Things to do in Incline Village: what is worth it

The 10 best things to do, ranked

Our picks, ranked by how many people they suit and how many months they work. A business here shows only while we can verify it open.

1. Sand Harbor: the big state park beach, with coves and boulders. In summer, book a morning entry or take the shuttle.
2. Walk or bike the East Shore Trail: 3 paved, nearly flat miles from town to Sand Harbor. Good for strollers.
3. Climb to Monkey Rock: about 2.5 miles round trip from the Tunnel Creek trailhead, with a wide lake view.
4. Ski or ride Diamond Peak in town. In winter it is the easy ski day. Mt Rose is the big one, 25 minutes up the highway.
5. Swim and sit at the IVGID beaches if you hold a pass. See Incline Beach, Burnt Cedar and Ski Beach.
6. Rent an e-bike or a boat. East Shore E-Bikes Tours & Rentals rents e-bikes. Tahoe Paradise Boat Rentals rents boats.
7. Hike a piece of the Tahoe Rim Trail. See the hiking list for the short and long ones.
8. See The Great Incline Bull Wheel, a piece of the old logging tramway that gave Incline its name.
9. Catch a film at Incline Village Cinema on a smoke day or a snow day. Times are on the cinema page.

With kids: our picks

• Incline Village Library: story times and kids' crafts most weekdays. Times are on the events calendar.
• Preston Field & Playground: a playground and a ball field.
• Incline Bike Park: a bike park in town for kids who ride.
• Burnt Cedar Park: the lawn and the beach, with an IVGID pass.
• Stream Environment Zone (SEZ) Nature Trail: a nature trail in town.
• The East Shore Trail for a stroller, and the flat Tahoe Meadows loops near the Mt Rose summit in July.
• Incline Village Recreation Center: the IVGID rec center, with an indoor pool for days when the lake is too cold.

Half-day plans

Four plans that each fill a morning or an afternoon. Check Mt Rose Highway and the air before you go.

Lake morning (summer)

1. Go to Sand Harbor with a morning entry booked, before the lot fills.
2. Swim in the coves, then walk the half-mile path to Memorial Point.
3. Drive back to town for lunch. See Best restaurants.

Trail and a view (spring to fall)

1. Coffee in town first. See Best breakfast for who opens early.
2. Park at the trailhead lot at 1102 Tahoe Blvd and climb to Monkey Rock.
3. Walk back down and finish on the flat East Shore Trail.

Bikes on the shore (summer and fall)

1. Rent an e-bike from East Shore E-Bikes Tours & Rentals.
2. Ride the East Shore Trail 3 miles to Sand Harbor and back.
3. Stop at Hidden Beach for the rocks and the water.

Rain, smoke or snow

1. Start at Incline Village Library for a story time or a talk.
2. Swim at Incline Village Recreation Center.
3. End with a film at Incline Village Cinema.

What to do, month by month

Snow is the median for the 15th, 2014 to 2026. Smoke days run from 2019 to 2026.

Free

• Walk or ride the East Shore Trail, 3 paved miles above the water. The trail is free. Parking at the trailhead lot is by the hour, about $14 to $19 for three midday hours in summer.
• Watch sunset from the rocks at Hidden Beach. Guide: Hidden Beach, Chimney Beach and Secret Cove.
• Climb to Monkey Rock. See the hiking list.
• Walk the half-mile trail from Sand Harbor to Memorial Point.
• Check the events calendar for library and campus talks.

Summer

• Sand Harbor: the big state park beach. In summer, book a morning entry or take the free shuttle.
• Paddle early, because the wind comes up after noon. Launch from Incline Beach if you hold a pass. Rent a kayak or paddleboard from these shops:
• Clearly Tahoe Kayak Rentals at Sand Harbor: rentals on the Sand Harbor beach.
• East Shore E-Bikes Tours & Rentals: kayak, paddleboard and e-bike rentals and tours.
• The IVGID beaches if you hold a pass. See Incline Beach, Burnt Cedar and Ski Beach. Ski Beach has Music on the Beach, 4 to 7 PM on Wednesdays and Fridays, May to mid September.
• Tour Thunderbird Lodge, the historic lake estate. Tours are by reservation only. Check the tour page for dates and where to meet.
• Play golf. See the golf table.

Golf

Both courses are run by IVGID and take public play. These are the 2026 rates for 18 holes for golfers without an IVGID pass.

Tee times open 2 weeks ahead. Booking earlier costs $15 a golfer, unless you hold an IVGID pass. The lowest rates start after 4 PM.

Winter

• Diamond Peak in town, Mt Rose up the highway. The snow report covers both.
• Snowshoe at Tahoe Meadows when the highway is open. Check Mt Rose Highway first.
• See a show or play the tables at the Crystal Bay casinos, a few miles from Incline.

Look around town

• There is no walkable downtown. Shops and restaurants line Tahoe Blvd, mostly between 860 and 1000 Tahoe Blvd. See Best restaurants.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed on the East Shore Trail on a leash. At Sand Harbor they are allowed only from October 15 to April 15. The IVGID beaches allow dogs only on Ski Beach, west of the boat ramp, in that same window.

Photo: Blake Everett Carroll, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Blake Everett Carroll, CC BY-SA 4.0

Questions people ask