Its waters are 99.9 percent pure - about the same quality as distilled H2O. In fact, Lake Tahoe is so clear that a dinner plate is visible 75 feet below the surface.

Indeed, this is a vacation destination with some impressive stats. At 22 miles long and 12 miles wide, Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. It boasts over 70 miles of scenic coastline, including the world-class boating, skiing, and gambling towns of Tahoe City, Incline Village, Truckee, King’s Beach, and South Lake Tahoe.

It holds an estimated 39.75 trillion gallons of water - enough to cover the entire state of California to a depth of 14 inches. Its evaporation volume is equally remarkable - 1.4 million tons every day, enough to supply the needs of 3.5 million people on a daily basis.

The average depth of Lake Tahoe is 989 feet, but its deepest point is 1,645 feet - which makes it the third-deepest lake in North America. While the surface water temperature will reach 68 degrees in summer months, depths below 700 feet (and the entire lake in winter months) remain about 39 degrees.

The sun also shines at Lake Tahoe 75 percent of the year (274 days), making it one idyllic destination. The average surface elevation of the lake is 6,227 feet above sea level - a backdrop of the majestic snowcapped Sierra Nevada punctuates the already jaw-dropping splendor. The highest peak rising directly from the shoreline is Mt. Tallac at nearly 10,000 feet.

But the real beauty of Lake Tahoe is its accessibility. This incredible body of water spanning the Nevada/California border is 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, 98 miles northeast of Sacramento, and 42 miles southwest of Reno. The north shore of Lake Tahoe is a mere 20-minute drive off Interstate 80.

In addition, Tahoe is an RVers paradise. Lakeside campgrounds and top-notch RV parks abound; a few remain open year-round for skiers. Plus, the area’s casinos welcome rigs of all shapes and sizes. On any given night, the parking lots of these gaming centers are so packed with Class As, towables, and Class Cs, they can take on the appearance of an RV rally.

One of Tahoe’s best attributes is its abundance of activities for people of all ages. Visitors can partake in everything from boating, golf, and soaring glider rides to paddle boat dinner cruises, hiking, and hot air balloon tours. Of course, the excitement of the casinos is not to be missed. These hubs of gaming activity offer shows, live music, spa treatments, and delectable dining.

All the seasons of this alpine lake are spectacular, but fall is one of the best-kept secrets. The weather stays warm as the Aspen trees turn brilliant shades of gold. This makes for breathtaking lake drives, hiking, and wildlife viewing - which is known to be the best in the autumn. So pack up your rig and roll on down the highway to enjoy the clear waters, crisp mountain air, and clear blue skies of Lake Tahoe.

Prospector’s Paradise

Lake Tahoe has a long and fascinating history. The first visitors were the Washoe Indians who migrated from the Carson Valley in the south each summer in search of cooler temperatures, plentiful fish, and wild game. The first non-native adventurers to stumble upon Tahoe’s stunning blue waters were guided by the legendary Kit Carson. He brought John C. Fremont and his party of explorers to Red Lake Peak in 1844 - about 20 miles southwest of Lake Tahoe. Four years later, Kit Carson carved a new trail over what is now called Carson Pass. This trail became the main route for prospectors and adventurers headed west from Utah to California. It eventually became known as the Mormon-Emigrant Trail.

In 1856, John “Snowshoe” Thompson of Telemark, Norway initiated a mail route from Placerville, CA to Genoa, NV on a pair of homemade “ski-skates” - which were eight feet long and weighed 20 pounds. He ran this route, which took three days to Genoa and two days back, two to four times a month for 20 long winters.

In 1859, Snowshoe picked up an unfamiliar blue rock and carried it to Sacramento to have it assayed - it was rich in silver. The Comstock Lode had been discovered and the Tahoe Basin would feel the effects of this discovered stone for decades.

In 1944, Lady Luck arrived yet again in Tahoe with the opening of Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall. This marked the beginning of a gaming era that continues today.

Later in the ’40s, another future big business was initiated. Skiing was introduced to the area with the first two rope tows installed by what is now Ski Run Boulevard. The Bijou Park Skiway was a substantial operation, with a warming hut for rental gear, a few ski instructors, floodlights for night skiing, and a straight, groomed run about 1,000 feet long. The rest is, as they say, history.

Abundant Activity

There is a feeling of freedom in the days here filled with warming sunshine, clean air, lapping water, and mountain views. You could choose to kick back and lounge at one of the area’s pristine beaches - from the expansive Nevada Beach to Camp Richardson Beach, which boasts The Beacon Bar and Grill, beach volleyball, and a marina.

Or are you happiest on the links? The Lake Tahoe area boasts one of the nation’s greatest concentrations of championship-caliber golf courses - including designs by Nicklaus, Palmer, Miller, Weiskopf, Fazio, Harbottle, Zoeller, and Jacobsen. Golf season begins in May and can extend into November, given favorable weather conditions. Some of the area’s favorite greens include Edgewood Tahoe, (775) 588-3566, on the South Shore, which has been voted one of the top 100 public courses. This 72-par course, designed by George Fazio, is home to the American Century Championship and the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes border the lake.

For a different pace, the Bijou Municipal golf course [(530) 542-6097] offers a nine-hole low-pressure par 33 layout. In addition, the Lake Tahoe Golf Course [(530) 577-0788] is a par 71, 18-hole championship course with scenic vistas of Echo Summit. A short distance from South Lake Tahoe is The Genoa Lakes Golf Club [(775) 782-4653] a challenging John Harbottle and Peter Jacobsen design that was voted the fourth best new public course in North America in 1994 by Golf Digest.

Want to head out into nature? The lake is surrounded by 300 miles of some of the most scenic hiking trails in the country, many of which lead to crystal clear swimming holes. The Tahoe Rim Trail is a 150-mile route that loops around Lake Tahoe—it features “all-access” trails for beginners and children. There are even some hiking trails accessible by wheelchair.

Another hike from Emerald Bay is a relatively easy trek down to Vikingsholm Beach. At the bay, hikers can tour the Scandinavian castle and go for a dip in one of the most beautiful inland harbors in the world. The more adventurous hikers head up Mt. Tallac, the highest peak on the rim of Lake Tahoe. A mere four-mile hike to the pinnacle, the views from the top are unparalleled. Or let a trusty steed carry you out into the wilds – horseback riding is available at Camp Richardson Resort and at Zephyr Cove Resort, as well as Kirkwood, a ski area about 35 miles southeast of Lake Tahoe.

For something more buoyant, there are a variety of ways to experience the lake’s wondrous waters. You can hop aboard one of the two Mississippi paddlewheelers, the M.S. Dixie II and the Tahoe Queen (both open year-round), and cruise into Emerald Bay. You can also bring your own boat or rent one at many lake spots like Ski Run Marina, located one mile from Stateline.

For a full view of the area–and a unique experience–visitors can take a sunrise hot air balloon ride. Balloons Over Lake Tahoe takes off from a 40-foot catamaran yacht in the middle of the lake. The hour-long flight is finished off with champagne, hot beverages, and pastries served on the yacht. Tahoe is also not lacking in more extreme adventures. The increasingly popular glider rides are one way to get the adrenaline pumping. Soaring on airwaves and thermals at 15,000 feet, this tour gets the ultimate views of the lake. Soar Minden [(800) 345-7627] provides one-hour tours; prices range from $95 for one person to $275

for two people. High Country Soaring [(775) 782-4944] offers 45-minute, narrated, one-passenger rides for $100. Upon request, pilots will perform “Top Gun” aerobatics.

Are You Game?

After a busy day at the lake, vacationers can relax at one of the local casinos for fine dining, shows, and gaming, if they so choose. All the casinos are located on the Nevada side of the lake in towns like Stateline, Crystal Bay, and South Lake Tahoe. Many of the gambling houses, such as the Tahoe Biltmore, exude a vintage old-school appeal from their heyday in the 1950s when stars such as Elvis and Frank Sinatra frequented the area. Others are more modern and sleek, such as Caesars and Harrah’s. South Lake Tahoe itself is actually in the final stages of a $1 billion redevelopment project, including new lodging and timeshare properties, retail shopping, restaurants, outdoor events, and the new Heavenly Gondola.

For a much broader gambling experience, players can head down the hill to Reno, America’s “Biggest Little City.” Depending on your location on the lake, this trip will take from 40 to 70 minutes. A plethora of fine dining establishments (including stellar buffets), top-notch entertainment, and casino gaming await you.

An RVers Paradise

Those coming into town in a motorhome have many options for setting up camp. In the north shore area, just off Interstate 80, is Coachland RV Park [(530) 587-3071] a peaceful haven of full hookup (30/50 amp) pull-through sites set amongst towering pines. Zephyr Cove campground, which sits on the Nevada side of South Lake Tahoe, recently completed a $4 million restoration project. The new sites are larger (many can accommodate RVs up to 40 feet), more accessible, and feature 30/50 amp electrical, telephone service, and separate phone jacks for Internet connections.

Additionally, sites on the California side of South Lake Tahoe include Camp Richardson, a popular summer resort with recreation amenities including kayaking, waterskiing, parasailing, sailing, windsurfing, a swimming lagoon, paved bike trail, equestrian center, and beach volleyball court. The adjacent Beacon Restaurant has live music on its outside deck.

The Campground by the Lake is a municipal option that accommodates up to 160 RVs. The 35-acre park is located in the center of town, next to South Lake Tahoe’s Recreation Complex, which houses a heated pool, fitness center, senior center, and ice-skating rink.

Web Resources
www.bluelaketahoe.com
www.virtualtahoe.com
www.tahoevacationguide.com
www.gotahoe.com
www.tahoeinfo.com