Your Guide to Snowshoeing Trails

Reno Tahoe is home to some of the most beautiful and invigorating views in the world, so don’t let the cold weather keep you indoors. Snowshoeing is a winter activity anyone can enjoy – it is easy to learn, poses little risk of injury and is inexpensive. You can follow an established trail, or opt to forge your own trail through the powder (which WILL give you a solid workout!). Here are a few areas near Reno and Lake Tahoe where you can extend your hiking season into the winter.

Snowshoeing Trails in Reno and Lake Tahoe

Chickadee Ridge

A snowshoe adventure to Chickadee Ridge offers sweeping, scenic views of Desolation Wilderness and Lake Tahoe. This hike is dog-friendly and thanks to the easy access and modest terrain it is a snowshoe hike nearly everyone can enjoy. You can access this trail on the south side of Mount Rose Highway (Hwy 431) from Tahoe Meadows. Make sure you pack some birdseed and listen for the chirps of resident chickadees… if you’re lucky they will snag some seeds from your outstretched palm and give you a dreamy photo op!

Mount Rose Trail

You can often find patches of snow along this trail well into the summer months so you know this hike near Incline Village was meant to be experienced with snowshoes! Conquer this trail and enjoy waterfalls and great views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Galena Creek

This trail in south Reno is located off the Bitterbrush Trail in Galena Creek Regional Park. The difficulty level is easy to moderate, and on-leash dogs are welcome. It’s a beautiful hike in the summer, but when cloaked in snow, the wintry scenery is even more amazing.

Spooner Lake

Part of the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park system, Spooner Lake offers miles of mellow trails that are perfect for any level of snowshoeing ability.  From the park, you can hike around Spooner Lake, or access sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail as well as Marlette Lake and Red House trails.

Tahoe Rim Trail

You can enjoy a leisurely snowshoe or a more difficult hike along sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail, which features impressive scenery, from mountains and trees to views of the lake. This trail is friendly to all skill levels and allows you to enjoy Lake Tahoe year-round.

Snowshoeing at Lake Tahoe Area Ski Resorts

Palisades Tahoe

Enjoy the beautiful meadow or head to the backcountry of Palisades Tahoe for a great snowshoe hike. The Resort at Squaw Creek offers boot and snowshoe rentals (for adults and kids), as well as guided snowshoe tours and winter packages and specials.

Northstar California Resort

Snowshoeing at Northstar California Resort is just one of many activities you can enjoy at the resort in the winter, including Tahoe snowboarding and skiing. Northstar offers more than 35 kilometers of carefully groomed scenic trails, snowshoe rentals and lessons, day and night snowshoe tours, and access to use the Village Express Chairlift to get directly from the Village to the trail system.

Kirkwood

Kirkwood Cross Country has 50 kilometers of open track for snowshoeing that accommodates all skill levels while offering spectacular scenery and exciting terrain. The trails feature interpretive signs to provide guidance, three interconnected trail systems, snowshoe tours, and one of the best things about Kirkwood’s Cross Country Snowshoe Center is that dogs are allowed. Day tickets and season passes are available.

Guided Snowshoe Tours and Rentals

New to snowshoeing? For snowshoe rentals, repairs and guided snowshoeing adventures to help you explore some of the best backcountry in Reno and Lake Tahoe on snowshoes, here are a few local resources.

• Sierra Adventures – Based in Reno, their tours include shuttle service, snowshoeing equipment, food and any permits that may be required.
• Tahoe Adventure Company – They offer a variety of unique snowshoe tours, including full moon snowshoe tours, sunset tours and stargazing tours.
• Tahoe Snowshoe Tours – With various tours for all abilities, including daytime, sunset and full moon snowshoe tours, they also offer beautiful photos of your experience.
• Tahoe Dave’s – This locally-owned ski, board and snowshoe shop can set you up with a snowshoe rental package so you can explore local trails on your own. And their six Lake Tahoe locations make it a convenient option.

Make sure to tag #RenoTahoe in all of your winter adventures!