Truckee, CA Outdoor Activities

Gentle waves lap against the hull of the Tahoe Cruz as snow-capped mountains and evergreen trees peek through its sails. Helmed by U.S. Coast Guard–certified captains Mike and Jim, the 50-foot sloop glides along Tahoe's tranquil waters for afternoon and sunset cruises that sail travelers around the scenic lake, treating them to views of its abundant nature and grand homes—including Fleur du Lac, where parts of The Godfather Part II were filmed. Mike and Jim lead private charters as well, escorting groups as they take in the sights or race to interrupt a mermaid ex-girlfriend's wedding before she gurgles "I do."

Smack dab in the middle of the Sierra mountains, the amenity-packed grounds of Squaw Valley resort sprawl across the pine-speckled lowlands surrounding Lake Tahoe and extend to summits rising 8,200 feet above sea level. Filling their lungs with brisk mountain air, visitors can hike the many trails, meander through the village's picturesque plazas lined with shops and restaurants, garner panoramic glimpses of the gorgeous landscape on an aerial tram ride, or traverse the ropes course in the activity-packed base area. Guests never have to worry about boredom hunting them down, as they can swim, paintball, zipline, or golf at a moment's notice.

Strapped into an ultramodern Apollo Trike powered hang-glider, FAA-certified instructor Paul Hamilton pilots air tourists above South Lake Tahoe’s crystalline expanse, which reveals picturesque reflections of the Sierra Mountains’ snow-capped crags. A light-sport aircraft powered by a purring Rotax engine, the Apollo Trike enables the prolonged airtime and weather compatibility not found in flights with a conventional hang-glider or out-of-control umbrella. During Paul’s introductory, intermediate, and advanced lessons, students swiftly suit up in appropriate flight gear before a quick safety briefing prepares them for the journey. An emphasis on hands-on training anchors the interactive lessons, which require no previous experience and may even take off in winter thanks to Ultimate Flight’s heated apparel and midflight campfires.

Surrounded by towering foothills and nestled next to the waterways of scenic Carson Valley, Sunridge Golf Club’s 18-hole, par 72 course stretches across 6,914 yards of picturesque vistas and challenging course play. The layout demands confident swings from the first tee box—the beginning of a 575-yard par 5—where errant shots will find an aquatic abyss to the right of the fairway. Tight fairways and intervening creeks supply the bulk of the challenge throughout the round, requiring golfers to summon sound course management, deft club selection, and one flutist versed in charming pond monsters. A relatively difficult course, Sunridge’s five tee options and photo-op-worthy topography make for an enjoyable round for golfers of all abilities. Players can warm up their swings prior to the round at the driving range, which offers both grass and synthetic-turf hitting surfaces, allowing players to choose whether to infuriate Mother Earth by tearing divots into her cherished dirt or by favoring her inorganic doppelganger.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,914 yards from farthest tees
• Course rating of 72.5 from farthest tees
• Slope of 137 from farthest tees
• Five tee options
• Scorecard

Battle Born Sporting Clays and Shooting School has no real address. That's because its team of NSCA-certified instructors teach clay shooting amid the real-world conditions that only untouched, natural settings can provide. All avid shooters, the instructors started the business after looking for a place to practice with tournament-style targets and chart the migration patterns of clay pigeons. Unable to find such a place, they set up shop amid a slice of Nevada's rolling foothills, big sky, and vast, open terrain. Here, they teach customers the proper techniques needed to blast clay targets out of the sky.