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Answers to all your questions about Lake Tahoe
Learn about the weather, find out how to get here, and much more in our FAQ section
Lake Tahoe Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Lake Tahoe is a national treasure because it’s one of the world’s largest, deepest, and clearest mountain lakes. Lake Tahoe is 22 miles long, 11 miles wide and the lake is in a 501-square-mile watershed. The communities surrounding Lake Tahoe have grown up because of the protection of its natural beauty and year-round recreational opportunities. The U.S. Forest Service and State of Nevada and California agencies manage nearly 85 percent of the Tahoe watershed land. The rest is private property.
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Lake Tahoe.
What is the Weather Like in Lake Tahoe?
- With an average of 278 sunny days a year, the chances are high that you will enjoy great weather conditions during your summer and winter vacations.
- Lake Tahoe Water Temperature
- South Lake Tahoe Forecast
- South Lake Tahoe Air Quality
Average Highs and Lows:
| High | Low | |
| Jan | 37 | 16 |
| Feb | 39 | 18 |
| Mar | 44 | 21 |
| Apr | 50 | 26 |
| May | 60 | 32 |
| Jun | 69 | 38 |
| Jul | 79 | 43 |
| Aug | 79 | 42 |
| Sep | 80 | 37 |
| Oct | 58 | 31 |
| Nov | 47 | 24 |
| Dec . | 40 | 19 |
How do I get to Lake Tahoe?
- Reno Tahoe Airport is the closest major airport, about a 1-hour drive.
- Flying to South Lake Tahoe
- Driving to South Lake Tahoe
What to do in the Summer? If you can think of something, you can probably do it here in the summer!
- Boating, water skiing, jet skiing, windsurfing, parasailing, paddleboard, rafting, fish, golf, play tennis, rock climb, hike, zip lines, rope courses, mountain coaster, gondola, bike on the flat or on the mountains, visit a beach, and take a picnic and take a dip. Ride a horse, art galleries, museums, lake cruises, hot air balloons, restaurants, shopping, 24-hour world-class nightlife and entertainment around town and at nearby famous casinos and more!
What to do in the Winter?
- Skiing, Snowboarding, Telemark skiing, Cross-country skiing, Snowshoeing, Snowmobiling, and Sledding/Tubing.
When does Ski Season begin and end at Lake Tahoe?
- Usually, Ski Season begins by Thanksgiving (late November) and ends mid-April.
What Ski Resorts are at South Lake Tahoe?
- There are over 20 ski areas around the lake. Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, and Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort are the closest to the South Shore of the Lake.
What is the difference between South Shore and North Shore of Lake Tahoe?
- Both sides of the Lake are amazing. South Lake Tahoe has more options for Lodging, Dining, Recreation, and Nightlife.
Do you have more questions? Please email us at info@visitlaketahoe.com
Other Lake Tahoe Facts
- Lake Tahoe is the North American Continent’s largest Alpine lake; 22 miles long, 12 miles wide, and covers a surface area of 191.6 square miles, and has 72 miles of shoreline.
- At lake level, annual snowfall in South Lake Tahoe averages 125 inches. At alpine skiing elevations, the snowfall averages 300 to 500 inches each year.
- Lake Tahoe is 2/3 in California and 1/3 in the State of Nevada.
- The Lake’s surface is 6,226.95 feet above sea level and the natural rim is 6,223 feet above sea level, making it the highest lake of its size in the United States.
- Mt. Tallac at 9,735 feet is the highest peak rising from the shoreline. The highest point in the Tahoe Basin is Freel Peak at 10,881 feet.
- Lake Tahoe is the 3rd deepest lake in North America and the tenth deepest in the world. Tahoe’s deepest point is 1,645 feet near Crystal Bay. The average depth of Lake Tahoe is 989 feet.
- The estimated 39.75 trillion gallons of water contained in the lake is 99.9 percent pure, with visibility to 75 feet below the surface.
- Lake Tahoe is, geologically, a “young lake” having been formed 10,000 to 11,000 years ago.
- Glaciers are responsible for carving out the broad U-shaped valleys that hold Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, and Cascade Lake.
- 63 streams flow into Lake Tahoe, but only one, the Truckee River, run past Reno and into Pyramid Lake.
- Lake Tahoe loses much of its water to evaporation. If the water that evaporates from the lake every 24 hours could be recovered, it would supply the daily requirements of a city the size of Los Angeles.
- Lake Tahoe Water Temperature: Although the summer’s heat can warm the upper 12 feet to a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Lake Tahoe never freezes over in the winter; this is due to the constant 39 degrees Fahrenheit, maintained at depths below 700 feet, largely because of the constant movement and volume of water.
- Lake Tahoe’s tap water has been named the best tasting water in the country.
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