Basecamp · Tahoe · Truckee, California

The mountain town above the lake.

Mountain life for remote workers, with Reno and Las Vegas covered from here. Lake Tahoe has been Coach Leighty's getaway since his Bay Area days. Long Game coaches Tahoe, Reno and Las Vegas players by video, booked in Pacific time.

StatusOpen

RegionTahoe · Reno · Las Vegas

Portland HQ, straight line446 mi

The story

The getaway up the hill.

All around Lake Tahoe has been one of the most amazing places in my life, the getaway from Pleasanton and the rest of the Bay Area. So many trips over the years.

Skiing and snowboarding in the winter, summers on the lake, and moto rides over Donner Summit and around the shore. Donner Lake, the big lake itself, the old railroad downtown in Truckee, and a lot more beyond.

Respect the mountain, and keep going through every season.

That's the Truckee lesson. Every season up there has its own work and its own play, and the mountain doesn't care about your plans. Read the conditions, prepare, then go. Long games run the same way.

Motorcycle parked above a mountain lake near Truckee — Moto stop above the lake.

Dirt bike parked below the pines near Olympic Valley — Riding through the pines near Olympic Valley.

Things to do

Plan a Tahoe day, start to finish.

Snow · Summer too

Palisades Tahoe

Big-mountain skiing in Olympic Valley, about 20 minutes from Truckee.

Palisades Tahoe → Snow · Bike park

Northstar California

Skiing all winter and a downhill bike park in summer, just south of town.

Northstar → In town

Downtown Truckee

The old railroad town on Commercial Row: food, shops and the depot.

Map it → Lake · Summer

Donner Lake

Swim, paddle and picnic at the West End Beach, right above town.

Map it → Lake · Classic view

Emerald Bay

The postcard view of Tahoe, on the west shore.

Map it → Lake · Beach

Sand Harbor

Clear water and granite boulders on the Nevada shore.

Map it → Ride or walk

Tahoe East Shore Trail

A paved path along the water from Incline Village toward Sand Harbor.

Map it → More ideas

Visit Truckee-Tahoe

The Truckee Chamber's guide to everything else.

Truckee.com →

Listed to help you plan, not as partners or sponsors. Check each site for seasons, prices and road conditions.

Trails near camp

Where to clear your head.

Lake Tahoe · Long trail

Tahoe Rim Trail

A 165-mile loop that passes through three wilderness areas.

West shore · Wilderness

Desolation Wilderness

About 64,000 acres and nearly 130 smaller lakes, designated in 1969.

Truckee · Lake

Donner Memorial State Park

In Truckee itself, at about 6,000 feet, with more than 2 miles of Donner Lake shoreline.

Near Reno and Las Vegas: Mount Rose Wilderness by Reno, and Red Rock Canyon, about 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip.

Get there

A quick trip up the hill.

Fly

Reno-Tahoe (RNO)

The closest big airport, about 40 minutes east on I-80.

Search flights → Train

Truckee depot

The Amtrak California Zephyr stops right downtown.

Amtrak → Drive

Over Donner Summit

About three and a half hours from the Bay Area on I-80. Carry chains in winter.

Directions →

Planning a trip? Email mike@longgamelife.live to hear about the next Long Game meetup in Truckee.

If you're around Tahoe today

What's open right now.

OpenFree 20-minute intro callBy video, booked in Pacific time like everywhere else.

OpenCoaching by videoTraining Camp and Conditioning, the same programs offered from Portland.

Trail crew at workThe yearly Truckee gatheringEvery Basecamp gets its own yearly event. Dates go up when they're set.

Local Guide · Truckee & Lake Tahoe

Know the ground around camp.

Long games run better when you're rooted where you live. Here's who looks after the lake and the Sierra, where locals spend their time off, and where to start if you're visiting.

Protect it

Groups keeping the lake, forests and trails healthy. Show up for a cleanup or a trail day.

Lake

League to Save Lake TahoeKeep Tahoe Blue: cleanups and lake protection.

Wild places

Truckee Donner Land TrustProtects open space around Truckee and Donner Summit.

Trail stewardship

Tahoe Rim Trail AssociationVolunteers who build and care for the 165-mile loop.
Leave No TraceThe seven principles every Long Game trip runs on.

Live it

Where the locals actually spend their time off.

Record storesTrail crew at workLocal picks coming. We only list places we can confirm.

Skate

Truckee SkateparkAt Truckee River Regional Park.

Ride

Truckee River Legacy TrailPaved path along the river through town.
Donner SummitOld Highway 40 over the pass, a classic ride.

Visit it

Planning a trip, or new in town? Start here.

Plan a visit

Truckee Chamber visitor infoLodging, events and what to do in Truckee.
Visit Reno TahoeThe regional guide to Truckee and Reno.

Big parks

Tahoe National ForestThe forest around Truckee and Donner Summit.
Lake Tahoe BasinForest Service lands around the lake, including Desolation.

Teams

Reno AcesTriple-A baseball, about 40 minutes east.

Know the town

Truckee on WikipediaHistory and the basics.

Links go to each group's own site. Listed as local resources, not partners or sponsors. Spot something closed or missing? Email mike@longgamelife.live.

Your trailhead

Everybody has a long game. Build the life on purpose.

Wherever you are around Tahoe, Reno or Las Vegas, start with a free 20-minute call.

Book a free 20-minute call See every Basecamp

Or email mike@longgamelife.live