paddleboating
ENTERING THE UNITED STATES AND CALIFORNIA
ACCESS FOR TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
Winnemucca Lake Loop Trail.
The closest major airport to Lake Tahoe is Reno-Tahoe International Airport (2001 E. Plumb La., Reno, 775/328-6400, www.renoairport.com) in Nevada, a 45-minute drive from Incline Village on the northeast shore of the lake or a one-hour drive from South Lake Tahoe and Stateline on the south shore. The medium-size airport has two main terminals that serve Alaska, Allegiant, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest, United, US Airways, and Volaris airlines. Scattered among the gates are the usual cabal of airport shops: a Peets Coffee, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Burger King, golf shop, and several gift shops and newsstands. Also, since Reno is in the gambling-friendly state of Nevada, travelers will find an abundance of slot machines throughout the airport. While waiting for your plane, you will be continually annoyed by these machines spouting the cry, “Wheel of Fortune!”
Tahoe-bound travelers can also fly into Sacramento International Airport (www.sacramento.aero/smf), which is a 2.5-hour drive from Lake Tahoe. Relatively small and pleasantly uncongested, Sacramento Airport is served by these airlines: Aeromexico, Alaska, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Horizon, JetBlue, Seaport, Southwest, United, United Express, US Airways, and Volaris. A typical array of airport restaurants and boutiques can be found here: Starbucks, Cinnabon, Burger King, Baja Fresh, several bookstores and souvenir shops, and the like.
Visitors might also want to look into flights at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) (www.flysfo.com) or the San Francisco Bay Area’s two other major airports, in Oakland (www.oaklandairport.com) and San Jose (www.sjc.org). It is a four-hour drive from San Francisco or San Jose to Lake Tahoe; Oakland is about a half hour closer. Flights into Oakland or San Jose are often less expensive than flights into SFO.
Smaller airports are located at South Lake Tahoe and Truckee, but neither one has commercial service.
Shuttle services run between the Reno-Tahoe International Airport and both the South and North Shores. To get to the South Shore, contact South Tahoe Express (866/898-2463, www.southtahoeexpress.com, $29.75 per adult one-way or $53 round-trip), which offers several scheduled runs daily. To get from the Reno airport to the North Shore, contact North Lake Tahoe Express (866/216-5222, www.northlaketahoeexpress.com, $40 per person one-way, $75 round-trip, discounts for multiple people in your party), which offers scheduled service 5:30am-midnight daily.
For a more private and pricier ride, on-demand limousine service is offered by Bell Limousine (775/786-3700 or 800/235-5466, www.bell-limo.com), Executive Limousine (775/333-3300, www.exlimo.com), or No Stress Express (775/885-9832, www.nostressexpress.com).
Visitors to Lake Tahoe coming from the west (Sacramento or the San Francisco Bay Area) should use U.S. 50 to access the South Shore and I-80 to access the North Shore. U.S. 50 splits off I-80 in downtown Sacramento and travels east through Placerville and over Echo Summit to South Lake Tahoe (about 2 hours or 100 miles from Sacramento and 3.5 hours or 200 miles from San Francisco). For visitors heading to the North Shore, I-80 continues east from Sacramento for another 90 miles to Truckee. At Truckee, take Highway 89 south for 15 miles to Tahoe City.
Visitors traveling to Lake Tahoe from the east (Reno) can take U.S. 395 south for 7 miles to Highway 431 west. Drive southwest on Highway 431 for 20 miles to Incline Village on the northeast shore of the lake. Or, to reach the South Shore directly, take U.S. 395 south from Reno through Carson City, then take U.S. 50 west to South Lake Tahoe (about one hour or 60 miles). Or, to reach points near Tahoe City or the West Shore, take I-80 west from Reno for 32 miles to Truckee. In Truckee, connect to Highway 267 and travel south to the lakeshore at Tahoe Vista or Kings Beach (12 miles), or connect to Highway 89 and travel south to Tahoe City (15 miles).
To get current updates on road conditions on the California side of Lake Tahoe, phone 800/427-7623 or visit www.dot.ca.gov. To get current updates on Nevada road conditions, phone 877/687-6237 or visit www.nvroads.com.
One note: When crossing into California by automobile, all visitors are subject to agricultural inspections. These inspections are run by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA, 916/654-0462 or 800/675-2427). The inspection may be as simple as an officer stopping your car momentarily to ask you where you have been traveling and if you are carrying any fruits, vegetables, or plants from other states. Be sure to declare anything you are carrying. In very rare cases, vehicles are searched. As a general rule, most out-of-state produce and plants should be kept out of California, unless they have been properly inspected by the CDFA.
Several major car-rental companies are located at Reno-Tahoe International Airport: Advantage (800/777-5500, www.advantage.com), Alamo (877/222-9075, www.alamo.com), Avis (800/331-1212, www.avis.com), Budget (800/527-0700, www.budget.com), Dollar (800/800-3665, www.dollar.com), Enterprise (800/261-7331, www.enterprise.com), Hertz (800/654-3131, www.hertz.com), National (800/227-9058, www.nationalcar.com), Payless (800/729-5377, www.paylesscar.com), and Thrifty (800/847-4389, www.thrifty.com).
Travelers flying into Sacramento or the San Francisco Bay Area airports also have their pick of all the major car-rental companies. Once you have arrived in Tahoe, you can also rent cars from Enterprise Rent-A-Car (530/544-8844, South Lake Tahoe; 530/550-1550, Truckee).
RV rentals will vary widely whether you are traveling during the high season (June-Sept.) or low season (Oct.-May). For an RV that can sleep up to five people (about 32 feet long), expect to pay about $175-275 per night in the low season and as much as $300-500 per night in the high season. On a night-by-night basis, you can save a little money by renting an RV for a week. Seven nights’ rental will run about $1,500 during the low season and $2,200-2,900 during the high season. But don’t forget to tack on the mileage fee. Most companies allow 100 free miles per day, and then charge a flat rate for extra mileage (typically about $0.35 per mile).
Also, plan to spend a small fortune on gasoline—most RVs get 6-10 miles to the gallon. The smallest rigs may get a whopping 14 miles per gallon. Your best bet for renting an RV in Reno is Cruise America (Reno KOA at Boomtown Casino, 2100 Garson Rd., Verdi, 775/824-0576 or 800/671-8042, www.cruiseamerica.com), just off I-80. In Sacramento, RV rentals are available through Cruise America (800/671-8042, www.cruiseamerica.com), which has four locations in the area.
Recreational vehicles are welcome at Lake Tahoe, although some drivers may find it difficult to negotiate them on mountain roads and through the lakeshore traffic. If you are planning to camp in your RV, check which campgrounds have sites specifically for RVs, including hookups and dump stations.
Except on the most crowded summer and winter holidays, driving a car around Lake Tahoe is quite easy. Parking, on the other hand, is another matter, especially at some of the top sightseeing destinations. If you are visiting the South Shore in summer, consider leaving your car at your lodging and taking the Nifty Fifty Trolley (530/541-7149, www.bluego.org). On the North Shore, public transportation is readily available through Tahoe Area Regional Transit and the Tahoe Trolley (TART, 530/550-1212 or 800/736-6365, www.laketahoetransit.com). You and your bike can also catch a ride on the North Lake Tahoe Water Shuttle (530/581-8707, www.northlaketahoewatershuttle.com) to travel by water to restaurants, bike trails, and activities between Tahoe City and Homewood.
In the winter months, almost all the ski resorts around the Tahoe basin are accessible by free public transportation. Check the website of the resort you are planning to visit for details.
When visiting Tahoe from November to April, know that chains may be required on any road at any time. Always carry chains in your car and know how to put them on your drive wheels. To get current updates on road conditions on the California side of Lake Tahoe, phone 800/427-7623 or visit www.dot.ca.gov. To get current updates on Nevada road conditions, phone 877/687-6237 or visit www.nvroads.com.
For visitors to the South Shore, a street map of South Lake Tahoe, Stateline, and its environs is available for a small fee from South Shore visitors centers. Hikers, mountain bikers, and others who want to explore beyond the highways will want a detailed trail map, such as the Lake Tahoe Recreation Map or Desolation Wilderness Trail Map published by Tom Harrison Maps (415/456-7940, www.tomharrisonmaps.com). These are available for a fee at most Tahoe outdoor stores and visitors centers or by ordering direct. Another good map for outdoor recreationists is the Lake Tahoe Basin Hiking and Biking Trail Map by Adventure Maps Inc. (503/385-8023, www.adventuremaps.net, $12), available from Tahoe outdoor stores and visitors centers or by ordering online. Adventure Maps also makes the Lake Tahoe Water Trail Map and Guide for paddlers and boaters.
Be sure to watch for wildlife crossing the road.
Discover Lake Tahoe Tours (530/542-1080, www.demotours.com, $45 adults, $35 children) offers narrated shuttle bus tours around the lake and to Virginia City most of the year. They also offer tours from the South Shore to Yosemite National Park and San Francisco.
In the summer months, the Nifty Fifty Trolley (530/541-7149, www.bluego.org) provides narrated tours combined with shuttle service along the length of the South Shore. The trolleys are open-sided buses—replicas of 19th-century streetcars with polished oak seats and brass poles—that allow riders to enjoy the fresh mountain air while they travel. Riders can get on and off as often as they like with a $5 all-day pass. Also in summer months, the Tahoe Trolley (800/736-6365, www.laketahoetransit.com) travels along much of the North and West Shores.
The South Shore casinos offer their own free shuttles to and from most lodgings along the U.S. 50 corridor. Most major ski resorts on both the North and South Shores also offer free winter ski shuttles from various locations to the slopes. Contact the individual resorts, or see the specific chapters in this book, for more information.
Generally, citizens of foreign countries who wish to visit the United States must first obtain a visa. To apply for a visa, applicants must prove that the purpose of their trip to the United States is for business, pleasure, or medical treatment; that they plan to remain for a limited period of time; and that they have a residence outside the United States as well as other binding ties that will guarantee their return abroad.
However, under the Visa Waiver Program, citizens of 38 foreign countries do not need a visa for travel to the United States, provided they are staying no more than 90 days. The countries are: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the customs process, the U.S. Department of Agriculture screens all foreign visitors at their first point of arrival in the United States (usually, at the airport). Foreigners must declare, in writing, all fruits, vegetables, fruit and vegetable products, meat, meat products, and dairy products that they have brought from another country. Failure to declare an apple or orange, or a leftover sandwich containing meat, can lead to a major delay in getting through customs.
Once a foreign visitor is inside the United States, he or she may travel freely from state to state. However, all visitors (foreign or not) are subject to additional agricultural inspections when entering California by automobile from bordering states. A California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) officer may stop your car momentarily to ask you where you’ve been traveling and if you are carrying any fruits, vegetables, or plants from other states. In rare cases, vehicles are searched. Most out-of-state produce and plants should be kept out of California. For more information on current regulations, phone the CDFA consumer help line at 800/675-2427 or 916/654-0462.
Finally, there is no compulsory or government insurance plan in the United States. Foreign travelers are advised to purchase travel and health insurance in case of an emergency.
Most large banks in the United States exchange major foreign currencies. Several major American banks (Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Bank of the West, and others) are found in the cities of South Lake Tahoe, Incline Village, and Tahoe City. Large international airports such as Reno-Tahoe or Sacramento also have currency exchange offices in their terminals.
While traveling in California, your best bet is to use credit cards for purchases and an ATM (automated teller machine) to get cash. ATMs are found at numerous locations around the lake.
Electrical current in the United States is 110 volts. A hair dryer or electric shaver from England or Germany won’t work here without an adapter, which can be purchased at most travel stores.
Within the United States, you may phone 888/US1-INFO (888/871-4636) for free access to emergency services and travel assistance in more than 140 languages.
If you’re visiting Lake Tahoe for the first time, you may be surprised to find that this mountainous region is by no means remote or cut off from the trappings and comforts of civilization. In fact, Tahoe has all the amenities of most small cities. Within a few miles of any spot around the lake’s perimeter, you’ll find major chain grocery stores, restaurants of both the upscale and hole-in-the-wall variety (and everything in between), lodgings of all types, gas stations, post offices, and even coffeehouses and day spas. This greatly relieves the pressure of packing for your trip to Tahoe. If you choose to, you can leave almost everything at home except for the clothes on your back. Anything you need, you can buy, particularly in the big towns of Tahoe City, Incline Village, South Lake Tahoe, and Stateline.
In the summer months, a few personal items you might want to pack are hiking boots or sturdy shoes for walking, and a small day pack or fanny pack. Even nonhikers are often inspired to take a walk on one of Lake Tahoe’s myriad trails. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are far more comfortable, and a lot safer, than the casual sightseeing shoes you might wear around town. A small day pack or fanny pack is useful for holding a bottle of water, a snack, and your camera.
It’s also wise to bring a variety of clothing for layering. Weather changes constantly in the Sierra Nevada; it’s smart to pack rain gear, jackets, and clothes for both warm and cool weather—even though you may spend your entire vacation in nothing but shorts and a T-shirt.
The general rule of thumb for summer trips to Lake Tahoe: Bring warm clothes for evenings (especially if you’re camping) and layers for daytime. Always carry lightweight rain gear with you, as summer afternoon thunderstorms are common. Spring and fall are cooler, so pack warmer layers.
For winter trips to the lake, always carry snow chains for your car tires, even if you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle. Although most of Tahoe’s roads and highways are kept plowed in winter, chains are often required. It is far less expensive to buy chains for your car at a big-box store in a large city (department stores like Wal-Mart or K-Mart carry chains, as well as auto supply stores) than it is to buy or rent them at Lake Tahoe.
If you’ve just arrived in town, the best sources for all-around information, maps, and brochures are the area visitors centers. On the South Shore, head to the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority’s Nevada office (169 Hwy. 50, 3rd Fl., Stateline, 775/588-5900, www.tahoesouth.com), located across from Lakeside Inn and Casino, or its California office (3066 Hwy. 50, South Lake Tahoe, 530/544-5050, www.tahoesouth.com), located next door to the Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum near El Dorado Beach. For recreation information, go to Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead (4114 Hwy. 50, South Lake Tahoe, 530/542-2908, www.cityofslt.us) or the U.S. Forest Service office (35 College Dr., South Lake Tahoe, 530/543-2600, www.fs.fed.us/r5/ltbmu).
When backpacking, a firm sleeping pad is essential.
On the North Shore, head to the Tahoe City Visitors Information Center (380 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, 530/581-6900 or 888/434-1262, www.gotahoenorth.com). For information about Truckee and nearby areas, try the Truckee Donner Visitors Center (10065 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, 530/587-8808, www.truckee.com). And in Incline Village, go to the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce (969 Tahoe Blvd./Hwy. 28 in Incline Village, 775/832-1606 or 800/468-2463, www.gotahoenorth.com).
California State Parks offers several annual passes, including the Tahoe Regional Annual Pass (www.store.parks.ca.gov, $75), which includes all Lake Tahoe state parks. Passes can be purchased at the California State Parks online store and at many state park visitor centers and entrance stations.
The U.S. Forest Service sells the Interagency Recreation Pass (www.fs.fed.us, $80 annually), but pass holders must still pay all or a portion of the entrance fee at Tahoe’s Forest Service-run beaches and trailheads.
You must be 21 years of age to purchase and/or drink alcohol in California or Nevada. Drinking and driving is a serious crime in both states; the simple act of having an open container of alcohol in your car, even if it is empty, is punishable by law. If you are arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, you must submit to a chemical test to determine blood alcohol content.
Sending text messages or talking on a handheld cell phone is illegal while driving in California or Nevada. It is legal to talk on your phone if you are using a hands-free device (earpiece). Also, you must wear a seat belt while driving or riding in a car in California or Nevada.
Smoking is prohibited on public transportation and in all public buildings in California. Restaurants and bars also prohibit smoking. For the most part, you aren’t allowed to light up unless you are in a private space or outside in an open area. If someone asks you to put out your cigarette, it’s best to do so. Chances are good that they have the law on their side. In Nevada, smoking in most public places is allowed, unless a business has its own individual policy about smoking. You must be 18 years of age to purchase tobacco products in California or Nevada.
Gambling is legal in the state of Nevada for persons over the age of 21.
The Nevada state sales tax is 6.85 percent, but local taxes as high as 1.25 percent are usually added on top of that, adding as much as 8.1 percent to everything you buy. The California state sales tax is 7.5 percent, but local taxes as high as 1.5 percent may be tacked on, adding as much as 9 percent to your purchase price.
At sit-down restaurants in either state, it is customary to tip 15 percent on top of the bill. The tip is your payment to your food server for good service. Most servers count on your tip as part of their day’s pay.
Many of Lake Tahoe’s best attractions and sites are accessible to visitors in wheelchairs. On the South Shore, these include the Taylor Creek Visitor Center and the Stream Profile Chamber, the Tallac Historic Site, Inspiration Point at Emerald Bay, the Heavenly gondola, Kahle Park, and Vikingsholm. Some of the South Shore’s best beaches are also wheelchair accessible, including Zephyr Cove and Nevada Beach. The popular boat cruises on the paddle wheelers MS Dixie and Tahoe Queen are also accessible.
On the North and West Shores, accessible sights and beaches include the Gatekeeper’s Cabin Museum, William Kent Beach, and Donner Memorial State Park. On the East Shore, the Tahoe Meadows area near Incline Village and Mount Rose has a beautiful 1.3-mile wheelchair-accessible trail, and Spooner Lake State Park has several wheelchair-accessible areas.
Public transportation around Lake Tahoe, through Blue Go on the South Shore and Tahoe Area Regional Transit on the North Shore, is also accessible. Also, there are numerous paved biked paths around Lake Tahoe, which are well suited for wheelchair travel.
For more information on accessibility at Lake Tahoe, contact the Tahoe Area Coordinating Council for the Disabled (530/544-1127, www.tahoeareacoordinatingcouncilforthedisabled.com). Their website contains an excellent list of lodgings, campgrounds, attractions, restaurants, and transportation services that are accessible. All of Lake Tahoe’s visitors centers also have information on accessible sights, attractions, lodgings, and restaurants.
Families and Lake Tahoe are a perfect match. Tahoe is an ideal place to teach kids about nature and the environment. Kids invariably have fun in the outdoors, and with all the kid-friendly activities around the lake, parents are never left wondering what to do with their charges. At Tahoe, kids can go for hikes, climb on rocks, learn about the local flora and fauna, ride bikes, toast marshmallows, go rafting, ride horses, go skiing or sledding or snowboarding, go boating, or just hang out in a meadow and be kids. The list of possible activities for kids at Lake Tahoe is endless—just as it is for adults. And if your kid is more inclined toward “man-made” activities, Tahoe also has a good supply of gaming arcades, bowling alleys, miniature golf courses, climbing walls, zip lines, and the like.
Traveling with your pet to Lake Tahoe is a reasonable proposition, given the number of area hiking trails and other outdoor activities where pets are permitted. Many lodgings allow pets, and most campgrounds do as well. Always contact hotels and motels in advance to make sure they permit pets, and to let them know that you plan to bring yours. Where pets are allowed, there is often an additional fee or deposit charged. Remember that if you choose to camp with your pet, he or she should be in your tent, RV, or car at night, or you risk having your pet tangle with a bear or other wild animal. Pets should never be left unattended at any time, and you should always clean up after your pet.
If you should happen to have a medical problem while you are visiting Lake Tahoe, you’ll be in good hands. Several hospitals and 24-hour emergency medical centers are located around the lake. On the South Shore, there is Barton Memorial Hospital (2170 South Ave., South Lake Tahoe, 530/541-3420, www.bartonhealth.org) as well as two 24-hour emergency-care centers: Tahoe Urgent Care (2130 Hwy. 50, South Lake Tahoe, 530/541-3277, www.tahoeurgentcare.com) and Stateline Medical Center (150 Hwy. 50, Stateline, 775/589-8900, www.statelinemed.com).
On the North and East Shores, there is Tahoe Forest Hospital (10121 Pine Ave. at Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, 530/587-6011 or 800/733-9953, www.tfhd.com), Incline Village Community Hospital (880 Alder Ave., Incline Village, 775/833-4100, www.tfhd.com), or Incline Village Urgent Care (995 Tahoe Blvd./Hwy. 28, Incline Village, 775/833-2929, www.tahoemd.com).
Pay special attention to signs posted at trailheads and campgrounds. If a sign says Stay Back from the Edge, obey it. Be wary of waterfalls, slick hiking trails, and cliffs and ledges with steep drop-offs. Remain on the trails to avoid getting lost or getting yourself into a hazardous situation. Always carry a good trail map. If you are heading out for a hike, tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. Carry a pack filled with the essentials for a day out, and a few emergency items.
A few more rules to live by: Don’t drink water from streams and lakes without purifying it; carry and use a filter for purifying water from natural sources, or pack along bottled water. While you’re at it, take along extra water and food; if you don’t need it, you can give it to someone who does. Many visitors come to Tahoe from lower elevations and are surprised at how thirsty they feel even before they start to exercise. Tahoe’s dry air and high elevation can easily create conditions for dehydration; drink more water, and carry more water with you than you think you will need.
Snowfields linger on Mount Tallac long into summer.
While hiking, be aware of your surroundings: Pay attention to the direction you’ve traveled and landmarks you’ve passed. Keep an eye out for approaching storms, and stay off exposed ridges and peaks if a thunderstorm is threatening. Watch yourself and your companions for symptoms of altitude sickness and problems encountered from high elevation.
In the summer months, by far the biggest dangers to be faced at Lake Tahoe are those created by visitors who don’t follow posted rules and regulations. Food-storage rules top that list. If you are picnicking or camping, always store your food away when you aren’t eating so that you don’t attract bears and smaller critters like squirrels and chipmunks. Tahoe’s black bears will do just about anything to get human food. Don’t tempt them.
Winter is often the most accident-prone time at Lake Tahoe, and this is mostly because of the hazards created by winter driving. The most important rule for driving in snow or ice is to slow down. From November to March, always carry chains in the trunk or your car or truck, even if your vehicle has four-wheel drive. You may be required by law to use them, or you may simply need them if you get stuck in an icy or snow-packed parking lot.
Winter can also bring hazards for ill-prepared skiers and snowshoers. Always check the weather report before setting out for outdoor adventures in winter, and always dress in multiple layers, including an outer layer that will keep you dry. It’s a good idea to carry an extra set of clothes, and especially shoes and socks, in your car. Don’t forget to wear sunscreen in the winter months; the sun may be lower in the sky, but its reflection off the snow combined with Tahoe’s high elevation can be a recipe for skin damage.