Guidebook for Squaw Valley
Parks & Nature
Commons Beach has a playground with a grassy area next to a great sandy beach on Tahoe's North shore. Get there early to have your pick of the parking spots.
12 locals recommend
Commons Beach Road
Commons Beach RoadCommons Beach has a playground with a grassy area next to a great sandy beach on Tahoe's North shore. Get there early to have your pick of the parking spots.
It's the nicest trail in Olympic Valley. Try starting from Squaw Village and head to High Camp. There you can find other trails to wander around. At the end of the day, take the tram down.
11 locals recommend
Shirley Lake Trail
Shirley Lake TrailIt's the nicest trail in Olympic Valley. Try starting from Squaw Village and head to High Camp. There you can find other trails to wander around. At the end of the day, take the tram down.
At South Lake Tahoe, Mount Tallac's hike is a difficult one, but very rewarding as you can see all of Lake Tahoe and other lakes. It gets crowded so head up early.
Mount Tallac Trail
Mount Tallac TrailAt South Lake Tahoe, Mount Tallac's hike is a difficult one, but very rewarding as you can see all of Lake Tahoe and other lakes. It gets crowded so head up early.
A museum, beach, and park in one location! Learn about the history and culture of the area in the visitor center. Learn about nature outside. Park for free on Donner Pass Rd or pay in the park.
68 locals recommend
Donner Memorial State Park
12593 Donner Pass RdA museum, beach, and park in one location! Learn about the history and culture of the area in the visitor center. Learn about nature outside. Park for free on Donner Pass Rd or pay in the park.
Entertainment & Activities
Take the tram up to High Camp. Swim in the lagoon pool or relax in the hot tub. Ice skate in the summer! Food is expensive with small portions, but can be tasty. Bring lunch and picnic instead.
7 locals recommend
High Camp Mountain-Top Dining
1960 Squaw Valley RdTake the tram up to High Camp. Swim in the lagoon pool or relax in the hot tub. Ice skate in the summer! Food is expensive with small portions, but can be tasty. Bring lunch and picnic instead.
Looking for a public pool? Enjoy this year-round pool available to non-Truckee residents for a low drop-in fee.
6 locals recommend
Truckee-Donner Community Swimming Pool
10939 Truckee WayLooking for a public pool? Enjoy this year-round pool available to non-Truckee residents for a low drop-in fee.
Farther away and a tad bit more expensive than the Truckee's Community Pool, it has a number of activities for the kids at a discounted fee and a shop if you need some additional gear.
46 locals recommend
Incline Village Recreation Center
980 Incline WayFarther away and a tad bit more expensive than the Truckee's Community Pool, it has a number of activities for the kids at a discounted fee and a shop if you need some additional gear.
Beautiful view of Donner Lake and the surrounding mountains. You can grill or buy a snack, then eat at a picnic table. The playground is kid-approved:) You can play in a court or rent a boat. Low fee.
18 locals recommend
West End Beach
15888 S Shore DrBeautiful view of Donner Lake and the surrounding mountains. You can grill or buy a snack, then eat at a picnic table. The playground is kid-approved:) You can play in a court or rent a boat. Low fee.
Food Scene
Fast and tasty. Parking can get crowded, and sometimes, there's a quick-moving line, but it's worth it to head to this restaurant in the back inside corner of the L-shaped building.
55 locals recommend
Taco's Jalisco
11400 Donner Pass RdFast and tasty. Parking can get crowded, and sometimes, there's a quick-moving line, but it's worth it to head to this restaurant in the back inside corner of the L-shaped building.
Dining patio is a bit pricey for burgers & hot dogs, but the scenery and sound of water are great. Bring sunglasses because the sparkling falling water can be bright! Good spot to rest after rafting.
56 locals recommend
River Ranch Restaurant & Lodge, Tahoe City station
Dining patio is a bit pricey for burgers & hot dogs, but the scenery and sound of water are great. Bring sunglasses because the sparkling falling water can be bright! Good spot to rest after rafting.
Enjoy the casino, but the restaurants are great. Love prime rib at the Prime Rib Grill and the delicious assortment at "The Buffet".
28 locals recommend
Eldorado Resort Casino
345 N Virginia StEnjoy the casino, but the restaurants are great. Love prime rib at the Prime Rib Grill and the delicious assortment at "The Buffet".
Enjoy the river while dining outside or fill up on burgers and ribs in the indoor restaurant. No dessert at the Bridgetender so make sure you've got some pie and ice cream back at SquawLodge.
150 locals recommend
Bridgetender Tavern and Grill
65 W Lake BlvdEnjoy the river while dining outside or fill up on burgers and ribs in the indoor restaurant. No dessert at the Bridgetender so make sure you've got some pie and ice cream back at SquawLodge.
Love the finer dining by the fireplace, and warming up at the fire pit. Live music is good, too!
75 locals recommend
River Grill
55 W Lake BlvdLove the finer dining by the fireplace, and warming up at the fire pit. Live music is good, too!
Squeeze In
10060 Donner Pass RdGood breakfast place that's fast to serve yummy food.
Coming from SF Bay? Stop at Ikedas. Yes, it's a tourist trap, but it's good! Great burgers, tasty pies, clean restrooms, fresh fruit, etc. are available at their store.
23 locals recommend
Ikeda's
13500 Lincoln WayComing from SF Bay? Stop at Ikedas. Yes, it's a tourist trap, but it's good! Great burgers, tasty pies, clean restrooms, fresh fruit, etc. are available at their store.
Returning to the SF Bay? Get one of Machado's absolutely fantastic pies. Many people go to Ikedas for their pies, but we prefer Machados for their fresh-out-of-the-oven pies that aren't too sweet.
6 locals recommend
Machado Apple Barn Inc
101 Apple LnReturning to the SF Bay? Get one of Machado's absolutely fantastic pies. Many people go to Ikedas for their pies, but we prefer Machados for their fresh-out-of-the-oven pies that aren't too sweet.
If you're looking for a nice place for drinks with some tasty food items (be sure to ask about the server's faves), this is a good place to visit.
14 locals recommend
Rocker@Squaw
1960 Squaw Valley RdIf you're looking for a nice place for drinks with some tasty food items (be sure to ask about the server's faves), this is a good place to visit.
The Blue Agave
425 N Lake BlvdGood Mexican food and GREAT tequila!
The deep dish pizza is loaded with toppings and requires 40 minutes for preparation. While you're waiting, order the excellent Hot Wings for medium spicy hot, tangy barbecue-sauced chicken wings.
39 locals recommend
Village Pizzeria
11329 Deerfield DrThe deep dish pizza is loaded with toppings and requires 40 minutes for preparation. While you're waiting, order the excellent Hot Wings for medium spicy hot, tangy barbecue-sauced chicken wings.
View Lake Tahoe while dining inside or outside. Delicious dishes and very tasty soups.
70 locals recommend
Rosie's Cafe
571 N Lake BlvdView Lake Tahoe while dining inside or outside. Delicious dishes and very tasty soups.
Need your Starbucks Green Tea Frappachino or your Spiced Caramel Apple Cider? Get it here. Only 5 minutes away. (Beware of way too much ice in their Refreshers.)
8 locals recommend
Starbucks
1985 Squaw Valley RdNeed your Starbucks Green Tea Frappachino or your Spiced Caramel Apple Cider? Get it here. Only 5 minutes away. (Beware of way too much ice in their Refreshers.)
Great place for breakfast and lunch. Try the biscuit with flavorful gravy. Generous coffee mugs with frequent offerings for refills.
9 locals recommend
Coffee And
10106 Donner Pass RdGreat place for breakfast and lunch. Try the biscuit with flavorful gravy. Generous coffee mugs with frequent offerings for refills.
Shopping
Great fun wandering around, checking out the interesting food and equipment for sale and amazing displays of fish and other wildlife. Take your picture with a polar bear!
11 locals recommend
Cabela's
8650 Boomtown Garson RoadGreat fun wandering around, checking out the interesting food and equipment for sale and amazing displays of fish and other wildlife. Take your picture with a polar bear!
To head on over to The Outlets at Sparks or the Galaxy IMAX Theaters, stay on the I-80 East through Reno into Sparks, Nevada. The stores and restaurants are surrounded by water features and statues that allow you to take a break during your visit and educate you about the history of the area. Take a ride on the ferris wheel! Catch a 3-D movie at the theater, then finish up with a delicious meal. Yes, you can spend the entire day there!
Scheels Drive
Scheels DriveTo head on over to The Outlets at Sparks or the Galaxy IMAX Theaters, stay on the I-80 East through Reno into Sparks, Nevada. The stores and restaurants are surrounded by water features and statues that allow you to take a break during your visit and educate you about the history of the area. Take a ride on the ferris wheel! Catch a 3-D movie at the theater, then finish up with a delicious meal. Yes, you can spend the entire day there!
Looking for current films not yet available to stream while at SquawLodge? Get a cheap DVD or Blu-Ray from the Redbox kiosk, located by 7-Eleven.
Redbox
3041 River RdLooking for current films not yet available to stream while at SquawLodge? Get a cheap DVD or Blu-Ray from the Redbox kiosk, located by 7-Eleven.
Sometimes, you just need a quick dessert or you forgot to buy milk. Yet you don't want to do the drive to Truckee or Tahoe City. Walk, bike or drive here to get it instead.
42 locals recommend
7-Eleven
3210 N Lake BlvdSometimes, you just need a quick dessert or you forgot to buy milk. Yet you don't want to do the drive to Truckee or Tahoe City. Walk, bike or drive here to get it instead.
Everything Else
Our usual place to gas up at the Kingvale exit as the Truckee gas stations are almost always more expensive.
Shell
12105 Donner Pass RdOur usual place to gas up at the Kingvale exit as the Truckee gas stations are almost always more expensive.
Essentials
Pleasant people and easy to locate food stuffs. Right off I-80 in the direction of Olympic Valley. Perfect for the last minute grocery run.
156 locals recommend
Save Mart Supermarkets
11399 Deerfield DrPleasant people and easy to locate food stuffs. Right off I-80 in the direction of Olympic Valley. Perfect for the last minute grocery run.
After running around Lake Tahoe for the day or after dinner out in Tahoe City, grab a snack or dessert at Safeway before heading back in to SquawLodge.
290 locals recommend
Safeway
7815 N Lake BlvdAfter running around Lake Tahoe for the day or after dinner out in Tahoe City, grab a snack or dessert at Safeway before heading back in to SquawLodge.
Getting Around
Don't wanna drive to Lake Tahoe? Take the Amtrak train to the Truckee Train Station (TRU). Catch the bus (Truckee to Tahoe City, Hwy 89 TART), call a taxi, or rent a car to get to SquawLodge.
26 locals recommend
Truckee CA station
10065 Donner Pass RdDon't wanna drive to Lake Tahoe? Take the Amtrak train to the Truckee Train Station (TRU). Catch the bus (Truckee to Tahoe City, Hwy 89 TART), call a taxi, or rent a car to get to SquawLodge.
Hertz Car Rental
One of the places in Truckee from which you can get a dependable car rental.
Car rental location close to the Truckee Airport. Make sure you check your cars for scratches and dings before and after your rental.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
10266 Truckee Airport RdCar rental location close to the Truckee Airport. Make sure you check your cars for scratches and dings before and after your rental.
Reno-Tahoe International Airport
2001 E Plumb LnThe closest large airport to Tahoe.