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Lake Tahoe is the jewel of the Sierra Nevada and looks like a postcard with its pine-covered peaks wrapping around the sapphire-blue water. But even paradise has its limits.
Nearly 15 million visitors descend on this high-altitude playground each year (including day-trippers, overnighters, and those traveling through the area).
The result? Traffic jams that stretch longer than ski-lift lines, litter on trails, roadsides, and beaches, and local communities that must endure heavy tourism’s damaging footprint.
I grew up coming to Lake Tahoe. My grandparents had a tiny cabin on the West Shore where I learned to skip rocks and marvel at how clear the water was.
“It’s so pure you can drink it right out of your hands,” my grandfather always told us. And of course, we had to try it.
That deep blue lake has always felt magical, and I want its beauty to endure—for my kids, your kids, and every future traveler who gasps at its shimmer for the first time.
Over the past few decades, tourism has gotten out of hand everywhere, and Lake Tahoe is no exception. To try mitigate further damage, the region hosted its first-ever Litter Summit, and a coalition of public and private groups created a 143-page destination stewardship plan.
It was their polite but firm way of saying: “We’re working hard to protect this place, and you should too.”
I agree 100 percent. Lake Tahoe has given millions of us moments of awe, so let’s return the favor.
Here are five easy, environmentally friendly ways to visit Lake Tahoe and leave your conscience (and the lake) sparkling clean.
1. Drink Tahoe Tap (Ditch the Plastic)
Nothing makes my eye twitch faster than seeing someone lug cases of bottled water to a lake that has some of the cleanest, best-tasting tap water in the country.
Yes, the lake itself can contain bacteria and some pollutants that can make us sick, so don’t refill your bottles in it, as my grandpa suggested. But the tap water around Tahoe is exceptional, safe, and regulated far more strictly than bottled alternatives.
Bring your own refillable bottle and top up must about anywhere, from refill stations at the beach to restaurants and even your hotel sink. The tap water is better than fine.
Fewer disposable water bottles means less litter, fewer plastics entering the watershed, and less strain on local landfills and wildlife. Mother Earth thanks you.
2. Pretend Lake Tahoe is Your Backyard
Turquoise coves, pine-scented trails, Olympic ski resorts—it’s all gorgeous and inspiring. But the environment is fragile, so adopt a Tahoe Travel mindset. It’s easy— just pretend Lake Tahoe is your backyard and behave accordingly.
Sustainable Tahoe Tips
- Park only in designated areas
- Stick to marked trails when hiking
- Clean up after your dog
- Use reusable shopping bags and bottles
- Don’t feed the wildlife
- Only light fires in approved areas
- Respect noise levels
3. Minimize Driving (It’s Ridiculously Easy)
Yes, having our own wheels is convenient. But in Lake Tahoe (and along the two-lane around it), more cars mean more traffic, pollution, and frustration for all. Luckily, getting around without a car is not only easy and good for the environment, but it’s also a great way to experience lake life.
Walking, hiking, kayaking, paddleboarding, and tubing are fun and amazing ways to travel around Lake Tahoe.
Biking is also popular. I personally prefer to grab a map and a backpack with snacks, hop on e-bike, and take a leisurely self-guided tour, stopping wherever looks sunny and scenic.
Obviously, winter and mobility challenges require a different solution and Lake Tahoe has many transportation services that make not driving a little easier:
- Lake Link (South Shore on-demand shuttle)
- TART & TART Connect (North Shore and Truckee; free and on-demand)
- BlueGO (Heavenly Ski Resort shuttles in winter)
- Diamond Peak Ski Shuttle (for Incline Village visitors)
- Hotel shuttles (ask your hotel if they provide complimentary or scheduled shuttles)
4. Visit During Shoulder Seasons (Tahoe’s Best-Kept Secret)
Summer and ski season may be your only choice if you’re traveling with kids and are beholden to school schedules, but they’re also crowded, more expensive, and have a high impact on Lake Tahoe’s delicate ecosystems.
September is my wedding anniversary month, and I have spent a few watching the leaves change around Lake Tahoe. Mid-September to the end of October is magical.
Another great time to consider a visit is January, after the holidays, and right after MLK weekend. The streets, trails, ski resorts, and restaurants have breathing room.
Other perks of off-peak travel include:
- Less traffic
- easier parking
- lower hotel rates
- a slower, sweeter mountain-town vibe experience
5. Volunteer
Want instant good karma at the cost of just a few hours, or even minutes, of your time? Consider signing up to volunteer while you’re in Lake Tahoe. Like topping off your champagne just a splash, every little bit helps!
Some volunteer options around Lake Tahoe include:
- Keep Tahoe Blue (The League to Save Lake Tahoe): hosts frequent community beach clean-ups and eco-events
- Clean Up the Lake: visit their Environmental Dive Center to learn about aquatic ecosystems, or become a certified environmental diver
- U.S. Forest Service: volunteer for trail work or education programs (college students can earn credit!)
These practices can be adopted anywhere we travel, and it really boils down to this: be a generous guest, listen to the people who live there, and leave a place more beautiful than you found it.
Read more about traveling to Lake Tahoe
