Best Dog Friendly Ski Resorts – It’s no secret that Lake Tahoe is one of our favorite places to go with dogs. With snowy alpine trees and hiking, sledding, and beautiful views to dog-friendly ski resorts, South Lake Tahoe has something for everyone.
Tahoe is 6,225 meters above sea level, the largest alpine lake in North America and the snowiest this year. This destination is a magical place year-round, and we’ve been lucky enough to experience Tahoe as a winter getaway a few times now. With 188 inches on the ground this year, we knew we had to make the trip to play in the snow.
Best Dog Friendly Ski Resorts
When planning your winter trip to Lake Tahoe, you’ll want to visit between late November and early April when the snow is guaranteed. The slopes open in December and last until the end of March, sometimes until April, depending on the year’s snow. January and February are the most popular months for visitors to visit Tahoe. I recommend coming early or late in the season to beat the crowds or extend your long weekend into a week to get some of the snowy playgrounds to yourself.
Pet Friendly Accommodation
Traveling with a dog requires a bit more packing, and a winter trail is no different. Of course, I think it will take some time to keep your dog safe, but it’s worth it. It’s also a good idea to buy some winter vacation gear in advance and test it out before your adventure, e.g. snow boots. I waited until the last minute for this item and got lucky, but it’s something you want to get right to protect your dog’s paws and make sure he can spend as much time in the snow as possible.
While in South Lake Tahoe, there are several hotel options in downtown South Lake and rentals in the surrounding areas, some even up in the mountains. To recover from this winter, we were received at the “Vokzal” hotel. The hotel is just a few blocks from Lake Tahoe Blvd. In the middle of South Lake.
We loved staying in a cozy first floor king room with direct access to the outdoors. Our room had all the essentials and then some, like a mini-fridge, heat lamps in the bathroom, and snow gear storage. Ample parking is available on site and is included in your booking.
The hotel also has a large inn, perfect for relaxing after a day in the snow, and a restaurant where dog owners can grab a bite to eat. Station House Inn Lodge hosts a happy hour every day from 4pm to 6pm. and movie nights on Fridays. They even offer sweet treats for a night out by the fire.
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If you don’t want to deal with parking to the shops and restaurants in Heavenly Village, it’s about a 5-minute walk from the hotel to downtown.
While skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only activities you can do with your dog in South Lake Tahoe, there are plenty of other winter activities. To help you plan your winter vacation, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite dog-friendly activities while visiting South Lake Tahoe.
There are several popular dog snowshoeing areas around Tahoe: Fallen Leaf Lake, Echo Lakes, Meeks Bay, Page Meadows, North Tahoe Regional Park, and Hope Valley. I don’t think there’s a bad scene in Tahoe, so whatever area you choose, be prepared to see too much.
The two most important things when snowshoeing are equipment and controlling access to the area you want to explore. If you need to rent snowshoes, you can rent them for a day (or more) from South Tahoe Ski and Snowboard Rentals, Camp Richardson, Pyramid Peak Ski and Snowboard Rentals, or Sports Ltd. You can visit Tahoeroads.info to monitor road conditions and closures.
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We had originally planned to snowshoe at Echo Lakes, but due to road closures, we ended up parking near Richardson Campground and hiking to the Fallen Leaf Lake trailhead instead. It’s not a popular place in winter, so parking is easy to find on the road. Typically, about 4 cars can fit on the driveway and about 10 more on the road past Camp Richardson. If you see a road closure sign before Camp Richardson, don’t panic. Be warned that you can’t go any further as the roads leading to Emerald Bay are unmaintained.
Anyway, if you go all the way to the lake, it’s about a 2 mile hike. From the beginning, there is a groomed trail that leads through the alpine. I would consider the expected path easy enough that you don’t need snow poles to support you unless you get lost.
I would recommend poles and a harness for your dog if you want to get off the trail and explore the deepest snow area. If the snow is really deep, like when we visited, there are no signs and service can be spotty, so be sure to check on the way back.
We didn’t make it all the way to Leaf Lake because half way through the snow got in the way of one of Ru’s feet so he had to get back in the car (I was his personal Uber).
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Although the hike was short, it was well worth it and was our favorite activity of the trip. I try not to overdo it with my camera and I prefer to be in the moment, but check this place out! Everywhere we turned was beautiful.
Dog walking tip: Buy a hands-free leash that can be worn around your waist or across your body, and use a long lead to give your dog plenty of room to walk. This will help you keep your hands free for supports and avoid bumping into each other when needed. If your dog has a good memory, this is a great activity to let them run free as long as they don’t get in your way. Ru likes to be in front of us or next to me, so we are left on a long leash.
Like snowmobiling, you can play in the snow almost anywhere in Tahoe this time of year.
Our original plan was to play in the snow at the Snow Park. The Sno Parks program is operated by California State Parks in cooperation with other agencies and provides access to plowed snow parking areas where you can ski, snowshoe, sled, or simply stop for a snowball fight. Some snowparks offer XC and snowboard trails, some don’t, but all four-legged friends are welcome at their rental. While the sno parks aren’t completely free, at $15 for a day pass or $40 for a season pass, they can provide a fun day out.
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California has 19 snow parks spread from Sierra County in the north to Mammoth Lakes in the south, most of them near Lake Tahoe. The two closest to South Lake Tahoe are Echo Lakes, at Echo Summit on Highway 50 (access to the Pacific Ridge Trail in the Wilderness) and Taylor Creek (access to the south shore at Fallen Leaf Lake).
Here you will find maps, descriptions and more information about the Sno Park. Purchase your permit or ticket (valid through May 30) online or through regional retailers. Don’t be tempted to park without a permit: you can get a $95 citation.
But like our snow adventure, all the roads leading to the Sno Parks were closed or buried under snow. Luckily, we found an open area on Emerald Bay Road, the Papa Baldwin Bike Path, perfect for running and playing. We met a few people with sleds and snowmobiles, but we had the area to ourselves.
We also got new snow! It was a magical moment as I watched Ruby Rabbit hop through the thick snow as we were showered with light, fresh pollen and made to look like I could only live in a snow globe.
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Not all Lake Tahoe sledding activities, like Adventure Mountain, are dog-friendly. Sno parks can be a good alternative to sledding if they’re open, but if you keep your eye out for a good hill, you can go.
We found the perfect hill behind Sky Village on the west side of Forest Suites Resort. Public parking is included with the Heavenly Township, but if you skip it, you can park safely on the street and just walk up the hill.
We brought Funboy inflatable sleds and an electric pump so it would be easy to blow up the sleds in our hotel room, then dig them out and put them away.
It’s hard to tell in the picture, but it’s there
