway 80 in Truckee.
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HIKES
If your feeling more adventurous, we have some great hikes that your dog is free to join you on.
1. Shirley Canyon Cascades Trail
1912 Chamonix Pl, Olympic Valley, CA 96146
This is a beautiful canyon. The first hike to high camp with the return cable car ride was a good day spent with my children, the youngest was eight, with children it was about a 2-hour hike. Please bring your own dog waste clean-up bags as these are not provided on the trailhead. We encourage all dog owners to keep it clean so our pups continue to be welcomed.
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2. Tahoe City Lakeside Trail
Downtown Tahoe City Tahoe City, California 96145
A mile-long "missing link" between two legs of the North Shore's 19-mile bike path around the river opened in June in Tahoe City. The Lakeshore Trail is actually a waterfront promenade set about with plazas and picnic areas. Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail, but not in the lake.
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3. Page Meadows
Page Meadows, part of the Tahoe National Forest, is an easy and beautiful hiking area on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. It is great for snowshoe beginners in the winter and wildflower enthusiasts in the spring and summer. It's also a great place for dogs and views, offering a wide-open panoramic view of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra crest. Numerous trails, 14 miles of them, by some counts spider-web throughout the area.
Directions:
There are several ways in:
• From Highway 89, two miles south of Tahoe City, turn right on Pineland Drive. Turn right on Forest Service Road 15N60 or 16N48 to get to the area.
Another option:
• From Highway 89 just north of Sunnyside, turn left on Pine Street and veer right on Tahoe Park Heights Drive. Continue up the steep hill and turn right on Big Pine Drive. Make your first left on Silvertip Drive. Go to the end of the paved road and park. The unmarked trail starts at the end of Silvertip and will take you and your dog to the meadows.
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4. Five Lakes Trail
This moderate hike rewards with great scenery and a string of five sparkling lakes open for fishing and swimming. It's about 5 miles round-trip from the trailhead on Alpine Meadows Road to the first lake. You can also come in via Barker Pass. Please respect the wilderness: stay on the trail, keep your dog close and pack out all waste. This is a popular trail, so if you like solitude come during the week rather than on the weekend.
Getting there: Take Highway 89 south from Tahoe City about 10 miles to Alpine Meadows Road. Turn right and continue about two miles to the trailhead on the right, near the intersection with Deer Park Road. Parking is available alongside the road. No fees or permits are required.
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5. Granite Chief Wilderness
Designated as a wilderness area in 1984 to protect its natural beauty, the Granite Chief Wilderness encompasses glacier-carved valleys, red fir forests, granite formations, and pristine mountain meadows. Several major streams drain the area, and the northwest section of the Wilderness is part of the French Meadows Game Refuge.
Pets are permitted in the Granite Chief Wilderness, with some exceptions. During the fawning season, deer are extremely sensitive to disturbances. Fawns are in their most vulnerable stages and are stressed from the birthing process. From May 15 to July 15 fawning areas in the Granite Chief Wilderness are closed to dogs:
• Wilderness portion of the French Meadows Game Refuge, except for the area east of the Pacific Crest Trail
• Big Springs trail and the portion of Five Lakes creek that parallels the trail (south of the Whiskey Creek structures, basically in the middle of the wilderness)
Trailheads are accessible from Highway 89 on the west shore of Lake Tahoe via Alpine Meadows Road, Squaw Valley Road, Ward Creek Boulevard, Blackwood Canyon Road, and Barker Pass Road. Many of the trailheads and trails accessing the wilderness are on private land. Please respect the rights of landowners.
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