Tahoe snow play & stay

There are so many dog-friendly lodgings at Lake Tahoe that we can’t begin to inventory them all, but we can certainly point out a few favorites, as well as places to go and things to do with dogs in winter. Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing come to mind first, of course, but if you’re not a practitioner, no worries: in the past few years, miles of plowed walking/dog-walking/biking trails have made their debut around the lake.

Whatever you do, it’s all the more enjoyable if you can cozy up overnight with your pup. Think fireplaces, fire pits, maybe a meal out at one of those tented and heated  “parklet” restaurants in downtown Truckee or elsewhere.

Circling around the lake, we can call out a few of our favorite dog-friendly places to stay. On the high end: The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe or Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Hotel & Spa work well for those who enjoy (and can afford) the red-carpet treatment. On the more rustic side, Tahoma Meadows B&B Cottages on the West Shore is a long-time favorite appreciated by DogTrekkers for the extensive “where to go, what to do” advice so generously provided.

Zephyr Cove Resort, on the southeast side of the lake in Nevada, is another “cottage and cabin” property that works well for DogTrekkers. It’s right on the lakeshore, and most cabins have kitchens, which can be real money-savers. In South Lake Tahoe, we gravitate to the Beach Retreat, another waterfront property. It has a long pier offering not only a bit of paw-stretching exercise, but some great views and bike-trail access in the bargain.

A bit off the beaten track but well worth the short detour from Myers (Highway 50) to Highway 88, Wylder Hope Valley Resort (formerly Sorensen’s), is a multi-faceted property with dog-friendly cabins and rental homes in numerous configurations, as well as a bakery and well regarded restaurant. If location is everything, Wylder has it all: Hope Valley and the Carson Pass area, with miles and miles of dog-friendly trails and open space, are just ball-fetching distance away.

Posted on: June 30, 2022