Lake Tahoe

The areas extensive hiking trails are, for the most part, on national forest lands and are the products of collaboration between the U.S. Forest Service, area municipalities, and local trail organizations such as the following. Please consider donating to one of these nonprofits or joining a trail day to do your part.

• Tahoe Rim Trail Association
• Truckee Trails Foundation
• Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA)

A number of companies in the region offer guided hikes and other excursions that you can find with a quick online search. You might also consider joining the nonprofit Tahoe Rim Trail Association (TRTA) on a group hike with a volunteer guide. This makes a great way to experience the Tahoe Rim Trail as a day hike or multi-day trip, and you'll have the opportunity to support the TRTA in their stewardship of the trail.

Other activities that you can experience with a guide include rock climbing, mountaineering, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. Winter activities, especially, are best to do guided for your first time in Tahoe because of the unique hazards with snow travel in the Sierra Nevada. Tahoe is of course famous for its deep snow, but that element makes navigation more difficult in the complex terrain. Then there is the threat of avalanches, which can be common during certain phases of a winter season here.

Luckily, there are several companies that offer a range of guided excursions in the Tahoe backcountry. For example, Valhalla Mountain Guides offer introduction to mountaineering courses during various times of year. They also offer avalanche education classes in winter and rock climbing trips in the summer. Other companies to look into include Alpenglow Expeditions and Blackbird Mountain Guides.