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Quick answer: My top 5 winter activities for non-skiers at Lake Tahoe are: 1. Ride the Heavenly Gondola for lake views (sightseeing from November 20, 2026). 2. Snowshoe to Chickadee Ridge off the Mount Rose Highway. 3. Go tubing at Adventure Mountain or sledding at Granlibakken. 4. Skate at Tahoe Ice Arena or the Northstar Village rink. 5. Ride the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram to High Camp. Snowmobile tours from Zephyr Cove and spa days round out the list.
There are plenty of things to do around Lake Tahoe besides skiing. Whatever the weather, you can find something indoors or outdoors that suits your group.
I’ve lived in the area for seven years, and some of my favorite winter days here have nothing to do with lift tickets. Here is what is open this season, what it costs and where you need a reservation.
Winter Activities for Non-Skiers: Cost and Reservations
Prices and dates come from each operator’s official site, checked on October 11, 2026. I only included activities that have confirmed they are operating for winter 2026-27.
| Activity | Cost | Reservations needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Heavenly Gondola scenic ride (South Lake Tahoe) | Priced by date on skiheavenly.com | Buy online; sightseeing runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from November 20, 2026 |
| Snowshoeing at Chickadee Ridge (Tahoe Meadows, Mount Rose Highway) | No fee; bring or rent snowshoes | No |
| Snow tubing at Adventure Mountain (Echo Summit) | $20 per vehicle entry, plus $40 adults or $35 kids for 2 hours | Book online |
| Sledding at Granlibakken (Tahoe City) | 90-minute session with a saucer included; half off for lodging guests | Book a session online |
| Sledding at Taylor Creek Sno-Park (South Lake Tahoe) | California Sno-Park permit: $15 a day or $40 a season | Buy the permit before you go |
| Ice skating at Tahoe Ice Arena (South Lake Tahoe, indoor) | $20 adults with rentals, $16 with your own skates, $10 ages 4 to 10, free 3 and under | No; walk in and sign a waiver |
| Ice skating at Northstar Village | Not posted yet | Not posted yet |
| Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram (Olympic Valley) | Priced by date; free for ages 4 and under and 80 and over | Buy online; resort opens November 25, 2026 |
| Snowmobile tour (Zephyr Cove Resort) | 2-hour tour: $250 single rider, $280 double, $100 child with guide | Yes, full payment at booking |
| Spa day (Edgewood Tahoe, Stateline) | Varies by treatment | Yes; call 775-588-3486 |
Ride the Heavenly Gondola
The Heavenly Gondola climbs from Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe, and you don’t need to ski to ride it. Heavenly’s hours page lists winter operations starting November 20, 2026, with sightseeing from the Village gondola from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prices change by date, so check before you go.
Go on a clear morning for the best lake views, and dress warmly since it’s much colder at the top.
Snowshoe to Chickadee Ridge
Chickadee Ridge sits above Tahoe Meadows on the Mount Rose Highway (SR 431), on Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest land between Incline Village and Reno. You snowshoe from the meadows to a rocky ridge with a lake view, where mountain chickadees often land on outstretched hands.
The Forest Service asks visitors not to feed wildlife. If you do, University of Nevada, Reno researchers say to offer only unsalted pine nuts or black-oil sunflower seeds, never bread or human food, and to give the birds space. Snow is much deeper up there than at lake level, so start early and bring snowshoes.
Our family-friendly snowshoeing guide has easier South Shore trails.
Sledding and Tubing
Adventure Mountain at Echo Summit charges a $20 vehicle entrance fee that covers parking and the snow play areas. Its posted two-hour tubing sessions are $40 for adults and $35 for kids, and Tubing After Dark runs on Friday and Saturday nights, per its pricing page. Sledding is not allowed in the tubing lanes.
Granlibakken in Tahoe City has a groomed sled hill with 90-minute sessions at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., a saucer included, and evening sessions with music and lights on Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m., according to Granlibakken. Hotel guests get half off.
For a cheaper option, Taylor Creek Sno-Park near Camp Richardson has a small hill for young kids. You need a California Sno-Park permit ($15 a day or $40 for the season, required November 1 to May 30).
Heavenly has also run a tubing hill at Adventure Peak, at the top of the gondola. It had not posted 2026-27 tubing details when I checked, so confirm with Heavenly first.
Our guide to the top sledding and snow tubing spots in Lake Tahoe covers more hills.
Ice Skating is Always a Choice
The indoor Tahoe Ice Arena in South Lake Tahoe is open year-round. Public sessions cost $20 for adults with rentals, $16 with your own skates and $10 for ages 4 to 10, and kids 3 and under skate free. No reservation is needed, but everyone signs a waiver.
Northstar Village has an outdoor rink with fire pits and the Rink Bar next to it, and the Rink Bar reopens November 20 for the 2026-27 season.
The outdoor rink at Heavenly Village is the most festive at night, when the lights come on around the Village. In winter 2025-26 it ran four sessions a day and charged $25 for ages 12 and up and $20 for ages 4 to 11, with skates included, according to The Shops at Heavenly. It had not posted 2026-27 dates or prices yet.
Take a Sleigh Ride at Sand Harbor
Borges Sleigh Rides, a family business giving horse-drawn rides since 1967, runs 55-minute sleigh rides from the Sand Harbor Visitor Center and puts wheels under the sleighs when snow is thin. Its site lists Friday through Monday and holidays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at $60 for adults and $30 for kids 2 to 16 ($75 and $40 on Saturdays and holidays), plus park entry, and leashed pets ride free, according to sleighride.com. The 2026-27 schedule was not posted yet, so check before you plan around it.
Ride the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram
The Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram rises about 2,000 vertical feet in under 10 minutes to High Camp at 8,200 feet, with views of Lake Tahoe. The Sierra Sightseeing Pass also covers the Funitel and the Base-to-Base Gondola, and riders 4 and under or 80 and over ride the tram free, according to Palisades Tahoe. Palisades Tahoe plans to open November 25, 2026. Dogs are not allowed on the tram during ski season.
Take a Snowmobile Tour
Zephyr Cove Resort, four miles into Nevada from the Stateline casinos, runs guided tours up to nearly 9,000 feet. The 2-hour Scenic Lakeview Tour costs $250 for a single rider, $280 for two and $100 for a child with the guide, according to Zephyr Cove Resort. Riders must be at least 5, and drivers must be 16 with ID. Our best snowmobile tours in Lake Tahoe guide compares outfitters.
Book a Spa Day
Edgewood Tahoe in Stateline has an 8,500-square-foot spa with a Forbes four-star rating that is open to spa-day visitors (775-588-3486). See our Lake Tahoe spa guide for more options.
Take a Boat Tour
The M.S. Dixie II paddle-wheeler sails year-round from Zephyr Cove, so you can see the snowy peaks from the water. Our guide to Lake Tahoe dinner cruises has the details.
Winter Walks and Dog-Friendly Outings
Baldwin Beach is a summer swimming beach, and the Forest Service closed its facilities for the season on October 12, according to its seasonal closure list. It’s not a winter swim spot, so treat it as a quiet scenic stop only when access and conditions allow.
If you’re traveling with a dog, winter is the only season dogs can visit Sand Harbor. Nevada State Parks allows leashed dogs on a 6-foot lead from October 16 to April 14 only, according to its Sand Harbor FAQ. Our dog-friendly winter activities post has more ideas.
Drive Around the Beautiful Lake Tahoe
Heavenly’s gondola has some of the best views, but a drive around the lake gives you plenty more.
Skip the drive when it’s snowing hard. Highway 89 at Emerald Bay is narrow and can close during storms, so check Caltrans QuickMap and nvroads.com first.
From the Bay Area, take I-80 to Truckee, then Highway 89 to Tahoe City and down the West Shore to South Lake Tahoe. From Reno, take Highway 431 over Mount Rose to Incline Village, then Highways 28 and 50 down the East Shore to South Lake Tahoe.
A Quick Note on Winter Driving
Chain controls are common on Tahoe highways during storms. Carry chains that fit your tires, and read our guide to tire chains in Tahoe and our winter driving tips before you go.
Skiing is not the only thing to enjoy at Lake Tahoe in winter. For the full list, see our Lake Tahoe winter guide, or plan your days with our 2-day winter itinerary.
FAQs
Q: What can you do at Lake Tahoe in winter if you don’t ski?
A: Ride the Heavenly Gondola, snowshoe to Chickadee Ridge, go tubing at Adventure Mountain or sledding at Granlibakken, skate at Tahoe Ice Arena or Northstar Village, ride the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram, take a snowmobile tour from Zephyr Cove or book a spa day.
Q: Can you ride the Heavenly Gondola without skiing?
A: Yes. Heavenly sells scenic gondola rides from Heavenly Village. For winter 2026-27, sightseeing runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting November 20, 2026, and prices change by date.
Q: Where can I go sledding at Lake Tahoe?
A: Granlibakken in Tahoe City has 90-minute sledding sessions with a saucer included, Adventure Mountain at Echo Summit has tubing lanes and snow play areas, and Taylor Creek Sno-Park has a small hill that needs a $15 California Sno-Park day permit.
Q: How much is ice skating in South Lake Tahoe?
A: Tahoe Ice Arena charges $20 for adults with rentals, $16 with your own skates and $10 for ages 4 to 10, and kids 3 and under skate free. The Heavenly Village rink had not posted 2026-27 prices yet.
Q: Do snowmobile tours at Lake Tahoe need a reservation?
A: Yes. Zephyr Cove Resort takes full payment at booking. The 2-hour Scenic Lakeview Tour is $250 for a single rider, $280 for two and $100 for a child with the guide, and riders must be at least 5.
Q: Are dogs allowed at Sand Harbor in winter?
A: Yes, from October 16 to April 14 only, on a 6-foot leash. Dogs are not allowed at Sand Harbor from April 15 to October 15.
About the author: Sherry Boyer
Sherry Boyer has lived in the Reno/Tahoe region for seven years, and she and her husband spent decades visiting Lake Tahoe several times a year before they moved here. With extended family around the lake, they spend their free time hiking the trails, boating on Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, and fishing all over the area. Sherry writes Lake Tahoe Travel Tips to share the places they love with visitors.
