Boating in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is truly a boater’s paradise. Situated at 6,225 feet above sea level, it is the largest alpine lake in the United States and is one of the cleanest and most sparkling clear lakes in the country. In addition, its vast surface area – 191 square miles – means that you can go boating even during peak tourist season and not feel as if you’re being crowded by others.

With the exception of locals who have their own vessels, most individuals don’t arrive at Lake Tahoe with a boat. That’s not a problem! Boat rental businesses are quite plentiful in this popular vacation destination and can be found on each shore of the lake. If you have a particular type of vessel in mind and you’re arriving during a very busy time, it’s probably a good idea to reserve a boat ahead of your arrival to ensure that you’re not disappointed. You can rent just about anything from kayaks and canoes to large power boats to custom sailing vessels.

If you’re planning something really special, like a family reunion or other group get-together, or if you just want a luxury private cruise on Lake Tahoe, you’ll find that there are many companies that offer yacht charters aboard some of the most magnificent boats available. Some of these power boats can accommodate up to 50 or 60 passengers or you can choose a custom catamaran that might hold up to about 25 guests. Many will pick up group members in a variety of locations. The captains and crew are U.S. Coast Guard-certified and knowledgeable about the lake, providing guests with both an entertaining and informative cruise.

There are also cruise experiences that take guests to particular destinations. Several cruise boats at Lake Tahoe carry passengers to Emerald Bay and the Vikingsholm Mansion in Emerald Bay State Park. This mansion is considered one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in the U.S. and is fun to tour. Others also travel to the Thunderbird Lodge Historic Site where passengers can disembark and take walking tours of the site.

Wanna fish? There are tons of fishing charters available as well and fishing season is year round with the opportunity to catch a huge variety of species, depending on the time of the year, though trout and salmon fishing are best.

Small watercraft are popular on Lake Tahoe as well. Visitors can rent jet skis and wave runners for an exhilarating ride around the lake. Many outfitters along the shores of the lake rent recreational watercraft. Water skiing is also popular and vacationers will find it easy to locate outfitters that not only accommodate experienced water skiers but also offer instruction in waterskiing, wakeboarding, and knee boarding.

If you’d like to experience the space above the water, parasailing might be for you. Passengers soar hundreds of feet above the water, the perfect way to explore the lake and admire the mountains. And if you’d like, your boat driver will even take you for a dip along the way so you can cool off!   

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