What the ride is
The Summit Snowmobile Tour is Lake Tahoe Adventures' beginner-friendly Hope Valley route. Check-in is at Zephyr Cove Resort on Highway 50 — same staging point as Zephyr Cove Snowmobile Center, just a different operator's tour center inside the resort. After gear and waivers, you board a shuttle for the 25-minute ride south on Highway 88 to the Hope Valley staging area at 7,200 ft elevation.
From there, the route climbs through groomed forest trails to ridgeline viewpoints at 8,300 ft. The terrain is Sierra Nevada backcountry — no lake views — featuring Faith Valley below, the dramatic Sierra Crest rising to nearly 10,000 ft on the western horizon, the rim of Charity Canyon, and a peak the locals call The Nipple. You'll pass historic cabins built by early Sierra settlers along the way.
How it differs from the Zephyr Cove tours
The biggest distinction is what you see. Zephyr Cove tours give you Lake Tahoe from above; this tour gives you the Sierra Nevada peaks south of the basin. Neither is "better" — they're different photo sets, different experiences.
Practical differences:
- Shuttle adds ~25 minutes each way. Total door-to-door time is 3–4 hours rather than ~3 hours for Zephyr Cove tours.
- Longer operating season. Hope Valley snowpack lasts longer — LTA typically runs November through May, vs Zephyr Cove's Dec–Mar window.
- Trail character. Groomed Sierra backcountry meadows + climbs vs Zephyr Cove's steady ridge climb.
- No lake views. The Hope Valley route is entirely south of the Tahoe basin watershed.
Who it's right for
- First-time riders who want backcountry, not lake views. Same beginner-friendly format as Zephyr Cove's Scenic Lakeview, but with a Sierra peaks setting instead.
- Visitors with longer-season trips. Booking in November or April? LTA is your only option — Zephyr Cove won't be operating.
- People who already did Zephyr Cove. If you've done the lake-view tour on a previous trip and want a different ride, this is the natural second snowmobile experience.
- Photo collectors. Sierra Crest, Faith Valley, historic cabins — different visual material than the standard Tahoe shot.
The route detail
From the Hope Valley staging area, you'll head west along a groomed forest road that climbs steadily through pine and aspen meadow terrain. The first major viewpoint comes about 25 minutes in, where the trail opens onto a panoramic view of Faith Valley — a glacial valley carved into the Sierra east-face, with the Sierra Crest forming the far ridgeline. Group photo stop.
From there, the trail follows the rim of Charity Canyon, with views down into the canyon and across to Markleeville Peak. The high point of the tour is at roughly 8,300 ft, where The Nipple (yes, that's the name) provides the topographic anchor for the area's best panoramic view. Total ride distance is approximately 15–20 miles depending on snow conditions.
What's included
- Complimentary shuttle pickup from Zephyr Cove Resort and select South Lake Tahoe hotels
- Snowmobile (driver and passenger configurations available)
- Pre-ride safety briefing and instruction
- Guided 2-hour ride with experienced LTA guide
- Helmet, goggles
- Optional warm clothing rentals available (snowsuits, boots, gloves) — call to confirm pricing
Operating season
LTA operates the Summit Tour from November to May, weather permitting. The Hope Valley elevation and aspect retain snow longer than the lake-level routes, which is why their season extends further than Zephyr Cove's. Early-season (November) and late-season (April–May) tours run on lighter snowpack with route modifications. Peak conditions are mid-January through mid-March.
Book the Summit Snowmobile Tour
Bookings on this page are completed through FareHarbor and fulfilled by the operator. southlaketahoesnowmobiles.com is an independent guide and may earn a commission on bookings made through links on this site, at no additional cost to you.