Lake Tahoe Marathon
South Lake Tahoe, United States · October · Independent
Why people love it
- Lake Tahoe shoreline and Emerald Bay views; both marathon reviewers scored scenery 5 of 5.
- Beach finish at Lakeside Beach; walkers welcome; optional 07:00 early start.
- Small boutique field of a few hundred runners.
- Open entry; part of a Triple Marathon weekend around the lake.
Watch out for
- Permit problems cancelled weekend races in 2024 and 2025, and reviewers complained about communication.
- Altitude near 1,900 m (6,250 ft) and a mile-long hill at mile 19 (31 km).
- Mandatory bus to the start, with long toilet waits in some years.
- Cold starts: -3 °C (26 °F) in 2019; wildfire smoke in 2019 and 2021.
- Few spectators along the shoreline.
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 28% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLiked3.4
RaceRaves shows 4.6 from 11 ratings across all distances. Marathoners scored scenery 5, but 2024 and 2025 reviewers gave 1 star over cancelled races. · Low confidence
- OrganizationAdequate2.5
A 2019 reviewer gave an A+. In 2024 and 2025 reviewers reported permit cancellations, a shortened course, poor communication and about 10 toilets. · Medium confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable2.6
Altitude near 1,900 m (6,250 ft), hills near mile 15 (24 km) and 19 (31 km), and a bus to the start. Walkers are welcome. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow1.9
A 2002 profile called it an excellent course for a personal worst. A 2021 marathoner called one hill harder than Heartbreak Hill. · Low confidence
Course
Scenery, road surface, closures, and room to run. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Course scenerySpectacular4.8
Both marathon reviewers scored scenery 5, with lake views, Emerald Bay and a beach finish. One 2024 reviewer disagreed, citing out-and-backs on bike trails. · Medium confidence
- Room to runSome pinch points3.4
A small field (about 550 to 590 finishers in 2001 and 2004) means no crowding. Reviewers mentioned bike-path sections and some out-and-back stretches. · Low confidence
- Road surfaceGood3.5
Paved road and bike paths. One reviewer of a related race complained of no shoulder and trucks at 60 mph (97 km/h). · Low confidence
- Road closuresMostly open2.0
Shared roads and bike paths with traffic. The road-closure permit caused the 2024 and 2025 cancellations. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Course flatnessHilly2.3
Gentle bike-path start, then climbs near mile 15 (24 km), mile 19 (31 km) and Emerald Bay. No gain figure is published. · Low confidence
- Net downhillEven3.0
Point-to-point from Homewood to Lakeside Beach with climbs and descents. Net change and Boston status are not published. · Low confidence
Support
Crowds, aid stations, the start, and pacers. Counts for 20% of the overall score.
- Start logisticsSome waiting2.6
Buses run to the start because there is no parking at the top. Half marathon runners reported 30 to 40 minute toilet waits in 2019. · Medium confidence
- Pacers and timingSome pace groups3.0
Runners did not mention pace groups or tracking. · Low confidence
- Crowd supportSparse1.8
The 2021 reviewer found spectators sparse, and half marathon reviewers noted few on some stretches. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
2019 and 2021 reviewers praised the aid stations. A 2024 reviewer complained of minimal fuel and about 10 portable toilets shared by all races. · Low confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 14% of the overall score.
- WindSome wind3.2
Marathoners did not report wind. · Low confidence
- Air temperatureWarm or cool3.4
Mid-October lows run -3 to 8 °C (27 to 47 °F), highs up to 23 °C (74 °F). The 2019 start was freezing. · Medium confidence
- Weather reliabilityVariable2.8
Wildfire smoke affected 2019 and the Caldor fire affected 2021; early cold and snow are possible in October. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlyTricky2.2
Shoreline roads with sparse spectators; the finish at Lakeside Beach is easy to reach. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeHigh altitude1.3
Lake Tahoe sits at about 1,900 m (6,250 ft); one reviewer recorded 2,070 m (6,800 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood3.5
Casino hotels at Stateline are a short walk from the finish, but reviewers warn about noise, smoke and hot rooms. · Medium confidence
- Hotel valueNormal2.6
A 2021 reviewer found no discounts at the casino resort. Mountain resort town pricing. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving2.6
The finish is about six blocks from the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel, but the start needs a bus. · Medium confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.0
The nearest large airport is Reno-Tahoe, and the town has limited transit. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSome complexity2.8
Expo and bib pickup varied, with a store pickup in 2025 and casino delays in other years. Late arrivals get the shirt at the finish. · Medium confidence
- Town and foodGood3.9
Resort town with beaches, restaurants and casinos; a post-race treat table was praised in 2023. · Low confidence
Entry
How hard it is to get a place, and what you get for the fee. Counts for 8% of the overall score.
- Getting inEasy4.3
Open entry with a boutique field. The Cal-Neva leg of the Triple is capped at 100 runners. · Low confidence
- Value for moneyFair3.0
Swag ratings range from 3 to 5, and a 2024 reviewer said the swag bag was downgraded. Entry fee not found. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado County, United States
- Typical month
- October
- Latest or next date
- 17 October 2027
- Organiser
- Independent
- First held
- 1996
- Distances
- 42.2 km (26.2 mi)
- Course type
- point-to-point
- Start time
- 08:00
- Surface
- Paved road and bike path
- How to get in
- open
- Air temperature
- -3–23 °C (27–73 °F)
- Humidity
- dry
- Altitude
- 1,900 m (6,230 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Reno-Tahoe International (RNO)
- Where to stay
- South Lake Tahoe, Stateline
- Booking
- Finish is about six blocks from the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel. Reviewers warn against the casino hotels for noise and smoke. Buses run from the Beach Retreat and Spa lot, about 1.6 km (1 mi) from the finish, to the start.
What racers and reviewers say
- RaceRaves (Lake Tahoe Marathon, 2 marathon reviews)Raced 2021 · aggregator · Mixed
Overall 4.6 from 11 ratings across all distances. The 2019 and 2021 marathoners both rated scenery 5 and difficulty 4. The 2019 reviewer gave organisation an A+ and liked that walkers are welcome; the 2021 reviewer said management felt overbearing during COVID and fire, aid was good, spectators sparse, a Hill from Hell harder than Heartbreak Hill, and casino rooms were hot and smoky.
“Dwarfs Boston's Heartbreak Hill”
- RaceRaves (Lake Tahoe Marathon and Emerald Bay Half, 11 ratings)Raced 2026 · aggregator · Mixed
Half marathon runners dominate the page (7 of 11). They rate scenery 4.9, production 4.2 and difficulty 3.5, and mention good aid, cold starts (-3 °C (27 °F), 26 °F in 2019), wildfire smoke, 30 to 40 minute toilet waits and a mandatory bus to the start. Venue only for the marathon.
- BibRave (Lake Tahoe Marathon reviews)Raced 2019 · aggregator · Positive
Two reviewers describe it as one of the two most beautiful courses they have run. A mile-long hill near mile 19 (31 km) leads to Emerald Bay, and the last 10 km (6.2 mi) is flat. One advised arriving a couple of days early and hydrating well for the altitude of about 2,070 m (6,800 ft).
“one of the top two most beautiful courses”
- MarathonGuide (Lake Tahoe Marathon reviews, 2024 and 2025)Raced 2025 · aggregator · Negative
Two 1 star reviews (averaging 1.7). They report weekend races cancelled over road-closure permits, a half course shortened by 0.8 km (0.5 mi), no aid or markers on the replacement day, an outdated website and thin communication, about 10 portable toilets, minimal aid fuel, and a downgraded swag bag. One called the course not scenic, with out-and-backs on bike trails.
- BibRave (Lake Tahoe Emerald Bay race reviews)Raced 2024 · aggregator · Mixed
Venue only. One runner on the mostly downhill Emerald Bay race found the expo well organised, swag disappointing and fatigue once the course flattened. The other called it their worst marathon: no shoulder and trucks at 60 mph (97 km/h) the whole way, with free race photos and pretty views.
Show 1 more
- Marathon Handbook (2002 course profile)Raced 2001 · article · Positive
Describes a point-to-point from Tahoe City to Pope Beach with a gentle first dozen miles (about 19 km), climbs near mile 15 (24 km) and 19 (31 km) and mostly downhill after. Altitude about 1,830 m (6,000 ft). 546 finished in 2001 with a handicapped start. Calls it a tough, possibly slow but beautiful race. The course has since changed.
“A Sunday morning run you will never forget”
Raced Lake Tahoe Marathon? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
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