General Information
About Lake Tahoe and the Area
About Lake Tahoe Size: Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake on the North American continent. It is 12 miles wide, 22 miles long and has a surface area of 122,628 acres or 191.6 square miles. Elevations: The average surface of Lake Tahoe is 6,226.95 feet above sea level. The highest peak rising directly from the shoreline is Mt. Tallac at 9,735 feet. The highest point in Basin is Freel Peak at 10,881 feet. Skiers can start runs at up to 10,100 feet. Water Temperature: The upper 12 feet of the lake can warm to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Below 700 feet and in the winter, the temperature remains a constant 39 degrees Fahrenheit. Volume: Lake Tahoe holds an estimated 122,000,000 acre feet of water or 39,750,000,000,000 gallons; Yes 39.75 trillion gallons! That's enough to cover the entire state of California with 14 inches of water. The water that evaporates from Lake Tahoe each day is enough to supply 3,500,000 people with water that day. Depth: The average depth of Lake Tahoe is 989 feet. The deepest point is 1,645 feet. It is the third deepest lake in North America. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation controls the top 6.1 feet of the lake as a reservoir. Purity: The water in Lake Tahoe is 99.9% pure, about the same as distilled water. It is so clear that a dinner plate can be seen 75 feet below the surface. Climate: The sun shines at Lake Tahoe during more than 84% of the year or over 307 days. The average temperature in January ranges from 18 to 36 degrees. Direct sunlight can raise the reading to nearly 100 degrees. Except for periods of heavy snowfall, the climate is dry. In July, the average daytime high temperature is 78 degrees with little or no humidity. Snowfall: The snowfall at Tahoe's ski resorts ranges from 300 to 500 inches each year. At lake level, annual snowfall averages 125 inches. The ski season usually begins in November and ends in April. We have, however, seen it snow in every month of the year. -- Some impressive records from the winter of 1992 - 93: Alpine Meadows - 173 inches in December. Squaw Valley - 194 inches in December. Kirkwood - 700 inches total snowfall. Lake Tahoe is 98 miles northeast of Sacramento, California and 58 miles southwest of Reno, Nevada. Drive Around Lake Tahoe - 72 miles. The lake covers the California/Nevada border; 70% in California and 30% in Nevada. Lake Tahoe is further west than Los Angeles. Things To Do At South Lake Tahoe: BICYCLING -- Spring - Summer Fall Bring your bike or rent one and explore miles of paved trails leading through meadows, forest and along sunny beaches. For the mountain bikers there are over 100 miles of marked trails around Lake Tahoe. FISHING -- Spring - Summer - Fall Winter Fishermen find Lake Tahoe both giving and challenging. Charter a boat and guide and go after giant Lake Trout or Kokanee Salmon or just drop a line at the shore for Rainbow Trout or take to the high country for Brook and Golden Trout in the lakes and streams. There's even a lake just for the kids that is stocked several time each year. GOLF -- Spring - Summer - Fall The South Shore has five golf courses: Edgewood Tahoe 702 588-3566 Lake Tahoe Golf Course 530 577-0788 Tahoe Paradise 530 577-2121 Bijou Municipal 530 544-5500 Glenbrook 702 749-5201 HIKING / BACKPACKING / HORSEBACK RIDING -- Spring - Summer - Fall The Tallac Historic Site near Camp Richardson is a great place to start. The wilderness experience can begin with a hike down the Rainbow Trail and through the Forest Service stream profile chamber at Taylor Creek. Many trails are only a few hundred yards to spectacular waterfalls and rushing creeks above Emerald Bay. For day hiking and backpacking, the Desolation Wilderness to the west of Lake Tahoe offers hikers hidden alpine lakes and massive granite peaks. The Tahoe Rim Trail has nearly seventy-five (75) miles of maintained trails with breathtaking vistas of Lake Tahoe. There are five well marked trail heads around the lake. Several stables offer sunrise breakfast, lunch, or dinner trail rides. RIVER RAFTING -- Spring - Summer - Fall Several rafting companies offer a variety of float and whitewater trips. For more details call Whitewater Rafting Trips - 800 336-7238 or Whitewater Excitement, Inc. - 800 750-2386. RUNNING -- Spring - Summer - Fall Throughout the spring and summer the local community stages events including the Lake Tahoe Annual Triathalon which are open to the public. The Tahoe area is especially rewarding for runners because of the climate, clean air and beautiful scenery. SAILING / WIND SURFING WATER SKIING / JET SKIING -- Spring - Summer - Fall There are several marinas where you can launch or rent sail boats, power boats, ski boats, jet skis, wind surfing or other equipment. Instruction is also available. SWIMMING -- Summer There are many public beaches all around Lake Tahoe, the shallow water can warm to near 70 degrees in July, August and September. TENNIS -- Spring - Summer Fall For information on public tennis courts in South Lake Tahoe call 541-4611 and in Zephyr Cove call 588-7230. SKIING -- Winter - Spring There are over 15 downhill ski resorts less than 50 miles from Lake Tahoe. The largest ski resort at Lake Tahoe is Heavenly Valley. SLEIGH RIDES and CARRIAGE RIDES -- Winter - Spring - Summer - Fall Call Borges Carriage & Sleigh Rides at 541-2953. SNOWMOBILING -- Winter Tahoe Paradise Sports 530 577-2121 Lake Tahoe Winter Sports Center 530 577-2940 Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center 702 588-3833