🍂 The Perfect Fall Day in Tahoe, According to Sampson & Riley 🐾

Fall might just be our favorite time of year in Tahoe.

The summer crowds start to disappear, the mornings get crisp, the aspens turn gold, and there are still plenty of sunny afternoons made for exploring.

So we asked our resident Tahoe dogs, Sampson and Riley, to plan their perfect fall day.

Here’s what they came up with. 🐶🐶

☕ 8:30 AM: Sleep In

A perfect fall day does not start at sunrise.

The mornings are getting chilly, Mom wants to drink her coffee and eat a hearty breakfast, and Sampson and Riley are perfectly happy to enjoy a little extra time curled up at home.

There’s a big day ahead. No need to rush.

🍁 10:30 AM: Leaf Peeping in Hope Valley

Once everyone is fed, caffeinated, and ready to go, it’s time to head south to Hope Valley.

This is peak Tahoe Dog fall: crisp mountain air, golden aspens, trails to sniff, and plenty of places to stretch four legs.

Sampson would stay close and take his time exploring. Riley would probably be approximately 47 feet ahead, checking to make sure everyone was keeping up. 😂

For a fall adventure, we’d clip on our Everyday Leashes—yellow and green feel especially appropriate this time of year—and add a Tahoe Dog Co. Trail Bell so you can hear your pup jingling along the trail. 🔔🐾

And of course, we’d pack a Collapsible Water Bowl for a mid-adventure water break. 💦

There would also be plenty of stops for photos in the leaves. Obviously. 📸🍂

🍖 1:30 PM: Lunch at Sonny’s

After a morning of exploring, everyone has earned lunch.

A stop at Sonny’s BBQ in South Lake Tahoe means something delicious for the humans—and two very interested dogs hoping something accidentally falls on the ground.

They are always available to assist with cleanup, whether inside or on the outdoor patio.

🌊 3:30 PM: One More Adventure at Chambers

You might think a crisp fall afternoon means swimming season is over.

Sampson and Riley disagree. They swim year-round some years, but Fall is definitely still appropriate swimming temps. 

We’d head back toward the West Shore and stop at Chambers Landing for one last adventure by the lake. If the weather is warm enough, there’s a very good chance somebody is going in.

Maybe even a jump off the pier—where permitted, of course. 💦

Because apparently cold Tahoe water is no match for a dog who sees a lake and thinks, Obviously I should be in there.

💤 5:00 PM: Deck Time

Back home, it’s time for the most important part of any Tahoe adventure: recovery.

Towels come out. Wet dogs find a sunny spot on the deck. Sampson settles in for a serious nap, Riley eventually stops looking for someone to play with, and Mom gets to enjoy the last bit of afternoon sunshine. ☀️

And because Riley apparently believes a full day of hiking and swimming is not enough activity, there might still be time to play with one of our soon-to-be-released holiday toys—like the Durable Tahoe Bear. 🐻🎄

Then, eventually, everyone crashes.

No schedules. No crowds. Just tired dogs, golden light, and that perfect fall feeling in the mountains. 🍂🐾

Tomorrow?

We do it all over again.

Because a Tahoe Dog isn’t a breed. It’s a lifestyle.