Lake Tahoe Sugar Pine Retreat

06/18/2021

Momma bear and two cubs strolling by in the forest right in front of our place.

06/16/2021

Treetop Adventures. Better than Disneyland if you ask me. This time we tried the course in Tahoe Vista. Such a blast for everyone, well except for those with a fear of heights🙃 Highly recommend!

03/01/2021

Hard to beat the views from Homewood ski resort.

02/03/2021

Could be the best snowshoe trail in the world. Right along the lake shoreline at sugarpine state park. Many other options inland as well. Park in the east side parking lot, closest to the lake. You will need to pay for parking. Consider packing a lunch since there are many nice spots to stop. Less snow, try the West side parking lot for meadow trails.

09/06/2020

The gnome trail. Great for families with lil ones. 45 min trek, completely flat and mostly shaded. Ends at gnome village. Take the left at the first fork, about 50 yards in. Make it a loop by going past gnome village and connecting up with the main trail, turn right. To get there, head north, turn left at Grand and park near end of the road. Trail is straight ahead.

08/07/2020

Five Lakes trail near Alpine Meadows (20 min north towards Truckee). Moderate level hike that ends at a grouping of five lakes. Mostly uphill on the way there. 5 miles round trip. Most of the trail is exposed to the sun, so avoid going mid-day a hot day. The lakes offer a nice place to relax or swim. Connects with a lot of other trails if you are looking for something longer.

08/01/2020

If you liked Eagle Rock, consider this Eagle Rock 2x. Twice the hike and twice the views. This trail is so local, it does not even have a name. Make sure to dress local and talk local! Probably 1 hr roundtrip, maybe 40 min. Mostly uphill on the way up. You will get to a split 3/4 of the way up. Turn left. Once at the top, there are many different little paths, each to its own view. Our favorite is the left. Recommend going in the evening.
Just 5 min drive north, past Barker Pass Road. Turn left on Elizabeth and drive to the top. Look for the long driveway leading to the water tower. Walk up that driveway until it turns into the trail straight ahead.

07/31/2020

If you are looking to experience the grandeur of Tahoe, this is a must! Incredible panoramic views as you hike the ridge line. Ellis Peak trail. 6.7 mile round trip with 1.7k elevation gain. Took us 3.5 hours. Starts with a good climb, then becomes easier. Moderate difficulty overall. To get there, drive up Barker Pass road (7 miles) to top and trail is on the left, just before the gravel road. Flowers bloom mid to late July. Less traffic than most trails. Limited parking.

06/26/2020

Sugarpine Beach. This is the main reason why we love our location. A long beach in a secluded forrest setting. Walk or bike from our place. This is on the northern side of Sugarpine State Park. Take the paved bike path heading south from our place. Take the first paved bike trail on your left (just past the campground entrance). Take that accross the road, down the hill and take the first dirt trail to the left (at the bikerack). 5 min on bike, 15 to 20 on foot.

06/25/2020

In Tahoe, the early bird gets paradise all to themselves. Well, and sometimes bears.🐻🐻

06/23/2020

Eagle Rock. A short hike with maybe the best view in tahoe. Just 5 min north, before Barker Pass Road. We prefer to park on the north side, but most park on south side.

06/19/2020

California dreaming on the Truckee River. Super mellow trip through a beautiful forest. Great family adventure. Recommend going before 1:00 as the crowd seems to shift later in the day. Launches in a Tahoe City. Raft rentals available with a shuttle.

06/19/2020

Always a favorite of ours. Treetop Adventures in Tahoe City. Better than Disneyland for the adventurous. Tons of fun for the whole family, and a good workout to boot.

06/18/2020

Page Meadows. Great place for a mild ride or hike crossing several beautiful meadows. Best time to visit is late June when flowers are in bloom. Use the AllTrails app to find the trailhead and trails. There are a lot of options. Recommend starting at parking lot at end of Silvertip road. A good option to avoid crowds on a busy weekend.

06/13/2020

Rubicon trail heading north from Emerald Bay. Look for the paved fire road on 89 about a half mile before emerald Bay. Walk down and turn left near the bottom onto the trail. This way is less popular than the normal starting point.

06/06/2020

Nature walk at the Tahoe State Rec Area located between Ward Creek and Timberland Drive. Short, flat walk, perfect for little ones or seniors. Best time of year to go is June when the flowers are in bloom. Park at the school on Timberland Drive. Just a 5 min drive north from our place. Sounds like restrictions will be lifted next week! One slot left in late June and others in Septmeber.

05/27/2020

Wouldn't you rather be here? Sugarpine beach, just a short walk from our place. We are still accepting reservations for summer and have heard the travel ban may lift early June. July and August are now full, but we have openings later in June and in September. Special COVID-19 precautions in place including limiting to single family, 36 hour minimum between guests, and full refunds if the travel ban remains in place.

03/03/2020

Winter game is back on! This is a secluded sledding spot tucked away in the hills near Glenridge. Check our guest book for directions.

01/29/2020

01/25/2020

One of the mellow runs at Homewood with some amazing views of the lake. Notice the crowds? That is why we love it.

01/17/2020

Winter is in full effect. One of our favorite sledding hills is right around the corner.

09/16/2019

Short hike with amazing views. The lighthouse trail starting at D.L. Bliss. Recommend going first thing or early afternoon, then hang out at the beach. Facilities available on site. Must purchase day pass.

09/01/2019

Eagle Lake hike. One of the best hikes around. Take in the grandeur of Emerald Bay and surrounding mountains as you hike to this serene alpine lake. Moderate diffuculty only due to all the steps, but short in duration. Takes about 1.5 hrs total with lots of options to extend or cut short. Going further, make it a loop and connect to Bayview trail. Arrive before 8:30 or after 3:30 during peak season to get parking.

08/02/2019

Shirley Canyon Trail at Squaw. If you are looking for a challenge this is a great one. Lots of climbing, but mostly next to a stream with small waterfalls. You can take the gondola down for free. Recommend starting this one early. Took about 3 hours. Beautiful wildflowers at the top now.

07/11/2019

Lake Tahoe ranked No. 3 on U.S. News’ list of “Best Small Towns to Visit in the USA.” I would have put it in the top spot, but I guess I am biased. There are just so many great adventures, all surrounded by some of the most beautiful views you will find in the world. Set your plans now for your next vacation. We know just the place to stay:)

06/24/2019

Breathtaking views, a relatively flat grade and a secluded cove to swim in near the end puts this hike at the very top of our list. The Rubicon trail from D.L. Bliss to Emerald Bay. Local tip - go in the afternoon for more shade and easier parking. Weekdays are by far less crowded. Just a 12 minute drive south. Park in D.L. Bliss Park.

06/23/2019

Run it, ride it or raft it. The Truckee river between Squaw and Tahoe City. A summer time treat.

06/21/2019

SUP! Ever try StandUp Paddle (SUP) boarding? Its actually really easy and peaceful, well at least on a calm day. Meeks Bay is a great location to learn. Just 5 min south or a 15 minute bike ride from our place along the new paved bike trail. You can rent boards at any location. The closest one is in sugarpine near the mansion (within walking distance).

06/07/2019

Hands down one of our favorite local adventures. Lots of fun for adults and kids. Great mix of ziplines, bridges and fun obstacles. Just 10 min north of our place.

03/02/2019

February delivered BIG, historic snow levels! What does that mean? Perfect spring skiing is in the future - the best time to introduce kids to skiing or to get them to the next level. Check out the Ridge run at Homewood, just 5 minutes from our place. Limited availability remains, so book today.