The southern gateway to Lake Tahoe offers cabin-goers year-round outdoor delights.
Lake Tahoe’s southern hub is the aptly named town of South Lake Tahoe. Restaurants and shops line the main road with Heavenly Mountain Resort on one side and the beach and lake on the other. In the winter, this is ski central—cabins fill up quickly with skiers and snowboarders from December to April. In the summer, it’s all about the lake in South Lake, which offers boat rentals, jet-skiing, kayaking, and sightseeing cruises to Emerald Bay. Private cabins for rent range from modest to luxurious and often come with perks like bikes, hot tubs, or ski gear storage. Alternatively, some campgrounds and resorts offer smaller cabins rentals that typically have kitchens or kitchenettes, as well as private or shared picnic tables, firepits, and grills. Some cabins without heat are summer-only, but most cabins in the area can be rented in any season. Consider fall for crisp weather but fewer crowds.