While there are several snowmobile companies in the Lake Tahoe area where you can take a tour of the wintry mountains, there is only one company that allows you to take your own self-guided tour of the Tahoe area. Full Throttle Tahoe offers riders of all abilities snowmobile rentals and all the gear needed to hit the snowy backcountry. They will also hook you up for your rentals and lessons during the summer season.
Full Throttle Tahoe employs on-site snowmobile attendants and on-hand experts to provide riding assistance as well as repairs and tips on where to go in the area. The store is located on the North Shore and has access to the Lake Tahoe Snowmobile Trail riding area, which consists of over 13,000 acres of groomed trails, meadows, mountains, forest and plenty of views of the big, blue lake.
Get away from the ski crowds by exploring the Tahoe backcountry — Photo courtesy of Marcin Wichary
The store also has access to other riding areas, including Brockway Summit, Martis Peak, Blackwood Canyon, Blue Lakes near Highway 88, Donner Summit, Little Truckee Summit, Spooner Summit to Kingsbury Grade and the Tahoe Meadows area and Mount Rose Ski Resort.
The cost for a half-hour rental is $60, and the cost of a one-hour rental is $100. These include access to limited trail riding areas. This price is really for beginner riders who just want to experience a snowmobile for the first time without a lesson.
The best deals are $175 for two hours and $275 for four hours. These prices give you access to 30+ miles of groomed trails and off-trail riding. The $350 (plus fuel) price gets you eight hours of riding over the entire area that Full Throttle Tahoe has access to.
If you want to learn how to ride on your own, Full Throttle's top riders will take you out on your own snowmobile and show you the ropes. They will teach you how to climb a technical hill, get through the tightest trees and "fly" your sled. They will also teach you how to get unstuck from deeper snow. These clinics will take you over the various terrains that Tahoe has to offer in a controlled environment.
Full Throttle Tahoe also offers summer activities and rentals, including private boat charters with a captain and pick-up and drop-off services; powered watercraft and JetSki rentals; on-the-water lessons for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing, boating instruction and parasailing that includes all the equipment your will need; private lessons and boat fuel. Full Throttle Tahoe now also offers an off-road Polaris RZR OHV rental to go explore the Lake Tahoe mountains.