Tahoe City , the hub on the lake's northwestern shore, does not escape the tourists, but nevertheless manages to retain a more relaxed small-town attitude. Hwy-89 meets Hwy-28 at Lake Tahoe's only outlet, the Truckee River . The Gatekeeper's Cabin Museum (Wed-Sun 11am-5pm May-mid-June; daily 11am-5pm mid-June to mid-Oct; $2), at the mouth of the river, is a well-presented hodgepodge of artifacts from the nineteenth century, and has a good collection of native basketware. Rafting down the Truckee is a common activity in summer.

A couple of miles south along Hwy-89, 500 yards past the Kaspian picnic grounds, hike ten minutes up the unmarked trail to the top of Eagle Rock for amazing panoramic views of the royal-blue lake. Several miles further along the highway is popular Chamber's Beach .

Squaw Valley , the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, is situated five miles west of Tahoe City off of Hwy-89, although the original facilities (except the flame and the Olympic rings) are now swamped by the rampant development which has made this California's largest ski resort.

Tahoe City

• Tahoe City

California cities


All U.S. city guides