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Recreation

Trails webpages and information will not be available until May 2025. Thank you for your patience while we work through getting the most updated, accurate information for you during this time.

There are over 156,000 acres of National Forest lands in the Lake Tahoe Basin that offer some of the finest recreational opportunities in the nation including camping, hiking, mountain biking, sightseeing and much more! 

The Forest Supervisor's Office in South Lake Tahoe provides year-round recreation information and is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. 

Questions?

Call the Forest Supervisor's Office at 530-543-2600, during open hours. If you reach the recording, we're helping another customer. Leave a message with your name and phone number and we'll call you back as soon as possible. You may also email us.

In summer, stop the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and Tallac Historic Site on Highway 89 near South Lake Tahoe. The visitor center is usually open Memorial Day weekend through the end of October.

Showing: 21 - 30 of 52 results

Inspiration Point
Site Open
Outdoor Science and Learning
This area can be extremely crowded on weekends. Please consider visiting in the early morning or late afternoon for a more relaxing experience.Nestled among towering pine and fir trees near beautiful…

Kaspian Campground
Site Closed
Biking Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities
Kaspian Campground is located on National Forest lands four miles south of Tahoe City, on Highway 89. The campground is operated under a special use permit by Tahoe Recreation, a Division of Vista…

Kaspian Picnic Area
Site Open
Picnicking Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities
Kaspian Picnic Area is located on Highway 89 on the west shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe and offers a spectacular lakeside picnic area with easy access to the lake for kayaking and swimming. Campfires…

Kiva Picnic Area
Site Temporarily Closed
Picnicking Biking Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Water Activities
Kiva picnic area is on the south shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe on Highway 89 three miles northwest of the City of South Lake Tahoe. Nestled among native pine trees, Kiva picnic area offers a quiet…

Lake Tahoe - East Shore
Site Open
Scenic Drives Hiking Outdoor Science and Learning Picnicking Water Activities Winter Sports Horse Riding and Camping Biking Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
The east shore of Lake Tahoe is located on the Nevada side along the west slope of the Carson Range. Access to this mostly undeveloped side of the lake is via Highways 50 and 28. Recreational…

Lake Tahoe - North Shore
Site Open
Scenic Drives Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning Biking Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
The north shore of Lake Tahoe is half and half. Half lies in California and the other half in Nevada. Access is via Highway 28, which stretches from Tahoe City, California to Incline Village,…

Lake Tahoe - South Shore
Site Open
Scenic Drives Picnicking Water Activities Hiking Horse Riding and Camping Biking Winter Sports Outdoor Science and Learning Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
The south shore of Lake Tahoe is located on the California side of the lake with the main access via Highways 50 and 89.  The south shore boasts a spectrum of commercial development intermixed with…

Lake Tahoe - West Shore
Scenic Drives Biking Hiking Picnicking Water Activities Outdoor Science and Learning Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Off Highway Vehicles (OHV)
The west shore of Lake Tahoe is located on the California side of the lake. Highway 89 stretches along this side of the lake with access via Highway 50 to the south and Interstate 80 to the north.…

Luther Pass Campground
Site Closed
Hiking Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Outdoor Science and Learning
Luther Pass Campground is a primitive, backcountry campground located on Highway 89 approximately 16 miles south of the City of South Lake Tahoe. This campground is free and has a seven-day stay…

McKinney/Rubicon Trailhead
Site Temporarily Closed
Hunting, Fishing and Shooting Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) Biking Hiking Scenic Drives
The McKinney-Rubicon Trailhead is approximately one mile west from the Tahoma neighborhood entrance on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. Trailer parking and pit toilets are available at the trailhead…
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