Blog - Tahoe Fund

Free Shuttle Services Available in Lake Tahoe This Summer

June 29, 2022 by Lauren Novotney

Have you ever gone for a beach day in Lake Tahoe and had to park (what feels like) a mile away from the beach? Well, you can avoid this by taking free shuttle services around the lake this summer!

Free shuttle services allow you to avoid driving, steer clear of parking, and save on gas money. Not only does this improve traffic congestion, but these transportation options also reduce air pollution and the impact on Lake Tahoe’s waters and forests. Here are two great options to help you get around this summer:

TART Connect in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee

Tahoe Truckee Area Regional Transit (TART) offers TART Connect, a free, on-demand, curb-to-curb ride service–much like an Uber or Lyft. It’s easy to use, just download the TART Connect app and request a ride to the destination of your choice. TART Connect, which is funded in part by the Tahoe Fund, is available in North Lake Tahoe and Truckee this summer.

The extended summer services on the North Shore begin June 30, and operate 8am to 12am within Lakeside zones, and 6pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday evenings within Resort zones (Olympic Valley & Northstar). Truckee TART Connect service began summer operations June 25and is operating 10am -10pm. Learn more: https://tahoetruckeetransit.com/tart-connect-2/

New Lake Link Service in South Lake Tahoe

Lake Link is a new, free microtransit service coming to South Lake Tahoe this summer. This new service, operated by South Shore Transportation Management Association, will initially run three miles through the casino corridor from Stateline, Nevada, to the Lake Tahoe Community College/Al Tahoe neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe along both US 50 and Pioneer Trail. Just like TART Connect, Lake Link will have an accessible app available for riders. To learn more about Lake Link, visit http://ss-tma.org/lake-link/ or call 530-494-0153 to book a ride.

By taking these free shuttle services instead of driving, you are helping to improve road congestion, reduce environmental impacts, and make it easier for everyone to get around in Tahoe this summer!

Lauren Novotney is an intern for the Tahoe Fund

TART Connect Photos by Ryan Salm Photography

THE TAHOE FUND AND TAMBA LAUNCH $50,000 MATCHING CAMPAIGN FOR NEW MEEKS RIDGE TRAIL

June 29, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

New trail will create brand-new 10+ mile mountain biking and hiking loop on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore

The Tahoe Fund and the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA) today announced a $50,000 matching campaign to build the Meeks Ridge Trail. This new 4.5 mile multi-use trail will provide a brand-new 10+ mile loop option for hikers and mountain bikers on Lake Tahoe’s West Shore.

“Right now, people on the West Shore have to drive to trailheads to get in a longer hike or bike ride,” said Verdi DiSesa, vice chair of the Tahoe Fund Board. “This new trail will create access to a world-class loop with unbelievable views, all without requiring anyone to get in their cars. And now donations will be doubled to help make it happen.”

The new trail, which will begin just north of Meeks Bay Resort, starts near lake level and then climbs to the top of Meeks Ridge where it will connect with the Lost Lake Trail. From there, users will be able to pick up the General Creek Trail as part of the 10-12 mile loop. The loop will end by the Highway 89 bike path that connects directly to Sugar Pine Point and Meeks Bay Campground.

While volunteers are working diligently to clear and build the lower half of the trail, a paid crew will be key to completing the final 2-3 miles of the trail at higher elevations. The upper section is more rugged and requires a professional team to tackle the difficult terrain. The funds raised through the Tahoe Fund’s $50,000 matching campaign will help cover the cost of the paid crew, allowing them to be camped in the higher elevations for eight days at a time to work on the trail more efficiently.

“Our team is excited to bring this dynamic new option to the West Shore,” said Patrick Parsel, trails director at TAMBA. “The funds raised through the Tahoe Fund matching campaign will make it possible for us to get this work done and create an incredible new trail outside of Desolation Wilderness for hikers and bikers to enjoy.”

With panoramic views of Meeks Bay, Meeks Meadow and Desolation Wilderness, naming rights at four vista points along the trail are available for a $10,000 donation each. The vista points, identified on the map below, will feature a bench and custom plaque with the name of the donor.

To contribute to the matching campaign or secure a vista point, please visit www.tahoefund.org/projects/active-projects/meeks-ridge-trail/ or email info@tahoefund.org.

CHECK TAHOE PUBLIC BEACHES WEBSITE BEFORE YOU GO TO THE BEACH THIS SUMMER

June 23, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

As the summer season gets underway, the Tahoe Fund and agencies that manage Lake Tahoe’s public beaches have updated TahoePublicBeaches.org to help improve the recreation experience for residents and visitors. Designed as a resource guide to over 40 beaches that surround the iconic shores of Lake Tahoe, the site offers information about frequented hotspots and lesser known locations. Users will find helpful information about how to get to each beach, where to park, hours of operation, and what amenities and services are offered, if any.

“With the low lake level, the beaches that surround Lake Tahoe will be larger than usual, and are likely to be very busy,” said Amy Berry, Tahoe Fund CEO. “As people seek out places to access the lake and recreate on the beach or in the water on kayaks or paddle boards, TahoePublicBeaches.org is a tremendous resource to help people decide where they want to spend their day.”

TahoePublicBeaches.org offers information on each beach, including what facilities are available, which beaches are dog friendly, where to BBQ, rent paddleboards or boats, and where to find shade. It also has information about the Lake Tahoe Water Trail and how people can do their part to help take care of Lake Tahoe. By encouraging beachgoers to get around without a car, visit the beach at non-peak times, and protect the environment from litter and pet waste, the website highlights destination stewardship practices emphasized throughout the region.

A collaborative effort, the site was developed by the Tahoe Fund and co-funded by the California Tahoe Conservancy through the Lake Tahoe License Plate Program. Eight public agencies assisted with the project to create one central place for beachgoers to find public beach information. The partners include: California Tahoe Conservancy, California State Parks, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe City Public Utility District, North Tahoe Public Utility District, Nevada Division of State Parks, the U.S. Forest Service, and Tahoe Transportation District.

Low Lake levels this summer mean the beaches will be larger, but many boat ramps around Tahoe will be closed. Currently, the only public boat ramps that are open are at the Lake Forest boat ramp in Tahoe City, Calif. and the Cave Rock boat ramp in Cave Rock, Nev. Non-motorized users are still able to launch paddle boards and kayaks at the closed boat ramps.

Beach goers are encouraged to bookmark the mobile-friendly website and use it to plan their next trip to one of Tahoe’s public beaches. Learn more at TahoePublicBeaches.org.

###

About the Tahoe Fund

The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit founded in 2010 to support environmental improvement projects that restore lake clarity, enhance sustainable recreation, promote healthier forests, improve transportation and inspire greater stewardship of the region. Through the generous support of its donors, the Tahoe Fund has leveraged more than $10 million in private funds to secure more than $60 million in public funds for more than 80 environmental projects. The projects include new sections of the Lake Tahoe Bikeway, restoration of watersheds, removal of aquatic invasive species, forest health projects, new hiking trails, and stewardship programs. Learn more at www.tahoefund.org.

About the Lake Tahoe License Plate

Lake Tahoe License Plates benefit conservation and recreation projects in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Learn more at tahoeplates.org.

The Tahoe Fund and Friends of Ski Run Extend Matching Campaign to $100,000 for Ski Run Community Park

June 21, 2022 by Caroline Waldman

The Tahoe Fund and Friends of Ski Run today announced the extension of their matching campaign for Ski Run Community Park. After meeting the initial $75,000 goal, the two organizations are now working toward a $100,000 match to build a custom bouldering wall in the park.

“We were blown away by the overwhelming support from our donors and community members who gave generously to help bring a new park to the Ski Run neighborhood,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “This inspired us to keep doubling donations until we reach our new goal of $100,000 to add a custom boulder wall to the park.”

Ski Run Community Park will be built on an empty 0.57-acre lot that has become an unofficial playfield for the neighborhood. Four families, Wynn and Lauren Ruji, Lincoln and Galena Else, Chris and Viktoria McNamara, and Corey and Marina Rich purchased the lot—which was once home to the Slalom Inn and has sat vacant for over 20 years—with the dream of creating a community park.

The new park will feature an iconic play structure, a plaza and mural wall, and a large community table. With the funds raised through the matching campaign extension, the park will also include a custom bouldering wall for climbers of all levels. The wall will be created by Entre-Prises, a company that designs and installs climbing and bouldering walls throughout North America.

“The Ski Run neighborhood has come together to make this dream a reality,” said Devin Middlebrook, mayor of South Lake Tahoe. “This matching campaign extension will make this park even more fun for the thousands of kids who live here.”

Support for the new park has been provided by Vail Resorts, Friends of Ski Run, Sierra Sustainable Builders, Ben Fish, Novus Select, GearLab, City of South Lake Tahoe, Tahoe Fund, M. “Elie” Alyeshmerni & Ski Run Marina, Lisa Maloff, T-Mobile, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Pay It Forward Project, Mountain Luxury Properties, Edgewood Tahoe Resort, El Dorado Community Foundation, Caesars Foundation, American Century Championship, Barton Health, Safeway, Ski Run Center, Sierra Con, and over 50 Tahoe Fund donors.

Local partners including SOS Outreach, Barton Health, Heavenly Mountain Resort, and the League to Save Lake Tahoe are also supporting the park by creating historical and environmental education signage, offering bilingual education workshops on exercise, health, and nutrition, and organizing neighborhood clean ups.

To donate today, visit https://www.tahoefund.org/projects/active-projects/ski-run-community-park/.

It’s Bike Month in Tahoe!

June 16, 2022 by Lauren Novotney

Whether you like to mountain bike, e-bike, or take a cruiser to the beach, Lake Tahoe is one of the best places to ride in the world. There are 63 miles of paved bike paths in the Tahoe Basin, ranging from trails that climb to the highest ridges, to paths that coast alongside the lake. June is Tahoe Bike Month, and people around the lake are celebrating with friendly biking competitions, bike trail cleanups, and even bike to work days.

The Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition, a volunteer organization dedicated to promoting bicycling, bike events, and new bicycle infrastructure, is helping Tahoe become a more bike-friendly community. Together with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and supported by the Tahoe Fund, the Bike Coalition is improving wayfinding and bicycle safety across the region by:

Creating a comprehensive online and paper bike map to help people find the safest places to ride their bike
Placing bike safety ambassadors at high-use trail locations to help visitors navigate to their destinations
Providing bike racks at popular recreation sites and businesses
Distributing bike safety equipment such as bells and lights for bikers to be more visible to the public

All of these efforts are vital for both residents and visitors to bike safely while also promoting an eco-friendly way to get around the lake. Not only is biking environmentally friendly, but it also creates countless memories with friends, co-workers, and family!

If you’d like to join in the bike festivities in June, check out the Tahoe Bike Month Competition, where riders compete for the most miles and rides. So far, over 12,000 miles have been reached and almost 80,000 vertical feet have been climbed. Bring your friends and family to join in on the fun! Learn more: tahoebike.org.

Lauren Novotney is an intern for the Tahoe Fund