South Lake Tahoe is beautiful year round. It is one of those magical places that draws you back time after time. The main attraction is the Lake for its water clarity, due in part to the “Keep Tahoe Blue” program. The lake absorbs red light thus creating its famous vibrant blue color. I thought it would be fun to visit Tahoe with friends during early summer before the summer crowds and before the weather gets too hot for our huskies. I hope this article will help you plan your next adventures with your friends.
We rented a large dog friendly house with a fenced backyard and ample common living space. I’ve used airbnb for years and I’m always very respectful of any house I rent, making sure to not leave excessive fur on anything as well as keeping the rental neat at checkout. This helps ensure it remains dog friendly on airbnb.
Friday – Day 1
The night of our arrival we went on a Lake Tahoe dinner cruise. While on the cruise the guides speak to passengers on the history of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, and Tahoe’s secret castle; the Vikingsholm. Emerald Bay and the Vikingsholm are not dog friendly but they are spectacular and I highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area.
Dinner is served twice on this cruise so you have the option of picking the first seating or the second seating. If you are going during summer I recommend the first seating so you can enjoy the glorious sunset behind the Sierra Mountains and the Lake in the background while breathing in fresh air and enjoying the cool summer breeze. Dinner was nothing spectacular but the service was good, the views were amazing and the company was excellent. It was truly a memorable evening.
Saturday – Day 2
Our entire group of 4 adults and our 7 dogs Maya, Titan, Kalihi, Nikki, Kogan, Rosie, and Tintin were ready to have some fun on the Lake. South Lake Tahoe has strict restrictions on dogs on beaches but there are still areas that are dog-friendly. We arrived at Kings beach around 9 am and the parking lots were already almost full, so be sure to arrive early and park at the Coon Street parking lot as that is the dog-friendly section of the Lake.
I found only one dog-friendly canoe and kayak rental in Tahoe. There were other kayak rentals that are dog-friendly but Adrift Tahoe was the only one place that also rents canoes. Don’t go by the prices on their websites but rather what’s on the board in their shop. We rented one 2 person kayak and one canoe but there was a catch: Adrift Tahoe is not on the dog-friendly side of the beach. However, the staff told us that since we are just loading dogs on the canoe and boats it would be fine. Since the two of us had never paddled and we had 7 dogs, we decided that those two would take all the dogs to the dog-friendly side and while the other two with paddling experience ( friend and I) would paddle the kayak and canoe to meet up with everybody at the dog-friendly area. There are very few shaded spots so be sure to grab a table ASAP or bring a canopy.
Only one dog in the group had any experience being in a canoe or kayak, so we decided to first go out in the canoe with me and one of my dogs and another person with one of their dogs. After some trial and error, we loaded up the dogs and human passengers in the canoe at the shallowest end of the boat ramp with the canoe resting on the bottom of the concrete ramp. I dragged the canoe out to deeper water then jumped in. I’m using “jump” loosely here, it was more like a clumsy scramble but the dogs seemed calmer this way having a more stable start.
The Canoe was a lot easier to paddle than I expected. The dogs moved around a lot so we needed to shift our weight to counterbalance their movements. It was really fun watching the dogs’ reactions. It went from a “what the heck is going on, why is the ground moving?” To “hey, this soft bouncy feeling is kinda soothing, let me just chill….. BIRDS! I see BIRDS!!” And me yelling “Don’t you jump off to chase birds!”
Most of the dogs really enjoyed being in the Canoe. I believe the high sides and roomy interior of the canoe helped. The Lake is beautiful! The blue color of the water is like none other. It’s so serene and quiet once you paddle out past the crowds of people and boats, surrounded by majestic views that make you feel like you are in a National Geographic photo shoot.
After we were done canoeing, we tried kayaking. The kayak we rented had a flat bottom which wasn’t as stable as the canoe. I had to constantly make adjustments since the dogs kept moving around trying to find a spot to lay or sit. However, after a while they settled in our laps and enjoyed the whole experience. The dogs also enjoyed a nice swim at the shallow end of the lake near the boat ramp. There’s no beach, just rocks and little paths that lead down to the water so be careful walking down. I recommend wearing water shoes due to the rocky footing.
We finished the day with an attempt to get a group picture of all the dogs in the canoe on the Lake. It was entertaining, to say the least. We couldn’t help but laugh while simultaneously shouting commands at the dogs. As often happens, we attracted a crowd wanting to take pictures of our dog in the canoe. Because let’s face it, how often do you see 7 dogs in a canoe? All the dogs did great under the circumstances and we were all very proud of them for not jumping out of the canoe.
Then came the task of returning the rentals. Be aware that the beach will be crowded and you’ll need to be very conscious of what is in front and under you while paddling. Especially if you are in a canoe since it is impossible to make a quick adjustment. You’d think people swimming in the lake would get out of the way when they see a canoe approaching but that was not the case so shouting warnings was needed. Once the rentals are on the beach, the staff will return them to the shop. Tipping them is always nice but not mandatory. We left a nice tip since they were very gracious renting to us knowing that we had SEVEN dogs.
If you have more than 2 dogs and more than 2 people, I highly recommend you rent the canoe and skip the kayak.
Sunday – Day 3
We were all excited for another day’s outing. The dogs can’t wait to leave the house! We headed out to Squaw Valley for a day of fun with hopes to find snow in July.
There are two dog-friendly gondola rides in South Lake Tahoe. One is in Squaw Valley and the other is Northstar. I picked Squaw valley after some research due to the resort’s relaxed attitude towards dogs (we saw many off leash) and I’ve always wanted to see the alpine meadows in the summer. We arrived at Squaw Valley around 10 am and there was plenty of parking, stood in a short line for the aerial tram tickets (dogs ride free) and waited to board. Everybody was friendly and our dogs received plenty of attention.
The aerial tram didn’t have wrap around floor to ceiling clear windows so the dogs couldn’t look out unless they were by the door or at the ends which had the only seats. Although the ride up and down wasn’t packed tight, it was crowded so be sure that your dog is comfortable in tight spaces surrounded by strangers. The trade-off with the aerial tram versus the traditional Gondolas is stability, you don’t feel the swings as much as the smaller gondolas but you don’t get the privacy and views of the smaller gondola cabins.
We reached the top, walked out of the building and were greeted with fresh cool mountain air and stunning views. There are guided walks throughout the day. We had just missed one but we could see the snow on the horizon, so we just walked towards the snow!! On our way there the trail was surrounded by blooming alpine flowers and there were butterflies everywhere. Our dog Tintin was trying to catch EVERY. SINGLE. ONE of them. He looked so darn cute and happy. Passerbys commented on his butterfly chasing prowess as we walked.
We reached the snow patch and the dogs were overjoyed to be stepping on snow. Unfortunately, we were the only ones with the proper footwear for snow to continue on as there was no way around the snow patch. We parted ways with the rest of the group and agreed to meet up later. By the way, cell reception up there is excellent, so no worries if your group wants to split up. We followed the trail admiring the Sierra views. I’ve never been to a snow resort in the summer and it’s pretty neat to see everything without the snow. We decided to turn around when the temperature started to quickly rise. The hike down is just as beautiful as the hike up, we got to enjoy views from both sides of the mountain. If you don’t have a dog or have someone to watch your dog, be sure to check out the High Camp Cafe where you can enjoy outdoor swimming or soak in a hot tub at 8200 feet.
We met up with the rest of the group and found that they have been wonderful mascots for squaw valley! Maya, Titan, Kalihi, Nikki, and Kogan were greeting visitors and getting lots of attention. On our way down, I thought it would be fun to take pictures of the dogs in the tram after all the passengers had left. The tram operator was so nice, I asked if he’d mind pausing the tram so we can take pictures of the dogs, he gladly agreed and even helped us! I wished we would’ve done it at the top to capture the alpine meadows in the background, so be sure to take pictures on top when you go!
When we reached the base, we were starving and found a nice restaurant with a lovely patio; Fireside Pizza Company that didn’t mind seating us with SEVEN dogs. Our server was great, brought water for the dogs and our food was served quickly.
We wanted to walk around the alpine village since it was such a beautiful day with no crowds. There are so many great picture taking spots. The giant chair, the ice cream cone seats and tables at Euro Sweets, the cute orange bathtub at Lather and Fizz and so many other little spots around the village. If you run out of treats or need any dog supplies don’t worry, there is a boutique pet store that sells high-quality pet products.
After a long day, we headed back to the airbnb and enjoyed the evening outside on the beautiful deck. We celebrated Kalihi’s birthday surrounded by trees and singing birds.
The last picture of the slideshow shows how high we went on the aerial tram! You can see the two cables going all the way to the summit.
Monday – Day 4
I thought it would be fun to see one of the waterfalls in Tahoe. I picked Cascade Falls because the trailhead is easily accessible by car and there is a parking lot. Get there early, spots fill up quickly. According to the forest service site, it is a “2 mile round trip with easy and mostly level, but rocky trail”. Well, that is true if you only want to hike to the backside of the bay view campground. I made a mistake by only glancing at the description, so we just kept on going thinking that it will be an easy-moderate hike.
Although it was not a difficult hike, more like a moderate hike, there are rocky areas and certain parts were steep but as long as you take your time and watch your step you’ll be fine. A lot of dog owners that we met who were on their way down told us how their dog all loved playing in the streams up there. The views were amazing! The greens were so bright and the blues was so vibrant. The colors of summer were exploding!
When we reached the top there were several streams to choose from, some more secluded than the others. There are some wooded areas where people and dogs can just relax. We let the dogs play in the stream to cool off before we headed back down. I wanted to pick up the pace as it was getting hotter. I touched rocky ground with my bare hands to check that it was still comfortable for the dogs. All the dogs were in good spirits and for them going down was just as fun as going up.
If you are going in the summer, start EARLY. Be sure to pack more water than you think you need, a first aid kit, a set of dog booties just in case and check your dog’s paws often. Keep your dog on a short leash, the trails are narrow and although not crowded there was a constant stream of people on the trail.
We reached the base and said goodbye to the magical place that is Lake Tahoe. The dogs were very tired after an entire weekend of fun. They were passed out the entire ride home and went straight to their beds once we got home.
It was a fun and memorable experience. I love group trips. They can be incredibly fun as long as you plan ahead, have backup plans and communicate your intentions and desires clearly with each other.
So plan early, grab a friend or two and go explore!
