Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead Visitor Center

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Topographical Relief map with 26 points of interest around the Lake Tahoe Basin that light up when touched.

Photo © Lauren Thomaselli

Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead is an interagency Visitor Center designed to promote recreation and environmental education. The center provides an interpretive experience featuring lake clarity, geology, wildlife, historic and recreational points of interest. Special features of the center include a 12ft x 5ft topographical relief map, children's discovery center, and films shown daily about the history of Lake Tahoe, wildlife, environment and recreational activities. The staff provide information on how to navigate to points of interest and make recommendations for activities appropriate for all ages and abilities. Explore Tahoe also hosts presentations and events throughout the year to help provide a more authentic experience to visitors and locals alike.

Explore Tahoe: An Urban Trailhead is made possible through partnerships with the City of South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Department, California Tahoe Conservancy, United States Forest Service and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency.

Seasons Open: All Year

Hours Open: 9:00am to 5:00pm

Fees: FREE!

ADA Accessibility Notes
Wheelchair accessible throughout and restrooms also ADA equipped.

Eco-Friendly Notes
The mission of Explore Tahoe is to encourage, inspire, and educate visitors and residents of Lake Tahoe to help preserve and protect this fragile resource and in doing so create a sustainable balance for future generations to come. The self guided tour through the visitor center promotes stewardship while staff provide opportunities for the public to actively engage in trail building projects. In addition, Explore Tahoe also serves as a main hub for public transportation serving the Stateline Transit Center. Encouraging alternative transportation is paramount to reducing fine particle sediment that is the main culprit to declining lake clarity. Explore Tahoe staff work closely with public transportation to promote and serve public transit.

Pet Friendly Notes
Pets are welcome and must be on a leash.