Truckee Things To Do in Summer

You love Lake Tahoe, and you feel as if you’ve seen all the sights it has to offer. But as the old saying goes, you ain’t seen nothing yet ... not until you’ve seen it from the air, piloting your own aircraft over the Carson Range and into the Tahoe Basin. With Hang Gliding Tahoe, you fly a powered hang glider (with an FAA-certified instructor along) and enjoy the sight of the lake from an entirely new perspective. The flight can even count for training toward a pilot’s license. Morning flights offer spectacular year-round viewing conditions, and flights can be scheduled for 30, 60 or 90 minutes. Winter flights are warm and cozy with modern-technology heated clothing. Don’t forget to sign up for the photo or video services for a souvenir of the flight that you will treasure forever.

The sprawling Tahoe Donner homeowners association and its 6,000-plus properties above Truckee mean many things to many people. For some, it is their home neighborhood; for others, it is their vacation house for a few days in winter or summer; and for others yet, it is their outdoor playground. Locals and visitors take advantage of Tahoe Donner’s 7,000 acres of open space and equally vast amenities, which are available to homeowners as well as to the public. The association’s clubhouse, marina, tennis center and recreation center are for members only, but the public can experience Tahoe Donner for free via the beautiful trail system or pay to play at top-notch offerings. Enjoy the serene campground or stop by the Tahoe Donner Bikeworks bike shop, located at a trailhead and offering private lessons, guided rides for all levels and more. The Tahoe Donner Trail System features more than 60 miles of trails across 5,000 acres of epic Sierra Nevada terrain. It is the ultimate playground for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers and equestrians. After all that exploring, Tahoe Donner has a variety of places to dine. The Lodge Restaurant & Pub has indoor and outdoor dining, and Alder Creek Cafe offers casual indoor and patio dining for the entire family. Pizza on the hill offers delicious pizzas, salads, pastas and more – enjoy a great meal indoors or on the patio as the kiddos play on the playground right outside. Also keep an eye open for events open to the public held at various times throughout the year.

One of the greatest ways to see Lake Tahoe is via bicycle. With miles of dirt trails, bike routes and paved roads, there is fun to be had no matter what your age or athletic ability. To help make this outdoor activity simple, Truckee River Bikes is conveniently located at the corner of Highway 89 and the entrance to Olympic Valley. From cruisers to high-level mountain bikes, they have a huge assortment of bikes for rent. The shop also offers bike sales as well as access to some of the best bike mechanics Lake Tahoe has to offer.

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of its own: Donner Lake. While not as big and broad as Big Blue, Donner Lake offers up a good bit of watery fun too. One of the best places to access Donner is West End Beach. In summer months, there is a modest admission fee to enter the 10-acre west end area, but the sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sand castles and splash in the water all under the watch of life guards. Operated by the Truckee Donner Park and Recreation Department, West End Beach also has paddleboards, kayaks and pedal boats available to rent. There is plenty of fun on the beach area: two playgrounds for kids to get their kicks on, a sand volleyball court, tennis court and horseshoe pits. A snack bar serves up soft drinks, hot dogs and ice cream. Get there early and stake out a picnic table and grill. There are shady group picnic areas available by reservation.