Incline Village is one of many small communities bordering Lake Tahoe’s famed blue waters. Like its shoreside neighbors, Incline Village is known as a watersports mecca in the summer and a snowsports haven in the winter—but the town has a unique charm all its own.
Planning a visit to Incline Village can seem overwhelming, depending on how you want your vacation to go. We’ve listed the 11 best things to do in Incline Village to kick off your itinerary.
Book your stay with Cascadia STR and get this list ready for a getaway to Incline Village!
1. Ski Diamond Peak
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Incline Village’s home mountain, Diamond Peak Ski Resort, is just a five-minute drive outside of town. If you’re visiting Lake Tahoe in the winter, skiing here is a must!
This community-owned operation supplies quality skiing and snowboarding and a vibrant, welcoming slopeside culture at a fraction of the price of nearby corporate resorts.
With gladed tree runs, groomers, and powder stashes galore across more than 650 acres, skiers and riders of every level have something to enjoy.
First-timers can learn the basics with affordable lessons and rentals, while experts can expect to dive right into everything Diamond Peak has to offer. For an extra challenge, hit the Village Terrain Park or give uphilling a go.
2. Strap On Your Snowshoes or Skis
If you want to explore Lake Tahoe’s breathtaking winter scenery at a slower pace, you can strike out on a snowshoeing or cross-country skiing trek.
Several relatively flat trails around Incline Village allow even beginners to try out these classic winter activities. Or, you can book a guided snowshoeing and photography tour to benefit from an expert’s perspective on the Desolation Wilderness.
Tahoe Meadows and Chickadee Ridge rank as the most popular local snowshoeing areas, while cross-country skiers can drive 10 minutes out of town to reach Nevada Nordic at Mt. Rose. This community-supported, multi-use venue features a miles-long network of well-groomed Nordic tracks.
3. Soak Up the Sun at Sand Harbor
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Sand Harbor’s crystalline waters, sandy beach, and sheltered shores make this one of the great gems of Tahoe’s east shore. In the warmer months, visitors flock to this Nevada state park to swim, kayak, and paddle-board, all for a low-cost day-use fee.
On-site gear rental companies make it easy to get out on the water—you could even partake in the tried-and-true Tahoe tourist tradition of clear kayaking, which will give you a glimpse through the waters to the depths below.
Since this is one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular destinations, expect to share Sand Harbor with plenty of other visitors during peak season.
If you’d rather avoid the crowds, check out some of the more secluded beaches around Crystal Bay, including Hidden Beach. Burnt Cedar Beach, Incline Beach, Ski Beach, and Hermit Beach are accessible only to Incline Village General Improvement District (IVGID) pass holders.
4. Attend Local Events
Despite being a small lakeside town, Incline Village is anything but sleepy. The calendar stays full here all year round, and you’ll encounter a wide variety of events to suit different tastes in all four seasons. Standouts include:
- Diamond Peak’s Ullr Fest, held every January in honor of the Scandinavian god of winter and snow.
- The Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival – a series of live theatrical productions attended by tens of thousands every summer.
Many more festivities take place here for holidays like Independence Day, so check local calendars to learn what you might see during your visit. With so many different happenings around town, chances are high that you’ll find something to pique your interest.
5. Hit the Hiking Trails
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Head out to the nearby hiking trails to get a new perspective on Tahoe’s world-famous scenery. Miles of different paths ring the lake and climb into the surrounding mountain peaks.
As a bonus, several of these trails pass near the Tunnel Creek Café, a local hotspot ideal for grabbing a bite before or after your hike.
We’d recommend trying at least one of these top-rated hikes near Incline Village, but dozens of other trails nearby allow for even more choices. With so many options, will you pick a calming shoreside stroll or a more strenuous trek?
6. Ride Mountain Bikes
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There’s nothing quite like getting some mud on the tires while admiring stunning views of Lake Tahoe, a pastime for mountain bikers of all skill levels near Incline Village.
Luckily, the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) provides maps and a wealth of other resources to keep cyclists up-to-date with the latest and greatest trail information.
One quintessential ride for both locals and visitors is the Flume Trail. Though the route’s namesake logging flume is long gone, this is still a fascinating and scenic area for a tranquil ride with little elevation gain. However, per the TAMBA, the U.S. Forest Service doesn’t maintain the Flume Trail—pay close attention to your surroundings since signage is limited.
7. Tee Off in Incline Village
If you want to brush up on your golf game while staying at Incline Village, you can decide between two world-class greens.
Designed by renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones Sr., the par-72 Championship Golf Course at Incline Village typically steals the limelight. But don't overlook the Mountain Golf Course—this affordable, par-58 course will likely appeal more to casual golfers. Regardless, you'll get to soak up stellar vistas from both.
These courses close during winter (after all, it'd be tough to swing a club in the 135 inches of snow that Incline Village typically receives every year). During the on-season, try to reserve your tee time well in advance since these popular destinations can book out quickly.
8. Pamper Yourself With a Spa Day
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If you’ve fulfilled your itch for the outdoors, a good, old-fashioned spa day might be just what the doctor ordered.
Check out Incline Village’s many spas and salons to locate the right treatment for you, whether a massage, a facial, or a rejuvenating session at an oxygen bar. After a little much-deserved pampering, you’ll be ready to hit the ski slopes or trails again before you know it.
Sit back and relax at one of these luxurious destinations:
9. Listen to Live Classical Music with the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra
Started in 2005, the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra has since become a fixture around the area, with performances spotlighting more than 160 Reno-Tahoe talents and guest artists throughout the year.
Several Incline Village venues host Tahoe Symphony concerts, so you might want to add these shows to your plans for a night out on the town.
While the Tahoe Symphony Orchestra prioritizes accessibility (read: affordability) in their performances, your ticket proceeds will also go to a good cause. This nonprofit organization helps support young local musicians and singers.
10. Go Hang Gliding
For a truly out-of-this-world adventure, book a hang-gliding trip that will take you high above the forests and waters of Lake Tahoe. Though these tours do cost a pretty penny, the views are more than worth it—plus, who else can brag that they went flying on vacation?
Hang Gliding Tahoe is based in Carson City, a roughly 40-minute drive from Incline Village. Accompanied by an FAA-certified flight instructor, you can spend up to two-and-a-half hours cruising the skies above the lake, a Tahoe experience unlike any other.
11. Indulge in Upscale Eats
Besides boasting an incredible variety of things to do, Incline Village is also home to several restaurants dishing up mouthwatering cuisine. Better yet, many of these eateries exemplify the laidback, welcoming vibe that Tahoe is known for, so you can indulge in a delicious meal in a great atmosphere.
Menus at most of Incline Village’s best restaurants skew toward American steakhouse fare, but bring an open mind. You might just be surprised by what you can order at these hotspots:
Plan Your Incline Village Itinerary + Book Your Stay Today!
This list will help you put together your perfect trip to Incline Village. There’s a lot to love about this charming town, so depending on how long you plan to visit, you might want to pack your schedule as much as possible—or slow down so you can focus on some well-earned downtime. The choice is yours.
In the meantime, book your stay at Cascadia STR. Our vacation rentals strike the perfect balance of excitement and R&R, so you and your travel companions can get the best of everything in Lake Tahoe!