12 Things to Do in Lake Tahoe with Kids This Winter (2026-2027)

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Lake Tahoe in winter has become my go-to recommendation for families, and I don’t say that lightly. There are ski resorts with phenomenal kids’ programs, dog sled rides through mountain meadows, alpine coasters at 9,000 feet, and fire pit sessions where a pastry chef brings out bourbon-vanilla marshmallows. I’ve done all of it and keep finding new reasons to go back.

Below are 12 things to do in Lake Tahoe with kids in winter, fully updated for the 2026-2027 season with verified opening dates and event schedules. I’ve added a restaurant or café recommendation at each stop so you’re never scrambling for lunch with hungry kids. Everything is pinned on the map below so you can group your days geographically.

My Top 5 Picks for Families in Lake Tahoe This Winter

I’ve been to Lake Tahoe in winter enough times to know what families remember and what gets forgotten by the drive home. These are my top five favorite activities I’d plan a whole trip around. Each one works for a range of ages, from toddlers to teenagers.

• Palisades Tahoe for first ski lessons and Saturday night Disco Tubing under lasers and LED lights
• Heavenly Gondola for the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster and 500-foot tubing hill at the summit
• Husky Express for a 5-mile dog sled ride through snow-covered meadows in Hope Valley
• The Ritz Carlton Marshmology for gourmet marshmallows and slope-side fire pits at sunset
• Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks for zip lines and ropes courses strung through snowy pines

I’ve dropped a pin for every spot in this guide on the map below so you can see how they cluster around North Shore and South Shore. It’ll save you a lot of windshield time if you group your days by area. Save it to your phone before you head up!

1. Hit the Slopes at Palisades Tahoe

Skiing at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley) is where I’d start any winter trip to Lake Tahoe with kids. The resort typically opens around late November (the 2026-2027 target is Wednesday, November 25), and the ski school here is patient, encouraging, and built for beginners. After the slopes, Fireside Pizza Company in the pedestrian village does custom thin-crust pizzas with a kids’ menu and fire pits outside.

On Saturday nights from mid-December through March, the SnoVentures Activity Zone runs Disco Tubing with LED lights, lasers, and music. Trust me, it’s a guaranteed hit with younger kids! And if you time your visit right, North Lake Tahoe SNOWFEST! (February 25 – March 7, 2027) fills the whole region with street fairs, ice carving contests, parades, and pancake breakfasts. It’s the largest mountain winter festival on the West Coast.

2. Tubing at Heavenly Mountain Resort

If your kids love speed but aren’t ready to ski, tubing at Heavenly Mountain Resort is the perfect alternative. The resort targets a November 20 opening for the 2026-2027 season. The tubing hill near Adventure Peak has its own magic carpet lift, which means kids can go again and again without wearing themselves out on the walk back up. Afterward, grab a table at Base Camp Pizza Co. in Heavenly Village, right at the foot of the gondola, where they do gourmet pizzas with a kids’ menu and live acoustic music every day of the week.

Two events here are especially good for families. The Heavenly Holidays Family Festival (November 27 – December 31, 2026) brings daily Santa visits, ice sculpture shows, a 16-foot interactive snow globe, and a New Year’s Eve fireworks display with a lighted gondola drop. Later in the season, Toyota Air & Après (February 26–28, 2027) is a free daytime big-air show where pro freestyle skiers and snowboarders launch off a 45-foot jump. Kids absolutely love it!

• Read Next: 12 Must-Do Activities in Northern California

3. Ice Skating at Northstar California Resort

Ice skating at Northstar California Resort is one of the best low-key winter activities for families in Lake Tahoe. The rink sits in the middle of The Village at Northstar, surrounded by fire pits and twinkling lights, and the resort targets a November 20 opening for the 2026-2027 season. After skating, rent a fire pit or grab a curated s’mores kit from the Village S’mores Cabana and let the kids roast marshmallows by the rink.

Two events to plan around if you’re visiting over the holidays. Noel Nights runs every Friday evening in December (December 4, 11, and 18, 2026) with holiday carolers, face painting, and family craft stations alongside the skating. The bigger draw is the Winter Wonders Festival (December 19, 2026 – January 4, 2027), which adds daily live music, holiday light displays, and Santa visits.

4. Snowshoeing at Tahoe Donner

Tahoe Donner is where I’d bring younger kids who need a break from the big resorts. The Cross Country Ski Center rents snowshoes and has well-marked routes through quiet, tree-lined trails where you’ll spot animal tracks and frozen creeks along the way. The resort targets a December 12 opening for the 2026-2027 season, and staff at the center will recommend loops based on your kids’ ages.

The weekends here have a village-fete energy that bigger resorts can’t replicate. The Snowplay Center runs sledding races, snow-sculpting contests, and snowman-building games from mid-December through March. Family Movie Nights at the Northwoods Clubhouse (December 18, 2026 – March 26, 2027) let kids bring blankets and pillows for screenings with hot cocoa. If you’re timing a trip for early March, the Ididarun Sled Dog Race on March 7, 2027 is a charity event where family pet dogs race each other pulling sleds at the Cross Country Ski Center.

5. Ride the Gondola at Heavenly

Riding the Heavenly Gondola is one of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe with kids in winter, even if nobody in your group plans to ski. The 2.4-mile ride climbs from Heavenly Village to the top terminal, stopping midway at a 14,000-square-foot Observation Deck with 360-degree views over Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley. At the summit, the Ridge Rider Mountain Coaster zips through rock formations and snow-dusted trees in two-seater carts, with kids as young as 3 riding up front while a parent controls the brakes.

There’s a 500-foot tubing hill at Adventure Peak right at the top too, running daily from mid-December through March 2027 with a carpet lift back up. The gondola opens for the 2026-2027 season on November 20, 2026. If you’re visiting in December, Santa’s Gondola & Heavenly Holidays (December 1–31, 2026) fills the base plaza with Santa meet-and-greets, street performers, and nightly light shows. It’s a full day out and one of the highlights of any family winter trip up here.

6. Explore the Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks

If your kids like climbing and aren’t afraid of heights, Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks is one of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe in winter. Three locations across Tahoe City, Granlibakken, and Tahoe Vista have zip lines, rope bridges, and wobbly logs strung through snow-dusted pine forests. There’s beginner ropes courses and treehouse ladders for younger kids who want to work up to the bigger circuits. Winter bookings run Fridays through Sundays, expanding to daily availability from Thanksgiving weekend (November 27, 2026) through the holidays.

I’d pick the Tahoe City location because Granlibakken’s Ski & Sled Hill is right next door. Here, you can rent saucers and warm up afterward with hot chocolate and popcorn in the warming hut. Over Christmas and New Year (December 19, 2026 – January 3, 2027), Holiday Twilight Tree Climbs let families navigate the platforms under forest lighting as the sun goes down. Everyone gets harnessed into a continuous safety belay system with a full briefing before heading up, and kids as young as 5 can take part.

7. Dog Sledding with Wilderness Adventures

For something your kids will talk about long after the trip, book a dog sled ride with Husky Express in Hope Valley, about 30 minutes south of South Lake Tahoe. Veteran musher Dotty Dennis leads a team of Siberian and Alaskan Huskies on a 5-mile loop through snow-covered mountain meadows, lasting about an hour. Younger children ride inside the padded sled bucket while a parent or guide steers from the runners behind.

Every tour includes time before and after the ride for kids to pet the huskies, ask questions about mushing, and take photos. It’s the part families tend to remember best, and the team are happy to let kids take their time with the dogs. Dress warm and bring a camera.

Tours run daily by advance reservation from late December 2026 through March 31, 2027. Sleds carry a maximum of 375 lbs, which fits two adults or one adult and up to two small children. Slots are limited each day to protect the dogs, and peak holiday weeks book up months ahead, so I’d get this one locked in early.

8. Winter Wildlife Tours with Tahoe Adventure Company

If your kids love animals and being outdoors, a guided snowshoe trek with Tahoe Adventure Company is one of the best ways to experience Lake Tahoe’s backcountry in winter. Their daytime Winter Ecology trek runs daily from December 15, 2026 through April 2027 (10 AM – 1 PM), covering 2 to 3 miles through snowy forest while naturalist guides help kids identify animal tracks from snowshoe hares, coyotes, and pine martens. Snowshoes and trekking poles are provided.

For something a bit more special, their Full Moon & Sunset treks take families out on snow-covered trails under moonlit skies to listen for owls and learn about Sierra history and astronomy. These run monthly around the full moon cycle (December 23–24, January 22–23, February 20–21, March 22–23). Both tours include hot drinks and trail snacks, and advance online reservation is required.

9. Attend a Kids’ Snowmobiling Course at Lake Tahoe Adventures

Lake Tahoe Adventures runs guided backcountry snowmobile tours through Hope Valley and the surrounding Sierra Nevada trails from December 5, 2026 through April 30, 2027. Their Summit Tour is a 2-hour ride starting at 7,200 feet, weaving through high-alpine meadows up to viewpoints near 9,000 feet. Kids aged 5 and up can ride as tandem passengers behind an adult. Children 15 and under often ride free with a paying adult on select promotional packages.

Drivers need to be at least 16 with a valid license, so this one works best for families with younger kids riding along rather than steering. I’d pick a clear morning for it, because the views from the upper elevations are spectacular when the sky is open. Book in advance and check conditions, as tours depend on snowpack.

10. Scenic Winter Walks at Sand Harbor State Park

Sand Harbor State Park is open year-round on Lake Tahoe’s east shore near Incline Village. It’s where I’d recommend for a screen-free afternoon with younger kids. The park serves as the main trailhead for the fully paved, 3-mile Tahoe East Shore Trail, which is flat and wide enough for strollers, with frozen lakeside rock formations and clear water views in winter. There’s also a shorter loop around the Sand Harbor peninsula. Here, kids can spot winter waterfowl and ice formations along the granite boulders.

The park opens daily at 8 AM until sunset. On January 1, 2027, rangers lead a free First Day Hike around the trails covering local history and winter ecology. After walking, head to Tunnel Creek Café at the northern end of the East Shore Trail in Incline Village for hot chocolate, warm paninis, and fire pit seating. It’s a cabin-style spot that’s perfect for thawing out after a cold morning by the lake.

11. Enjoy S’mores and Hot Chocolate by the Firepit

You don’t need to be staying at the hotel to enjoy this. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe sits mid-mountain at Northstar in Truckee, and every afternoon around 4:30 PM a pastry chef sets up at the slope-side fire pits for their Marshmology session. They bring out house-made marshmallows in flavors like bourbon-vanilla alongside classic s’mores kits. Anyone dining at Manzanita, The Living Room Bar, or The Backyard gets full access to the terrace and fire pits.

The easiest way in is the complimentary Highlands Gondola from Northstar Village, or you can valet park if you have a dinner reservation. Book Manzanita for a weekend evening and arrive 45 minutes early so the kids can roast marshmallows while the sun goes down. Reserve ahead for holiday weekends.

12. Visit the KidZone Museum in Truckee

When the weather turns and everyone needs a break from the cold, KidZone Museum in Truckee is the place to go. It’s a hands-on play space designed for kids up to age 7, with a science discovery lab, art studio, water play area, building zones, and a padded infant area for babies under 18 months. Winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM. They don’t take online reservations, so arrive early on snow days when local families pack the place out.

Afterward, drive into downtown Truckee and grab a booth at Jax At The Tracks, a restored 1940s Pullman diner car right next to the train tracks. Kids can watch freight and passenger trains roll past the windows while working through milkshakes, Kobe beef burgers, and fresh berry pie. Trust me, it’s a pairing that saves a rainy afternoon!