The snow is falling, and the kids are climbing the walls. It’s time to get them out of the house and on a sled. Lake Tahoe features several sledding and tubing areas. From Free Sledding in a National Forest to a tubing park with conveyor lifts, find several places for sledding in Lake Tahoe.
14 Places for Sledding in Lake Tahoe
Tahoe Meadows Area
Spooner Summit Sledding Area
Incline Village Sno Play Area
Sledding Hill at Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort
Tahoe City Sledding Hill
Truckee River Regional Park
Sno-Park at Donner Summit off I-80
Wildslide Tahoe at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Palisades Tahoe Resort
Boreal Mountain Resort Tahoe Tubing
Sugar Bowl Resort Sugar Rush Tubing
Soda Springs Resort’s Tube Town
Donner Ski Ranch Snow Tubing
Tahoe Donner Snowplay Area
Winter Guide to Lake Tahoe
Tahoe Meadows Area
In the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, the largest national forest in the Lower 48,, Tahoe Meadows is a year-round outdoor destination. It’s just past the Mt. Rose Summit, headed into Incline Village, about seven miles southwest of Mt. Rose Ski Resort.
With several areas to use, head to Tahoe Meadows and the adjacent Mt. Rose Summit. Some areas offer off-highway parking, like the Mt. Rose Summit area, and some don’t.
The Tahoe Rim Trailhead area is the only spot featuring off-highway parking and a year-round restroom. The restroom at Mt. Rose Summit is seasonal, though it has a nice parking area.
The parking area is plowed frequently, and I prefer this area over the more popular sledding area farther south. My kids can spend several hours frolicking in the snow and racing each other down the hill without running into other kids.
The famed Chickadee Ridge is in the area. There are also areas for XC skiing and snowmobiling.
Guide to Tahoe Meadows Recreation Area
Spooner Summit Sledding Area
Outside of Carson City, take Nevada Highway 50 just past Spooner Summit. At the Nevada Highway 28 turn-off for Lake Tahoe, there is a small driveway across the Spooner Lake State Park. This is the top local spot for free sledding. Located 12 miles from downtown Carson City, Spooner Summit crests at 7,145 feet in the Carson Range. (During the summer, the Lake Tahoe boat inspection uses this area)
Off a small street, this area features limited off-highway parking. The Spooner Summit Sledding Area features a steep hill with even snow coverage, attracting kids of all ages. The Spooner Summit Sledding Area isn’t groomed, so brushes and rocks add obstacles.
This area is free but doesn’t feature trash cans or restrooms. However, find year-round pit toilets at the Spooner Lake Nevada State Park ($), across the highway. This area can get crowded on holidays and weekends, so arrive early.
Incline Village Sno Play Area
On the Northern Shore of Lake Tahoe, there is a FREE snow play area in Incline Village. Near the Chateau Clubhouse, this hill is on the Incline Village Championship Golf Course on Fairway Blvd. It is a BYOS place and a walk-up hill
Located at 955 Fairway Blvd., Incline Village, NV. Free to use and BYOS.
Guide to Spooner Summit Sledding Area
Sledding Hill at Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort
For less money than most resorts, you get a saucer and access to the sled hill for an hour and a half at Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort. I didn’t find a Magic Carpet lift on the sled hill, but my kids didn’t need one. It’s a manageable climb for most kids.
My kids loved it. It’s fast. The staff at Granlibakken-Tahoe keeps the sledding area safe by ensuring the previous sledders walk off before the next sledders can slide down.
Located at 725 Granlibakken Road, Tahoe City, CA. Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for evening sled session. As a double Mom bonus, kids three and under are free.
Guide to Granlibakken Tahoe Ski Resort
Tahoe City Sledding Hill
In the center of town, Tahoe City Winter Sports Park offers a small sledding hill steps away from the outdoor ice rink. It’s a small hill best for preschool kids.
Located at 251 N. Lake Blvd. It is $15 per person, and a sled is included. This area relies on natural snow.
Top Things to Do in Tahoe City
Truckee River Regional Park
This popular public park offers an outdoor ice rink and behind it is the sledding hill. There is a playground in the area, depending on the snow depth.
Located at 10500 Brockway Rd. Public Ice Skating is open from Friday 3 to 7:45 p.m., Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6:45 p.m.Adult non-resident admission is $14, and youth non-resident admission is $12. Card only.
Sno-Park at Donner Summit off I-80
This area is plowed and offers year-round restrooms.
Located Boreal ski area turnoff, near the Pacific Crest Trail parking area. Purchase a Sno-Park pass in town for $15 a day.
Top Things to Do in Truckee
Lake Tahoe Resorts with Tubing and Snowplay Areas
Most resorts offer tubing in 90-minute sessions, including a tube. Some resorts suggest reservations for busy periods, like holidays and school breaks.
Wildslide Tahoe at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe is adding a Snow Tubing Park: Wildslide Tahoe. This newly built area features up to 20 tubing lanes, 750 feet long. The tubing lanes use a dual conveyor lift.
Wildslide Tahoe boasts its own lodge: the WildSlide Lodge. There, guests can enjoy snacks, hot beverages and even beer. There’s a deck overlooking the tubing lanes.
Located at 22600 Mt Rose Hwy., .75-mile west of the main entrance to Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Wildslide Tahoe features a separate free parking lot with 400 spaces. It is open Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (daily during Christmas/New Year’s Break). Two-hour sessions with a new session starting every 15 minutes. Adults are $45 and kids are $35. Reservations required.
Palisades Tahoe Resort
In the SnoVentures Activity Zone at the base of the Palisades Tahoe Resort, the tubing area is open during holiday breaks. The tubing lanes are groomed and monitored.
Each tubing session is 55 minutes long and begins at the top of each hour. Tubers must be at least 40 inches tall. Prices start at $60 a session and reservations are required.
Located at 1960 Olympic Valley, CA. Open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Boreal Mountain Resort Tahoe Tubing
Boreal Mountain Resort offers tubing in scheduled sessions with limited capacity. This resort features a conveyor lift to the top.
Located at 19749 Boreal Ridge Rd, Soda Springs, CA, at the far end of Boreal Mountain California’s parking lot. Reservations recommended, and rates start at $59. Tubing sessions are 90-minutes. Tubers must be 42” tall.
Sugar Bowl Resort’s Sugar Rush
Sugar Rush Tubing at Sugar Bowl Resort features up to 10 different tubing lanes. There’s a 500-foot moving carpet to easily return you to the top.
Located at 350 Sugar Bowl Rd, Norden, CA. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Must be 42 inches for tubing and only one person per tube. Reservations recommended, and tickets start at $50 per tuber.
Soda Springs Mountain Resort’s Tube Town
This resort offers up to 10 tubing lanes. It is serviced by a 400-foot surface lift. Tube Town is geared towards older kids. Little kids can play in the Snowman Land, a snowplay area.
If there’s enough snow, then Tube Town adds an additional six lanes, each 900 feet long. This area is called Tubercross, and the lanes are faster.
Located at 10244 Soda Springs Rd., Soda Springs, CA. Prices start at $69 and reservations are recommended.
Donner Ski Ranch Snow Tubing
Donner Ski Ranch features snow tubing without height restrictions, so it’s little kid-friendly. This tubing area features a conveyor lift, too.
Located at 19320 Donner Pass Rd., Norden, CA. Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase tubing passes at the resort. Prices start at $34 for non-holidays. No height restrictions
Tahoe Donner Snowplay Area
Located in Truckee at the Tahoe Donner Ski Resort, this snowplay area features two banked tube lanes for tubing. There is also sled lanes. Tahoe Donner Snowplay includes equipment; however, there is no conveyor lift.
Located at 11603 Snowpeak Way, Truckee. Open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tickets required, and adults are $32 and kids (4 to 12) are $27 with those 3 and younger entering for free. Reservations recommended for holiday breaks.
Comments are closed.