If you’ve been following us for a while, you know that we moved to California in 2020 – very much a pandemic inspired move. Before that, we lived in Chicago with Squash but realized we wanted to spend more time outdoors and explore the world with her. Before moving to California, we had a long list of places we wanted to take Squash to and Lake Tahoe was top of that list. The pictures of the clear blue water, the mountains, the charming western towns and the lore of the region – it became a must see for us. Since moving, we have visited numerous times, at least once every summer and every winter. The lake and the surrounding mountain towns are super dog-friendly and after 5 years exploring, hiking, skiing and boating, we have come up with our perfect Squash approved itinerary.

Tranquil Cabins in Sierraville

We have camped, glamped and stayed at various Airbnb’s around Tahoe. But so far, our favorite lodging option are he cabins at Constellation Creek. Only 30 minutes outside of Truckee, tucked away in a beautiful valley in the small town of Sierraville, these peaceful cabins are the perfect home base for exploring the area. The grounds are comprised of 6 wood cabins that have been restored and come equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, private outdoor spaces, fire pits and some very comfortable beds. You’ll fall asleep listening to the sounds of the rushing creek, wake up and walk the grounds with a cup of coffee in hand and spend your days hiking in the Sierras – there are dozens of trails, lakes, waterfalls and even back country ski runs driving distance from the cabins.

The owners live on site and you can often see them having dinner on their front porch, walking through the grounds with their dog Blue or feeding the goats that live on the property. There are often multiple dogs roaming around, as the cabins so it truly is a dog paradise. Squash has made many friends during her weekend visits and usually finds. a friend or two to romp around with.

Hiking in the Sierras

There are so many dog-friendly hiking trails in and around Tahoe that is very difficult to narrow down. The following trails made our list because of the views, how dog-friendly because of how easy to access they are. Volcano Lake & Mountain Mine Trail is a 6 mile out and back trail with stunning views of the Sierra Buttes. This is one of our favorite hikes to do early in the morning – the trail is quite exposed so we try to avoid the afternoon sun with Squash. The trail begins at Sardine Lake Campground (Sardine Lake is also quite dog friendly) and continues up through a few creek crossings and with a turn into Volcano Lake that may be easy to miss if you don’t have a downloaded map. We love to start in the morning, jump into Volcano Lake for a quick dip and continue the climb to get the views of the Buttes and the valley below (pictured on top row).

In the same area as volcano lake, there is another trail we have loved in the past, the Bear Lakes and Round Lake Loop. The loop weaves around some of the prettiest lakes, most of which are swimmable. The last time we did this hike, Squash got to swim in 3 of the lakes and it was the perfect refreshing break during a summer hike. As per our usual recommendation, we tend to start our hikes very early to avoid full afternoon sun. This hike also has a lot of uncovered parts, so I would suggest starting early and brining lots of water for you and the pup(s). Summer and early fall are the best time for this hike, as it avoids the heavy snowfall that can happen in the Plumas National Forest.

Both Volcano Lake and Bear Lakes trail are further out from Truckee (about an hour north) and because of that distance, you get to avoid a lot of the Tahoe crowd – especially in the summer. This is a big reason we like hiking in the Plumas National Forest. However, there are so many dog-friendly hikes in and around Lake Tahoe and Truckee that are super easy to access. Two of those trails Glacier Way Access Trail and the Tahoe Rim Trail to Picnic Rock Viewpoint, are not only easy to access but moderate hikes that can be done within 1-2 hours. They are perfect if you are looking for an easy to moderate hike that is dog-friendly and close to town. Keep in mind that Tahoe Rim is an almost 200 mile trail and the trail to picnic rock viewpoint is an offshoot of that much longer trail.

Where to Eat in Truckee

I am going to say something that could be consider somewhat or a hot take and might piss people off – a lot of mountain towns have really bad food, including some of your favorites. However, I do think that food in Truckee is pretty decent and there are some particular outstanding spots.

I am going to start with our absolute favorite gem – Great Gold. Great Gold mixes elevated Italian cuisine with ingredients from local farmers. They are located in Pioneer Center, so it is a bit tucked away from the bustling streets of downtown Truckee. We have mostly dined in their dining room, which is not dog friendly. However, when the weather is cooperating, they have a great patio where dogs are allowed.

There are also plenty of options in the center of town, ranging from breweries to fine dining to ice cream trucks with a small doggie menu. Truckee is a great place to dine with your dog, especially in the summer. I would say that most restaurants have a patio, making it super easy to bring them along for lunch or dinner. During the winter months, a lot of the dining does move inside, so I would check with the local establishments if you want to bring your dog to dinner. Some of our favorite places to dine at include: Como, Drink Coffee Do Stuff, Little Truckee Ice Creamery and Cornerstone Bakery.

A Little Extra

We all love to eat, and a lot of us love to hike. But there are so many more dog-friendly activities in Truckee that do not include eating or hiking (although most of these will make you hungry). One of our favorite things to do is checkout all the stores in downtown Truckee. Honorable mention goes out to Word After Word bookstore. They have such a great selection of books, a basement with a phenomenal selection of vinyl records, a children’s book section and even a “as seen on TikTok” section.

In the past, we have a lot rented a boat and taken it out on Lake Tahoe. It was perfect on a hot summer day and Squash got to swim in the blue waters of Lake Tahoe. Inquire with the local boat companies about how dog friendly their boats are, but we did not have an issue finding one.

Lastly – I lied about the whole no more food recommendations thing – check out Raley’s. Yes, it is a supermarket. But also it is a very cute supermarket and the best part is that they have a “dog treat” section that features locally baked dog treats. We always leave the store with a hefty bag of treats for Squash.

There you have it – our list of dog friendly activities in and around Lake Tahoe and Truckee. Grab your hiking gear, your dog and your appetite and head to the heart of the Sierras for an unforgettable weekend of hiking, fun in the sun, shopping and lots of food related indulgences.