Family Biking Excursion in South Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a great family friendly destination. The variety of outdoor activities, local resorts, beaches, and restaurants make it possible to plan a trip that every member of your family will enjoy. Biking is one activity that is great for all age levels and South Lake Tahoe has many trails that are easy and safe, including paths that are entirely separate from roads.
Biking around Lake Tahoe is enjoyable on its own, but also a great way to get to a number of kid friendly and parent friendly destinations. To help you get started with your vacation planning, the local team at Pine Nut Cycle Cafe has created this plan for a family biking adventure in South Lake Tahoe.
Choosing the Right Bike
When planning a biking excursion that will involve kids, we always recommend e-bikes. These cycles have an internal motor that provides pedal assist to help the rider go faster with less effort. They are ideal for navigating the hills and paths around South Lake Tahoe and also a lot of fun to ride.
Kids and teens who are already comfortable on a two wheeled bicycle can adjust to an e-bike and safely ride one. Pedal assist can help reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour, making it easier for them to keep up with you throughout the day.
Plan for a Day Out in Lake Tahoe
Pine Nut Cycle Cafe rents e-bikes in South Lake Tahoe at affordable all day prices. Our location in South Lake Tahoe has convenient access to local trails and attractions. You can pick up e-bikes for your family in the morning, and also grab a fresh pressed juice and pastry from our in-house cafe.
From there, you can set off to some of the following locations (or follow along on this map):
Washoe Meadows State Park - Locals consider this the least visited state parks in California meaning there is plenty of room for you and your kids to ride about. Reach the state park by riding up towards Myers about three miles. The wide network of trails in the park is mostly flat with the option to circle the entire park or just follow a few of the shorter trails. Kids will love splashing in Angora Creek and petting Maggie, the Great Pyrenees dog who often runs up to visitors at the trailhead.
Pope Beach - Camp Richardson is the leading family friendly resort in Lake Tahoe, in part because of its excellent beaches. Pope Beach is perfect for swimming and splashing in the water to cool off after your morning bike ride. From our store, this beach is a 2 mile ride on the Pope Baldwin Path.
Lunch and Ice Cream - Stop for lunch at the Beacon Bar and Grill which has plenty of options for kids as well as beer and cocktails for parents. No visit to Camp Richardson would be complete without a stop by the ice cream parlor for a scoop of ice cream as a reward for a long day of cycling.
If you still have energy after this, there is always more you can do. Head over to Magic Carpet Golf in downtown South Lake Tahoe for a round of mini golf at this 50 year old Lake Tahoe institution. Or send the kids back to the hotel or campsite and enjoy a great night out yourselves at one of the many great restaurants and bars around South Lake Tahoe.
With so many options for biking in Lake Tahoe with kids, you can create the perfect experience. These are just some of our favorites. If your kids are younger, there are many options closer to town. For older kids who are already budding mountain bikers, you can venture out onto some of the top trails in the area, like the Flume Trail over the stateline or rides up to Fallen Leaf Lake.
Wherever you are planning to go, our bicycle rentals for kids and adults offer the most exciting way to get there. Our weeklong rentals are a good option if you simply want bikes to keep at your campsite throughout your vacation. Our other options include standard comfort bikes, eScooters, and stand up paddle boarding with everything you need for a family friendly adventure.
