Round Hill Pines Beach Resort closed for the season on Oct. 1. Nevada Beach followed on Oct. 12, and Zephyr Cove Stables shut down on Nov. 1. Those dates come from the Forest Service's annual winter closure schedule, which closes buildings, restrooms and parking at beaches, campgrounds and resorts around the lake.
Only two sites on that list are marked open year-round. One is Camp Richardson Resort on the California side. The other is Zephyr Cove Resort and Campground. So from now until spring, the lake life of our stretch of shore mostly happens at one address, 760 U.S. Highway 50. Once you look at that resort's winter calendar, a pattern shows up. Most of what's on it runs more often, or costs less, on weekdays.
What the Closure List Means on Our Side of the Lake
The Forest Service's Sept. 30 release covers the whole basin. Here are the dates closest to home:
| Site | Status for winter 2026 |
|---|---|
| Round Hill Pines Beach Resort | Closed Oct. 1 |
| Nevada Beach and campground | Closed Oct. 12 |
| Zephyr Cove Stables | Closed Nov. 1 |
| Zephyr Cove Resort and Campground | Open year-round |
The Forest Service notes that all of those dates can shift with weather and conditions. The closures apply to facilities, not land. National forest land stays open all year. Winter parking is limited, though, and water, restrooms and trash pickup go away until spring. Forest Service roads also start closing in mid-November, so a back road you used in October may be gated now. The agency points to its Motor Vehicle Use Maps for exact dates.
So for a winter walk at Nevada Beach, plan on bringing everything you need and packing everything out, dog waste included. If you want a restroom, a hot drink and a pier, the year-round option is the resort just up the road.
The Drive There Is Smoother This Winter
Getting to that one address is easier than it was a few months ago. NDOT says paving is complete on its two-year project to resurface U.S. 50 from Stateline to Spooner Summit. The first season, in 2025, covered five and a half miles from the Stateline casino corridor to just south of Cave Rock. The 2026 season finished the rest.
The job isn't quite done. According to the NDOT project page, crews are still finishing signs, striping, barrier rail painting and staging-area cleanup. The speed limit stays at 35 mph through the work zones, and NDOT expects minimal delays for the rest of the project. After a summer of single-lane closures, a short trip to the Cove at lunchtime fits into a normal weekday again.
A Noon Cruise Every Day of November
That lunchtime trip matters because the resort's daytime scenic cruise runs at 12 p.m. every day of November, from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30. The evening dinner cruise is a weekend thing, leaving at 5 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays only. In practice, a Tuesday gives you the same daytime cruise as a Saturday, with fewer people trying to book it.
Thanksgiving gets its own sailing. A Thanksgiving Day Cruise leaves at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, and the regular noon cruise runs that day too. The full calendar is on the resort's cruise schedule page.
On land, Zephyr Cove Restaurant, which the resort also calls The Lodge, has been closed this fall for what the resort calls a refresh. Its dining page asks guests to check back for reopening updates. The restaurant's own page lists a Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 26 at $55 per person, and reservations are recommended. If you're thinking about hosting family at the lake instead of at home, look over the Thanksgiving details and confirm before you count on it.
The Sunset Bar & Grille, meanwhile, is a late-spring-to-early-fall spot, so it isn't part of the winter picture.
Monday Through Thursday Saves the Most on Snowmobiles
When snow settles on the ridges above the lake, the resort's winter operation moves uphill. The weekday pattern is clearest here.
The Scenic Lakeview Tour is a two-hour guided ride through mountain meadows to nearly 9,000 feet, with views of Lake Tahoe. It costs $250 for a single rider, $280 for a double, and $100 for a child with a guide. On Mondays through Thursdays, children 15 and younger ride free with an adult. That discount is booked by phone at 1.800.238.2463.
For a family of three with one child on the scenic tour, that's the difference between a $100 child fare on a Saturday and no child fare on a Wednesday. Riders must be at least 5 years old, and everyone signs a risk acknowledgment.
The Ultimate Experience is for confident riders. It's a guided off-trail tour with hill climbing and powder riding that reaches 9,150 feet, and it costs $340 for a single rider. The resort's booking page lists it at four hours, ages 16 and up, for intermediate and advanced riders, booked by phone. Groups of fewer than 10 snowmobiles who want a private tour are asked to call for details.
A few practical details for either tour:
- Check-in is at Zephyr Cove Resort, 760 U.S. Hwy 50. The resort asks riders to arrive one hour before departure.
- Tours include a snowmobile, a guide and a DOT-certified helmet. The helmet is required and free, and the snowmobile center rents other gear.
- Tours can be canceled because of snow, weather or other conditions, so the season's first rides depend on the ridges, not the calendar.
- The code EARLYBIRD20 takes 20% off any snowmobile tour booked by Dec. 9. Blackout dates may apply.
If you want a weekday ride, you can stack those discounts in your favor. Book before Dec. 9 for the early-bird rate, pick a Monday through Thursday so the kids ride free, and call to confirm how the two offers work together. The Scenic Lakeview Tour page has the booking link and phone number.
Three December Dates for the Fridge
In December, the holiday dates set the schedule, whatever day of the week they fall on.
- Wednesday, Dec. 9: the last day to book a snowmobile tour with the EARLYBIRD20 code.
- Saturday, Dec. 19, at noon: the Santa Cruise aboard the M.S. Dixie II, with Santa, hot cocoa, candy canes, holiday activities, and letters to Santa for kids. Tickets are $99 for adults and $55 for children.
- Thursday, Dec. 31, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.: the New Year's Eve Dinner Cruise, at $195 per person. It includes a three-course dinner or a prime rib option, live music and dancing, and a champagne toast.
Details and booking for both holiday cruises are on the resort's Santa Cruise page and its New Year's Eve cruise page.
Got a favorite way to spend a quiet weekday at the Cove in winter? I'd love to hear it, and if you ever want to talk about life along the east shore, Kaycee Summers is always happy to grab a cocoa and chat. Let's Connect.
