A Perfect Day in Tahoe with Dogs, Part 1: Incline Village

Tahoe is undoubtedly one of our favorite places on earth! Lake Tahoe is the largest freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada and the largest alpine lake in North America, so there is plenty to explore. Because of this, we have broken up our Tahoe recommendations into different regions.

First up is the North-East Shore/Incline Village area. We may be biased as this is the area we spend the most time in, but personally this area is our absolute favorite! So without further ado, here are our suggestions for a perfect day with your dog(s) in the Incline Village area of Lake Tahoe!

Morning

Kick start your day with some coffee and breakfast from Drink Coffee Do Stuff or a delicious smoothie from Thania’s Juice Bar.

Now it’s time to get out and enjoy the water and beautiful Tahoe views! We recommend planning an adventure-filled day with your pups including a combination of the below options.

If you plan to be out and about for the afternoon, pick up some lunch to-go from Mountain High Sandwich Co or Sunshine Deli. And if you want to grab some beverages to bring, Incline Spirits next door to Mountain High has a variety of options.
Option 1: Get out for a nice walk or hike
The below hikes all begin at the Tunnel Creek Trailhead. There are two paid parking lots, and you can use your credit card at the meter at an hourly rate.
- Easy: Take a stroll on the paved East Shore Trail, which is very pet and family-friendly. The trail starts immediately from the parking area, and you can continue on the trail through a tunnel that crosses the street to get to the lake side. From there you can access a few small beaches and secluded rock areas that are great for letting your dog take a dip in the water. The trail continues all the way to Sand Harbor, so you can decide how far you want to walk. When we do this trail, we typically hike down to one of the rock areas to let the dogs swim and then head back, which ends up being around 3 miles round-trip.
  - Note that this is a paved trail, so you will want to avoid this in hot conditions. Make sure to check the asphalt prior to allowing your dog to walk on it to make sure they do not burn their paws.
- Moderate: Our favorite hike in the area is the Monkey Rock Trail. We’ll call this a great bang for your buck hike - it’s only 2.6 miles out and back, but you get to enjoy stunning views of the lake for most of the way and incredible views from the top. Once you get to the top you’ll see where the trail gets its name!
- Hard: If you are looking for a longer hike, check out the Tunnel Creek Trail. This trail starts the same as the Monkey Rock trail, but after the lookout point continues on higher into the mountains. The full trail is 7 miles out and back.
Option 2: Head out for a paddle
- Grab your paddle board or kayak and head to the Sand Harbor Boat Ramp. Sand Harbor is our favorite beach on the lake, but dogs are only allowed during the off-season from October 15 to April 15. However, you are allowed to use their boat launch area to launch a kayak or a paddle board with your dog(s) year-round. Note that the boat ramp area is a separate entrance from the main beach, and there is car parking available for vehicles coming to paddle. Keep in mind that this is a very popular area, and parking can fill up early especially on the weekends. Also bring cash, park entrance is $10 for Nevada Registered Vehicles and $15 for Out of State Vehicles.
  - If you are looking to rent a paddle board or kayak, check out Alpha One Watersports. They have paddle options for the whole family and allow you to bring your pets for a $10 cleaning fee.
- If you would prefer to take a tour, check out Tahoe Paddle Sports. Pets under 40 pounds are allowed on their clear kayak tours, and larger dogs are welcome to join their Hobie kayak tours. However, we would only recommend this option if your dog has experience in a kayak and you know that they will be comfortable and well behaved for 90 minutes in a small vessel.
Option 3: Hike down to the beach
- I feel like I may be giving away a bit of a local’s secret, but these are my favorite spots on the lake to take my dogs. These hikes are best done during the week or if you plan to arrive early, as parking can be a challenge. Keep in mind these are true hikes, so you will want to be prepared with proper equipment/footwear and plenty of water.
  - Chimney Beach is the easiest to access, via a .8 mile out and back hike with a designated parking lot. However, this is also the busiest option and parking typically fills up early.
  - The Whale Beach Trail is a bit further south. This trail is 1.7 miles out and back and also requires parking on the road. There are a few different paths down from the road, and it starts out pretty steep. But once you get down toward the water, there are several beach areas and the color of the water is incredible. If you go to the right there is Secret Cove Beach, keep in mind this beach is clothing optional. And if you keep going to the left, following the trail linked here, you will end up at Whale Beach which is typically less crowded.
  - If you want to venture a bit further south, you can also check out the Skunk Harbor Trail. This is a bit longer of a trail at 2.8 miles out and back, but it has beautiful views and ends up at a nice beach area at the end. However, one thing to note is that the amount of beach here also depends on the water level. In 2022 there was a large beach area, but so far in 2023 there are a few much smaller beach and rock areas since the water level is much higher.

Afternoon

Head to the Tunnel Creek Cafe for yummy food and rotating beer taps, especially if you are finishing up any of the hikes mentioned above that are right next door. Be sure to check their current hours, as of now they are serving breakfast and lunch every day until 4pm and have live music on the patio on Saturdays from 5-8pm.
You can also head over to King’s Beach and check out Bear Belly Brewing for a variety of beers and tasting flights with a great dog-friendly outdoor area. There is also a food truck, and lawn games like corn hole and giant Jenga. Be sure to confirm their current hours, as of now they open at 3pm most days, but are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
If you’re looking for an afternoon treat, you can stop by Cool Mess for some ice cream. The shopping center has many outdoor tables nearby so you can rest up after an eventful day!

Evening

For dinner, you can enjoy the patio at FUMO Cafe, Eatery & Bar, or pick up food to-go from T's Mesquite Rotisserie.
If you ventured toward King’s beach, our favorite dinner spot there is Caliente. They have a really fun rooftop deck that is dog-friendly, along with lots of delicious food and drink options.
If you are staying at the Hyatt (mentioned below), I would highly recommend grabbing a drink from their restaurant the Lone Eagle Grill and enjoy a relaxing view of the sunset by the lake. Their dinner is also fantastic! Just note that for most of the year the beach at the Hyatt is not dog-friendly, so the pups can get some rest in the room.

Where to Stay?

In our opinion, the best place to stay in this area is the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, which is also very pet friendly! They welcome friendly pups of all sizes, just be sure to call to book a reservation in a pet-friendly room. Dogs are not allowed in any of the on-site restaurants, and are prohibited from beaches during the peak season from mid-April through mid-October. Luckily there are plenty of other dog-friendly activities nearby!

Do you have any favorite spots in Incline Village that I missed? Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: The information provided above and dog-friendly policies were understood to be accurate as of the time of this post. For the most up-to-date information and policies, be sure to confirm with the businesses directly.