Sleigh and Sled Rides

Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh! No, really. You can take an old-school sleigh ride at several locations around Tahoe [1].

Just over the state line, across the street from the Harrah’s and MontBleu casinos, seek out Sleigh Rides by the Borges Family (50 Hwy. 50, Stateline, NV, 775/588-2953, www.sleighride.com [2], $20 adults, $10 children). These folks have been giving sleigh rides on the South Shore for more than 30 years. They’ve got five sleighs (seating 2–20 passengers) and some lovely blond Belgian draft horses. Each ride lasts 35 minutes and takes you through the woods to grandmother’s spectacular lake view. Blankets to cuddle under are included with each ride, as are stories and songs, but you’ll need to bring your own thermos of cocoa.

Over on the other side of the lake, you can catch a similar ride with Wilderness Sleigh Rides at the Camp Richardson Corral (530/541-3113, $25). Call ahead for reservations, and meet your horse and sleigh at the corner of Emerald Bay Road and Fallen Leaf Road on the west side of the lake.

If you prefer dogs to draft horses, make a journey with Wilderness Adventures Dog Sled Tours (530/550-8133, www.tahoedogsledtours.com [3], daily 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $95–110 passengers over 60 lbs., $45–55 passengers under 60 lbs.). Most tours last one hour, but if you’re not afraid of cold and around on a weekday, you can sign up for a two-hour or more Wilderness Expedition that takes you 15–20 miles through the snows of the backcountry. Any time you want to sled, you can choose either Sugar Bowl [4] (629 Sugar Bowl Rd., Norden) or the Resort at Squaw Creek (400 Squaw Creek Rd., Olympic Valley) as your starting point. Whichever you choose, you just won’t be able to resist those adorable fuzzy Huskie faces!