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Photo courtesy of Incline Village Crystal
Bay Visitors Bureau
Area Highlights
Take your pick of 15 alpine and 13 cross-country
ski areas. South Lake Tahoe's three close alpine ski resorts,
including world famous Heavenly, offer some of the steepest,
deepest and most scenic runs in the West. Whether you ski,
mountain bike, hike, climb, golf, scuba dive, water ski, balloon,
sail, white water raft, enjoy hot springs or lying in the
sun; the view or the conversation always comes back to the
beauty of Lake Tahoe. |
Lake Tahoe is an ancient body of
water, with a history of primal forces that have molded it into
its current form as the "Jewel of the Sierras." The
Lake Tahoe Basin was formed by rising mountains, gushing lava
and giant glaciers. It was the summer gathering and spiritual
center for the Washoe Indians. The Tahoe forest was nearly obliterated
by the need for wood during the California Gold Rush and the
Comstock Load in nearby Virginia City. The 1950s and 60s saw
a steady increase in development including the Winter Olympics
at Squaw Valley. In 1968, growing environmental concerns caused
California and Nevada to form the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
to oversee environmentally responsible development in the Basin.
Today, Lake Tahoe is a magnificent site to behold with 72 miles
of shoreline surrounded by snow-capped peaks. With deep cold
waters of crystal blue and lush green forests, Lake Tahoe is
the perfect setting for every outdoor activity imaginable. The
residents of the Lake Tahoe Basin are the guardians of this
paradise and they accept this responsibility with pride. While
hotel/casinos and ski resorts draw millions of guests each year,
the main attraction continues to be the quiet beauty of the
Sierra and the timeless inspiration of the lake itself. |
