Horseback Riding
When admiring the untouched landscape of Lake Tahoe, travelers often wonder what early explorers felt when first beholding such a natural treasure. Perched on steady horses moving silently through the trees on a trail ride, group members can feel even more connected with these early wanderers.
The harmonious experience of man, horse and wilderness views has remained a popular activity in the Reno area, so you have your pick of trail riding companies, among them Vedi Trails West, which is 20 minutes from Reno. Verdi Trails West, just 20 minutes from Reno, allows groups to explore the Sierra Nevada foothills on a relaxed ride through the high desert.
About 35 minutes from Reno, guides from the Piping Rock Equestrian Center take groups of up to 20 people through a more forested terrain. They recommend the one-hour scenic trail ride for groups of various abilities. The trail starts with a ride in the covered arena so riders feel comfortable on their horses before heading out into a high alpine meadow with views of the Sierra Crest.
Zephyr Cove Stables and Camp Richardson Corral offer meals with their horseback riding trips. Both follow trails on National Forest Land close enough to the dock to combine the experience with a lake cruise.
“Camp Richardson Corral leads horseback rides around a meal,” said Lokan. “If someone doesn’t want to ride a horse, they can do a wagon ride and still have dinner with the rest of the group.”
Fly-Fishing
If you’ve ever felt that jolt of excitement when something tugs on your fishing line, you can imagine the enticement of fly-fishing in the Lake Tahoe area. The region’s numerous streams and rivers run with water throughout the year, making fly-fishing a popular four-seasons activity.
For a memorable experience, groups can learn the art of fly-fishing from expert guides with the Reno Fly Shop or Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters. The two providers work together for larger groups of up to 30 people.
Most group fly-fishing excursions keep a three-to-one student-to-guide ratio for optimal personal attention for each participant. Expert guides work hard to ensure that all participants have their moment reeling in a fish.
“These companies have a passion for fly-fishing,” said Lokan. “They love it, and they love teaching it. Their goal is to make the experience the best experience, so the group will continue to want to fly-fish.”
The companies can also provide instruction for groups before setting out. Larger groups will spread out on multiple rivers and lakes to prevent lines from being tangled.
Since fly-fishing remains such a specialized activity, some tours choose to keep this experience as an optional add-on.
For more information go to www.visitrenotahoe.com.
