We live for a Lake Tahoe summer. When the snow melts and the town thaws out, you’re greeted with an endless supply of summer activities to fill your days.
It’s all sunshine and blue skies, hiking trails and water sports, beaches and mountain biking. Plus, for being a world-class vacation destination, it’s surprisingly affordable. That’s the beautiful thing about nature, guys.
We’ve got a long list of free (or very cheap!) things to do during a Lake Tahoe summer. And spoiler alert—it’s not all hiking! Here are a few ideas for the next time you visit Lake Tahoe in the summer and want some budget-friendly activities to fill your days with.
1. Hike or bike the Tahoe East Shore Trail
We’re starting out with strong with here with the Tahoe East Shore Trail; a 3-mile, paved trail system leading from north Lake Tahoe’s Incline Village to the stunning, the beautiful, Sand Harbor State Park. Known as “America’s Most Beautiful Bikeway” for the long stretch of lake views extending every step of the trail, it’s an easy pick for our top Lake Tahoe summer activity.
Plus, it’s free. Go by foot, or pack your own bike, and you can ride this epic trail and enter Sand Harbor State Park for free. The park itself offers some of the most beautiful views in the Lake Tahoe area, plus swimming beaches, a snack bar and fun water sport rentals like kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards and beyond.
If you need to rent a bike for the journey, those are available nearby. Or, elevate the experience with a tour once you make it to Sand Harbor with an all-time must-do Lake Tahoe activity, a clear kayak tour.
2. Explore Vikingsholm and Eagle Falls
Everyone coming to visit Lake Tahoe knows about Emerald Bay State Park. As they should—this spectacular bay surrounded by alpine peaks is a Lake Tahoe highlight. There are countless ways to explore Emerald Bay, from cruising in on a boat ride to weaving around on hiking trails, a simple parking lot viewpoint or a few nights in a campground.
And there’s no wrong way to do it, but if you’re looking for free summer activity, we suggest a hike down to Vikingsholm, or along the Eagle Falls Trail. You’ll have to pay the cost of parking of course, at $10 per day or $3 per hour. But you’ll unlock a full day of fun when you do it.
From the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot, you can opt to hike down to Vikingsholm and the shoreline along a steep one-mile trail. Check out Vikingsholm, follow the Rubicon Trail towards DL Bliss State Park, stop to go swimming in the crystal clear water or rent a kayak and paddle out to Fannette Island.
Or, take in stunning views by heading above Emerald Bay along the Eagle Lake Trail, where you can get a breathtaking view of Eagle Falls cascading down the mountain side, get a taste of Desolation Wilderness and embark on a family-friendly hike.
Note: This area is very popular and parking will fill up early in the summer months. Make sure to plan ahead and start your day bright and early if this is in your plan.
3. Float the Truckee River on a chill rafting excursion.
One of our all-time, must-do Lake Tahoe outdoor activities is float the Truckee River. In the heart of Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe flows into the Truckee River and creates a glorious haven for river rafting. Of course, when we say rafting, we mostly mean chill, family-friendly float. Although there are a few trickles of whitewater to get your heart pumping.
In any case, this little adventure is a true summer highlight and can be done for free! You can drop your own boat in the water at the Transit Center in Tahoe City, California and will want to get out at River Ranch. The entire float will take a few hours, but can be stretched or shrunk to fit your plans.
Of course, if you want to skip the DIY and have someone manage the fun for you, you can book the float with Truckee River Raft. Then those smaller details—parking, rafts, shuttles back and forth—are taken care of for you.
4. Get some sun at Pope Beach, Baldwin Beach & Kiva Beach
A South Lake Tahoe summer is best spent at the beaches. And on the southwest side of the lake, between South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay State Park, there is a stretch of sunny, sandy beaches with ample parking, plenty of space and even a dog-friendly option.
Pope Beach: Always a crowd-pleaser, Pope Beach is the closest to South Lake Tahoe and easily accessible from the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path leading out of town. You can bike in for free, or drive in for the cost of parking. There is tons of parking, plus natural shade under the lakefront pines and clean restrooms. No pets allowed.
Kiva Beach: Kiva Beach is the next public beach after Pope, and this one is dog-friendly and has free parking! So yes, it does fill up early. It’s within walking distance of Camp Richardson and Valhalla, which are both fun to check out and have well-maintained trails leading there.
Baldwin Beach: Last but not least in our South Lake Tahoe beaches lineup, is Baldwin Beach. Just down the road from Kiva, and still accessible from the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path is Baldwin Beach. Again, there’s plenty of paid parking here and the longest, sunniest stretches of golden sand in the Sierra.
5. Enjoy live music at Live At Lakeview & Concerts At Common’s Beach
It just wouldn’t be a Lake Tahoe summer if you didn’t hit one of the free concerts around the lake. That’s right! Lake Tahoe hosts a few free concerts series, with fun, local bands rippin’ live music every week. And yes, it’s genuinely free. Of course, you’ll probably end up buying a beer or some merch, but it starts out free, and that’s what matters here.
In South Lake Tahoe, you’ll want to make time for Live At Lakeview. This concert series is held every Thursday of summer from 4:30pm-8:30pm right in the heart of town, at Lakeview Commons. As if good, free live music wasn’t enough, the amphitheater style seating is right at the lake’s edge, so swimming, dancing in the sand or simply watching the sun set over the lake is a part of the deal.
In North Lake Tahoe, the Concerts at Common’s Beach take place every Sunday of summer in Tahoe City. Yet another lakefront venue, this epic event is an ideal summer activity with a stretch of beach, grassy area, kid-friendly playground on-site and of course, beer, wine and food available for purchase. Don’t forget to pack a beach chair or blanket to sit on for this one!
6. Get out on the water for cheap with kayak or stand up paddleboard rental
Free is ideal, but there are a few cheap outdoor activities that will elevate your visit to Lake Tahoe and deserve to be on your radar. We love getting out on the lake. It’s just different than the beaches, and a summer month highlight. But doing it can be expensive—unless you do it this way.
Forget the jet ski or powerboat rental, and opt instead for a kayak or stand up paddleboard. You can rent one of these bad boys for 2 hours without breaking the bank, and get immersed in the ultimate Lake Tahoe in the summer experience.
You’ll be able to grab a good rental from basically anywhere around the lake, from South Lake Tahoe to Kings Beach to Sand Harbor. You’ll find options that rent directly from their locale, and others that let you pack up your rig and head out on your own. All for as little as $40!
And while there are plenty of kayaking tours that we love around the lake, you can even grab a clear kayak rental and DIY the experience if you want to stay on budget.
7. Cruise your local farmer’s markets
Growing your own food in the high Sierra is tough, but that doesn’t stop Lake Tahoe from hosting several epic little farmer’s markets around the lake. Our neighbors in California and Nevada bring up the goods from the valley, and make it just as joyous and delicious as anywhere.
There are farmers markets all around the lake, on different days, in different locations. From Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe, you’ve got options and they’re all dreamy. Fresh produce is just the start—live music, local artisan goods, beer gardens, food trucks. It’s one of those summer activities that just feels good.
8. Grab a beer at The Hangar’s happy hour
We love The Hangar. It’s just kind of perfect. A beer bar in the center of South Lake Tahoe, The Hangar has a small sales room, huge tap list, massive outdoor beer garden and that’s about it. Oh, and food trucks on-site. The beers on tap are cold and expertly curated, the outdoor space is spacious, shady and lined with turf and there’s plenty of seating. They have cornhole games on-site, and host music events throughout the summer.
It’s both kid-friendly and pet-friendly, although pets are only permitted in smaller the paved area.
Best of all, it’s happy hour every Tuesday. Go on Tuesdays to grab a slightly cheaper pint, post up and enjoy the sunshine. Grab a slice from the on-site food truck, or pack in your own food. Either way, this is a great spot to enjoy an afternoon pint.
9. Check out local businesses at the Truckee Thursdays street festival.
During the summer months, downtown Truckee—which is cute on a normal day—transforms into a vibrant street festival, full of local vendors. Artisan goods, games and activities for the whole family, live music, beer gardens and food trucks make this the ultimate spot to explore on a Thursday night.
Shop, socialize or simply sit back and enjoy some good tunes with a gorgeous, mountain backdrop. Either way, this is a great way to spend a summer night. Truckee Thursdays runs from 5pm – 9pm, most Thursdays in the summer, and Truckee is located on the California side of north Lake Tahoe, just a few minutes from Tahoe City.
10. Beat your friends at mini golf.
Mini golf? Talk about a throwback. But we promise you’ll be pleasantly surprised by your time spent at Magic Carpet Golf in South Lake Tahoe. It’s simple, it’s no-frills, it’s a little cheesy, but it’s less than $15 per person and it’s mega fun.
The service is friendly, there are cheap arcade games and it’s conveniently located right next door to one of our other favorite summer activities—beers at The Hangar. What’s not to love?
11. Help your kid catch a fish at Sawmill Pond.
If you’re visiting Lake Tahoe with the kids, don’t skip a visit to Sawmill Pond in South Lake Tahoe. This little pond on the outskirts of town is stocked with fish, making it the perfect spot for your little one to reel in a big one. It’s the perfect family-friendly activity, with nearby trails and plenty to explore while you’re at it.
It’s totally free, but you’ll need to pack your own fishing gear. Something to note—Sawmill Pond is genuinely for kids to learn to fish. Specifically, ages 14 and under. Please be respectful of the policy and let your children be the ones on the rod and reel!
Honorable Mentions: Free Things To Do In Lake Tahoe in Summer
The beautiful thing about a Lake Tahoe summer is that it’s easy to do stuff for free. Because, well, the outdoors are free.
On the south shore, you can fill a whole day on the trails around Emerald Bay or hike to Fallen Leaf Lake for a cool dip in a pristine alpine lake. Eat ice cream on the shores of Angora Lakes, plant a beach chair somewhere along the Upper Truckee River or go swimming at the Nevada side’s prized Zephyr Cove.
Visit the California state parks on the west shore. D.L. Bliss State Park and Sugar Pine Point State Park are arguably some of the most beautiful places in all of California.
On the north side of Lake Tahoe, you could score epic lake views on the Tahoe Rim Trail, hike to Monkey Rock or wander the trails around Spooner Lake. Hike up towards Chickadee Ridge and have a little one-with-nature moment, or ride along the Truckee River Bike Trail towards Palisades Tahoe.
The summer activities are endless, and it doesn’t have to cost much (or anything at all!) to enjoy them. That’s what it’s about when you visit Lake Tahoe.
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