Winter trips around Lake Tahoe and Truckee do not require lift tickets or downhill ski gear. Guided snowshoe routes, village ice rinks, tubing hills, and night astronomy programs run throughout the season without requiring you to ski.
- Roadwork eastbound between Magra (Railroad) (Exit 140) and Gold Run Rd (Exit 143), traffic getting through — tree work; until 5:59 a.m.
- Roadwork westbound between Rock Spring Rd and King Rd (Exit 112), 1 mile east of Penryn, traffic getting through — fiber optic installation; until 5:01 a.m.
Night snowshoeing and outdoor activities
Tahoe Adventure Company runs guided full moon snowshoe treks for participants ages 8 and older. The guided treks cover an easy 2 to 3 miles, with rental snowshoes, trekking poles, warm drinks, and snacks included.
At Northstar's Cross Country, Telemark and Snowshoe Center, Twilight Snowshoe Tours run for 2 to 2.5 hours on Saturdays at 5:00 p.m. from December 20, 2025 through March 7, 2026. These tours include hot chocolate and s'mores at an outdoor fire pit and finish in Northstar Village; leashed dogs are permitted.
For dining on foot, Alpine Base Lodge hosts snowshoe tours up a groomed trail to The Chalet at 6,800 feet. The 15-minute hike uses snowshoes or boot chains and ends at a 4-course Bavarian dinner for adults 21 and older.
For ice skating and tubing:
- Truckee River Regional Park operates an outdoor ice rink with hot chocolate and themed music nights.
- Palisades Tahoe runs disco tubing with neon lighting lanes and live DJ sets. Sugar Bowl offers 10 tubing lanes at Sugar Rush with fire pits and music.
- Tony Berendsen of Tahoe Star Tours hosts docent-led astronomy nights with Celestron telescopes for groups of 2 to 20, with winter sessions held at the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe on Dec. 26, Jan. 2, and Feb. 20.
Sledding, tubing, snowmobiles, Sno-Parks and rinks around the lake, with prices, are in Lake Tahoe in winter.
Regional transit and winter shuttles
Free public transportation operates across the north basin, reducing parking congestion along corridor highways. Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) runs free daily fixed-route buses along SR-89 road conditions and SR-267 road conditions, linking Truckee with North Lake Tahoe lakefront communities.
TART Connect provides free, on-demand microtransit via an app or phone call. Operating hours run within Truckee town limits from 6:30 a.m. to midnight daily, with on-demand night service connecting to Northstar Village.
Cameras along SR-267 between Truckee and Kings Beach.
Park & Ride shuttles offer weekend service to reduce vehicle traffic:
- Truckee High School lower lots to Palisades Tahoe every 15 minutes from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Lift Truckee Workspace to Northstar hourly from 7:09 a.m. to 5:09 p.m.
- Cold Stream Road transit center to Donner Summit with five scheduled loops stopping near Donner Lake at 7:10 a.m., 8:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m., 4:10 p.m., and 5:10 p.m.
Mountain access and winter highway safety
Getting between Reno, Truckee, and Lake Tahoe requires crossing mountain passes subject to mandatory chain controls. Monitor camera feeds along I-80 road conditions and check US-50 road conditions before driving. Highway 65-mph speed limits do not apply during active snow or ice; reduce vehicle speed and increase following distance.
Caltrans requires drivers to carry tire chains that fit their vehicle's drive wheels. If California Highway Patrol establishes chain controls, drivers without required chains face citations and fines. Caltrans advises staying at least 4 car lengths back from snowplows, sand trucks, and brine spreaders.
Several high-elevation passes close completely for the winter season:
- Ebbetts Pass on SR-4 closed on 12/26 in 2025.
- Monitor Pass on SR-89 webcams closed on 12/26 in 2025 and reopened on 3/5.
- Sonora Pass on SR-108 closed on 12/25 in 2025 and reopened on 4/30.
- Tioga Pass on SR-120 closed on 12/19 in 2025 and reopened on 4/15.
Caltrans updates current highway controls and pass closures continuously through the Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN) at (800) 427-7623.