In late 2022, Lake Tahoe tourism organizations, businesses and ski resorts went into crisis mode after travel publication Fodor’s put into words what so many locals had been thinking for years: Human activity is hurting Tahoe. With trash piling up on popular beaches, tires and plastics pulled from the lake on an annual basis, and everything from plastic sleds to dog poop being left in snowbanks, the impact of too many people in too small a space was undeniable.

Citing these environmental concerns, as well as other issues related to general overuse, Fodor’s granted Lake Tahoe one of 10 slots on its global list of destinations to “reconsider visiting in 2023,” placed in the category of areas where “nature needs a break.” Many readers were surprised to see Tahoe on the list, alongside destinations suffering from catastrophic impacts of over tourism, like Antarctica and Maui. 

Reaction to Tahoe’s inclusion on the 2023 “No List” ran the gamut from supportive to upset, with tourism promotional agencies putting out statements to counter what they saw as negative messaging. Social media commentators weighed in with everything from the direct “thank God” to the more ambitious “get rid of every vacation rental and second homeowner and make it where you have to live here permanently.” On Reddit, some visitors took offense at the claims in the article, saying it was mostly locals using up the area’s resources. 

Some tourism promotional organizations balked at the use of the word “overtourism,” instead saying the problem was a lack of education about how to recreate, not the volume of people recreating. Other organizations agreed that irresponsible recreation was a problem, but pointed out that it wasn’t just visitors, but also second homeowners and pandemic-era transplants (the San Francisco Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms). However, area stakeholders seemed to acknowledge the problem in mid-2023, publishing a more than 100-page stewardship plan quantifying the scale of Tahoe’s tourism, including statistics that show Tahoe has more than twice the annual number of visitors as Yosemite National Park.

But according to Fodor’s digital editorial director Jeremy Tarr, despite the name, the No List doesn’t mean travelers shouldn’t visit those destinations, or that aren’t still welcoming of tourists.

“We’re not advocating for boycotts or bans. But we do want travelers to be aware of the issues faced by destinations they frequent,” Tarr says. “And then tourists can make up their own minds as to whether or not they should venture off somewhere.”

But 2023 came and went, and Tahoe is notably absent from the 2024 Fodor’s No List (though the list did include one location in California). Omitting Lake Tahoe from the list wasn’t a sign that Tahoe’s tourism problems are fixed, says Tarr, but an intentional decision to avoid listing the same destination year after year.

“We want destinations to succeed,” he says. “We don’t intend the ‘No List’ to be some sort of punitive cudgel, and two years in a row feels excessive.” 

While Fodor’s tries to be diplomatic, and received generally positive feedback for Tahoe’s 2023 inclusion, Tarr says, he does think that destinations have an obligation to tend to their communities before they tend to visitors.

“It’s crucial for a destination to have a plan to combat overtourism, even if overtourism isn’t yet a problem,” he says. “If a community is truly special, it’s only a matter of time until tourists show up. So be prepared.”

Soon after releasing the 2024 No List, Fodor’s published an article following up on Tahoe’s placement on the 2023 list. “The latest news isn’t great,” it wrote, citing increases in trash left at beaches and traffic, as well as ongoing concerns on the lack of available housing and unreliable public transportation.  

With Tahoe absent from the 2024 list, but many of the environmental concerns still ever-present, it’s fair to wonder: Is it OK to come to Tahoe now? I set out to ask everyone from businesses to locals to tourism agencies what they thought. 

Through conversations with multiple Tahoe residents, business owners, and locals in recent weeks, it’s clear that the sentiment toward tourism in the basin is a double-edged sword. Many find the summer and ski crowds a nuisance that can make simple day-to-day activities, like getting to the grocery store or ordering takeout, nearly impossible Others fully rely on the hospitality and tourism industries for their income. Some dislike that both are true. 

“I was born and raised here,” says Tyler O’Neal, former president of the Tahoe Sierra Board of Realtors. “I’m 43 and have seen many changes. Many local workers can’t afford to live here. No affordable housing that’s affordable.” 

Despite these housing issues, which are exacerbated by tourism, O’Neal thinks tourism will continue to rise, partly because of the higher-than-average costs of airfare since the COVID-19 pandemic. But that’s not a bad thing. “We embrace tourism and visitors here at Lake Tahoe,” he says. “That’s how we survive. We’ve always leaned on the Bay Area for years to support our local business and life.”

Michael Floyd and his family have owned a home in north Lake Tahoe for 13 years, but moved here full time in 2020. He agrees that Tahoe’s inclusion on the 2023 “No List” was warranted, citing particular concerns about overcrowding and bad traffic. He thinks the only reason last year’s ski season was tolerable was because of regional roads closing during heavy snowfall, making the slopes less crowded for locals. 

He doesn’t think the issues that landed Tahoe on the list have gotten much better, saying, “Being included on the list is a reflection of long-term trends, not just due to a particular year.” For him, the answer comes down to avoiding crowds and getting on a different schedule from the majority of tourists.

“If you want to really enjoy Tahoe, actually take some time off work … and come mid-week,” he says. “You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how calm and laidback the basin can be.” 

Doug Jones, a resident of Truckee and founding member of the town’s Mountain Arts Collective, thinks that simply telling people to avoid Tahoe isn’t a viable solution. He thinks the issues facing Tahoe have gotten worse since the pandemic, and has a simple answer to whether issues like traffic and overtourism have improved: “Definitely not.” 

But whether it’s OK to come to Tahoe is still a definite yes. “From my perspective, despite the crowding, it’s always been OK for tourists to come here. We’re all tourists in other places. The answer is not to discourage visitors as they need to experience the beauty of these surroundings; rather, we need to educate visitors to be mindful of their presence here, to be self-sufficient, and to join in the efforts to take better care of this environment.”

For 15-year Tahoe resident Jen Gurecki, CEO of woman- and nonbinary-focused ski and ride brand Coalition Snow, the question of whether Tahoe was suffering from overtourism should only be decided by Tahoe residents, who should be able to set the appropriate balance. “Small business owners need tourism to survive, so you don’t want to send a message to people to not visit,” she says. 

But she does think it’s important that visitors know what they’re getting into when they visit Tahoe on busy weekends: “It’s important to be honest about what it’s like to visit Tahoe now. You will sit in traffic for hours. You will wait in line with hundreds of thousands of other people to ski. Your ability to have an authentic outdoor experience is compromised with the number of people and vehicles that surround you.” 

Because of heavy traffic and high housing prices, among other reasons, Gurecki moved to Reno, Nevada, about five years ago. She now spends her time in other areas of the Sierra that don’t have visitors in such high numbers. Seeing the trash left behind at the lake for multiple Fourth of July celebrations in row has convinced her that people don’t know how to care for the land. And as for whether it’s OK to come to Tahoe now, she still thinks that’s a local issue: “This is something for local Washoe Tribe and Tahoe residents to determine. List or no list, Tahoe is often untenable for myriad reasons.”

Tahoe Blue Vodka founder and CEO Matt Levitt says he’s undecided on whether Tahoe should have been included on the list, but agrees with Gurecki that the lake needs tourists. “Our economy is tourist-driven and we certainly don’t want them to stop visiting,” he says. “However, the couple years post-COVID were particularly busy for tourism. The challenge of driving just the right amount of eco-conscious visitors to Tahoe is a delicate balance.” 

But overall, he thinks it’s OK for tourists to return to Tahoe, noting that many of the issues mentioned on the Fodor’s “No List” are real, but are mostly relegated to holiday weekends and specific parts of town.

“Tahoe never felt like Times Square,” he says. “Admittedly there were some moments that felt overcrowded, but they were not every day. We’re eager to host.”

For Ann Bryant, who often speaks on behalf of Tahoe’s bears and other wildlife impacted by Tahoe’s human population, including Lake Tahoe on the 2023 “No List” was a no-brainer. “I fully agreed with the thoughtful, well-earned classification Tahoe received from Fodor’s in 2023 as needing a break from tourists,” she says. “It doesn’t seem to have had much, if any effect, however.” That’s not unexpected though, she thinks, noting that any significant trend reversals would take far more than a year to get traction. 

She would have supported including Lake Tahoe again on 2024’s “No List” and has a direct answer for whether it’s OK for tourists to keep visiting Tahoe in droves: “No. We are rapidly destroying the very reasons people visit Tahoe,” she says. “Once the destruction is complete, tourists will go elsewhere, but those of us who still live here will finally realize the terrible mistakes we made, and it will be too late.” 

Paul Miltner has lived on the north shore of Lake Tahoe for 34 years and operates Snowshoe Tahoe and Tahoe Whitewater Tours. He agrees that the area is more popular than ever, likely due both to the Epic and Ikon passes, as well as influencers and social media. As someone who works in tourism, he welcomes visitors, but he does think Tahoe will continue to face traffic and visitation problems. 

“Unfortunately, many travelers may continue to act selfishly and irresponsibly, as evident in places like Zephyr Cove on the Fourth of July,” he says. “It’s essential to remind people to travel to mountainous zones responsibly and leave the environment better than they found it. Tahoe shouldn’t be treated like a theme park getaway; visitors should take responsibility for their impact.” 

Miltner doesn’t think the Fodor’s “No List” had much of an impact, nor will it in the future.

“To be honest, I have never heard of the Fodor’s List and the ranking or lack of ranking it holds,” he says. “ I would bet that 10 out of 10 people traveling here haven’t heard of such lists.”

Despite not reading either list, his ethos mirrors that of Fodor’s: “As recreational businesses leading guests into the wilderness on guided tours, we consider ourselves stewards of Tahoe,” he says. “We encourage everyone to recreate responsibly and care for our environment and fellow travelers.”