If you have ever been sledding up at Tahoe, you know there's typically a certain amount of work and dedication that goes into it.
Usually, you would need to bring your own equipment, not to mention the stamina to hike back up the run. It also helps to have perfect snow conditions and minimal crowds that understand “slediquette.”
But Tube Tahoe takes all this effort out of the equation and even provides the tubes, offering up a sort of all-inclusive version of a snowy tubing paradise.
The views of Echo Summit from Tube Tahoe.(Courtesy of Tube Tahoe)
Located near South Lake Tahoe in the small community of Meyers, Tube Tahoe transforms from a golf course in the summer into a wintry tubing hill with eight packed and groomed lanes comprising more than 500 feet tubing space.
There are a few whoop-de-doos (yep, that’s a tubing technical term!) that help you build up speed, as well as rubber mats at the bottom of each run to gently slow you down (no, you won't go flying through the parking lot a la Clark W. Griswold).
To get started, you'll take a quick walk up the hill where wonderful attendants will happily give you a push for maximum fly time. Opt for a traditional seated position or go face-first like Superman. Groups of three tubers can also ride down together, and smaller children are allowed to ride in the same tube with a parent.
Pack as many runs as you like into each 90-minute session, and consider arriving on weekdays or before 11am on weekends to snag easy parking and avoid heavier crowds.
If you need a breather or just aren't ready to go home, kick back in lounge chairs at the bottom of the hill where you can enjoy snacks and hot chocolate or tea from the Tube Tahoe store while you watch the tubers fly by. There is also a dedicated area for mini tubers under the age of five. When the day is done, refuel at South Lake Tahoe's many nearby restaurants and don't miss the park's stunning views of Echo Summit.
// Tube Tahoe sessions are offered on a first come, first served basis, though the entire hill or portions of it can be rented out for private parties. General admission + tube rental is $60 for adults, $50 for kids six and older, and $30 for mini tubers ages three to five. Snowplay and spectators are just $15; 3021 US-50, South Lake Tahoe, tubetahoe.com.
Each tubing lane has its own set of whoop-de-doo hills.(Courtesy of Tube Tahoe)