Truckee | Area Guide

Discover Truckee

Modern, vibrant mountain town in Lake Tahoe

Truckee is a small, bustling, modern mountain town located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains on the farthest north side of North Lake Tahoe. Despite its small size—just 34 square miles—this charming town is made up of a great community of more than ten neighborhoods with amazing access to the great outdoors and amenities.

Formerly a historic railroad and logging town, Truckee has evolved to become a hip year-round enclave with access to skiing, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, skating, restaurants, and shopping, as well as beautiful luxury homes. This town is highly accessible via Hwy 80 and is just 40 minutes from Reno Tahoe International Airport, offering access to many popular direct flights.

What to Love

Outdoorsy lifestyle
Proximity to the lake and mountain resorts
Amazing dining and shopping opportunities

Local Lifestyle

Truckee is home to a close-knit community of vibrant outdoor enthusiasts who want proximity to shopping and excellent restaurants while enjoying Lake Tahoe's charm and unique mountain lifestyle. No matter where you live in Truckee, you’re steps away from bountiful hiking trails, ski resorts, and outdoor activities.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

Truckee is home to many restaurants featuring local cuisine, fine dining, breakfast, lunch, and brunch spots, and fun coffee shops. To start your morning, head to Coffeebar and enjoy Italian-style cappuccinos, espressos, and lattes, as well as specialty options like a lemon chiffon latte and a caffe marocchino. You can also enjoy delightful treats like croissants, scones, muffins, and more, or something more filling like crêpes, paninis, and salads.

For dinner, the sophisticated and stylish Trokay serves beautifully plated, modern dishes and a nice selection of beer and wine to choose from to complement the exquisite fare. If you want to sample international cuisine, Stella has soulful and innovative plates inspired by Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines. It has a warm atmosphere and fun dining experience and is a great place to bring a group of friends.

Another Lake Tahoe gem to check out is Cottonwood Restaurant & Bar. Tucked inside one of the oldest ski lodges in the country, Cottonwood is the perfect spot for fine dining, fabulous cocktails, and live acoustic music while enjoying the spectacular views of Downtown Truckee and the breathtaking Sierra Nevada Mountains.

If you're in the mood for sushi, Drunken Monkey Sushi has an excellent sushi menu with rolls like the Demon Slayer with spicy ahi tuna as well as delicious sashimi, tapas, and noodle dishes, as well as the Dreaming Monkey with crab, avocado, hamachi, ahi tuna, and salmon. This local favorite also has a wide selection of sake, shochu, shochu-infused cocktails, Japanese and micro-brewed beer, and wines.

Shopping in Truckee is exciting, with an adorable assortment of boutiques and merchants. Wine lovers can check out Bluestone Jewelry and Wine and The Pour House Wine Shop. If you have a sweet tooth, be sure to check out Sweets Handmade Candies for their unique, handmade confections, such as fudge, turtles, and truffles. It also offers a large selection of high-quality seasonal and year-round gift baskets.

And for gourmet goods like fine oils and vinegar, specialty spices and rubs, premium local honey, and organic body products check out Tahoe Oil & Spice. If you're a book or art lover, Bespoke & Atelier is the go-to spot for unusual books and magazines, and handmade items from local artists.

Things to Do

One of the best things about Truckee is the easy access to outdoor living year-round with proximity to Sugar Bowl Resort, Palisades Tahoe, and Northstar California Resort. These resorts provide everything one needs for premier skiing, snowshoeing, skating, and snowboarding experience during the winter and spring. Come summertime, you can explore endless hiking trails at Donner Summit or Martis Valley or get lost hiking or biking the miles of paved paths and trails that zig-zag in and around the town.

Apart from adventurous mountain sports, you can also attend Oktoberfest, a yearly festival that transforms the Village at Palisades Tahoe into the largest Bavarian playground. This event has plenty of family fun, ever-popular Oktoberfest Games, authentic German beer, and Bavarian music and dance.