Guided Sunrise Snowshoe Tour
— Lake Tahoe
Start the day on a panoramic point above the west shore, watching the sun come up over Lake Tahoe. This guided sunrise snowshoe hike leaves Blackwood Canyon Sno-park at 6:00 a.m., about ten minutes south of Tahoe City, and it suits people who would rather earn the view than sleep in. Snowshoes and poles are provided. So is the coffee.
Trip Details
$60 per person
(Recommended for children 7 and older)
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⏰ Tour Times: 6:00am – 8:00am
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🚗 Meeting Location: Blackwood Canyon Sno-park, west shore — roughly 10 minutes south of Tahoe City
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🚶 Hike Distance: About a mile each way
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⌛ Duration: Approximately 2–2.5 hours
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⛰️ Elevation Gain: Roughly 300 feet
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🌅 Scenic Views: Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Crest, and the surrounding mountain vistas
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🎿 Equipment: Snowshoes and hiking poles are provided
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☕ Included: Breakfast pastries, hot water for tea, and coffee at the viewpoint
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🚀 Experience Level: Beginner-friendly; the early start is the hardest part
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🌲 Terrain: Steady uphill on private forest trails
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👥 Group Size: Small groups, 8 people maximum
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🐕 Dogs: Well-behaved dogs are welcome with prior notice
Hiking Up in the Dark to Meet the Light
You walk about 45 minutes by headlamp to reach the overlook, then wait there while the light arrives.
We leave the cars under stars. Snowshoes strap over your boots at the trailhead, and the route climbs steadily through hidden walkways and trail networks beneath tall pine and cedar, gaining roughly 300 feet over the first mile. Headlamps on at first. Then, gradually, you stop needing them.
Forty-five minutes in, the trees open onto a prominent point above the middle of the lake. This is the spot. The Sierra Crest sharpens first, then the water, then the whole ring of mountains as ambient daylight fills the basin — and because the point looks out over the center of Lake Tahoe rather than down one narrow corridor, the view runs in every direction at once.
Your guide sets out breakfast pastries, hot water for tea, and coffee while you wait. Nobody rushes. Once you have had your fill of the pastries and the scenery both, we snowshoe back down the way we came. The same west-shore country looks like a different place in full daylight, if you would rather see it that way.
Who This Hike Suits
Kids seven and older handle this one fine, and the 6:00 a.m. start filters people out far more than the terrain does. Groups cap at eight, so nobody is jockeying for a spot at the viewpoint. Well-behaved dogs come along regularly — tell us when you book so your guide can plan for it.
→ Dog-friendly snowshoe hikes in Lake Tahoe
If You Would Rather Have Your Light at the Other End of the Day
Sunset runs the same idea in reverse: a 4:00 p.m. departure from River Road, a 500-foot climb, and alpenglow burning across the Palisades Tahoe ridgelines as the sun drops behind the Sierra Crest. Easier alarm. Same kind of payoff.
→ Sunset snowshoe hike over Lake Tahoe
A Gentler First Outing
Never worn snowshoes? Chickadee Ridge is the mellower introduction — a 300-foot climb on wide, forgiving terrain above Mt. Rose, at a civilized hour, with chickadees working the pines beside the trail.
→ Chickadee Ridge guided snowshoe tour
Trip Planning for the Sunrise Hike
BEFORE LEAVING HOME:
Double-check the meeting location, meet time, driving directions, and snow conditions. Give yourself ample time to arrive. Winter traffic is slower and the roads can be slick, and a sunrise tour cannot wait for a late arrival — please notify the office if you think you are running behind.
Bring everything on the packing list, and leave non-essentials at home or in the car. Snowshoe Tahoe is not responsible for lost or damaged items during the hike.
Use the restroom before leaving home. There is no restroom facility at the meeting location.
Dress for the coldest hour of the night, not for the sunrise. You will shed layers on the way down.
Where We Meet
Blackwood Canyon Sno-park. Just off Highway 89 on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, roughly 10 minutes south of Tahoe City.
Parking is available at the sno-park; arrive a few minutes early so the group can leave on time.
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