We spend a lot of time exploring Tahoe with our dogs. It's our backyard, our playground, and one of the most dog-friendly places anywhere. We'd like to keep it that way.
That's why we're partnering with Keep Tahoe Blue to remind all of us of one simple habit:
Pick it up. Pack it out. Toss it in the trash.
One forgotten poop might not seem like a big deal, but across Tahoe's beaches, trails, parks, and neighborhood paths, those small bags add up. Dog waste can wash into waterways and become part of a much larger water-quality problem, while also impacting everyone's experience outdoors. Picking up after our dogs isn't just good etiquette. It's one of the easiest ways we can help keep Tahoe's trails and beaches clean, welcoming, and dog-friendly.
Photo by Katy Jo Caringer, Keep Tahoe Blue.
What Keep Tahoe Blue Volunteers Are Finding
Keep Tahoe Blue volunteers regularly find both unbagged piles and full poop bags left behind on Tahoe's beaches and trails.
In fact, they've removed more than 1,000 dog waste items from around the Basin. With approximately 17 million visitor days each year, Lake Tahoe welcomes millions of people, and their pets, to enjoy its beaches, trails, and public lands. Unlike many national parks, Tahoe doesn’t have dedicated staff responsible for cleaning up after every visitor. Protecting the Lake depends on each of us doing our part.
Volunteers remove litter from Kiva Beach during Keep Tahoe Blue’s annual Red, White & Blue Beach Cleanup in July 2026. Photo by Payton Runkle, Keep Tahoe Blue.
What Gets Left Behind Does Not Disappear
Of course, no one wants to see poop on the trail, but in and around Lake Tahoe, this is also a water-quality issue. When dog poop is left on the ground, it does not stay there. Rain and snowmelt can carry it into nearby streams, storm drains, and eventually the Lake.
“Dog waste is more than a nuisance,” said Laura Patten, Natural Resources Director at Keep Tahoe Blue. “It can be a source of bacteria and excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that are washed into Lake Tahoe and its tributaries during rain and snowmelt. In a lake as ecologically sensitive as Tahoe, preventing pollution at its source is one of the most effective ways to protect its famous clarity.”
Once these nutrients enter the water, they can fuel algae growth and disrupt Tahoe’s naturally nutrient-poor ecosystem. Even small increases in nitrogen and phosphorus can reduce water quality and contribute to the loss of the extraordinary clarity that makes Lake Tahoe world-renowned.
Photo by Katy Jo Caringer, Keep Tahoe Blue.
One pile may look small. Across busy beaches, trails, and parks, repeated waste left behind adds up quickly. Every small act of stewardship, including picking up after your pet, helps protect the Lake for future generations.
Bagged is not finished
Bagging dog waste is only the first step. While the intention to ‘pick it up on the way out’ may be good, the reality is that bags are often left on a trail, tucked beside a rock, dropped near a sign, or forgotten on the beach. This is then litter left behind. The bags can still be torn open by wildlife, moved by weather, or left for someone else to clean up.
The better habit is an easy and simple choice: If there is no trash can nearby, carry the bag with you until you find one. A responsible Tahoe dog day ends when the waste makes it into the trash.
How Dog Owners Can Help Tahoe Stay Beautiful
Dog-friendly Tahoe depends on dog owners doing small actions that have a big impact. Whether you are heading to Kiva Beach, Regan Beach, North Zephyr Cove Beach, or a favorite dog-friendly trail, the basic habits are the same:
- Pick up after your dog every time.
- Carry extra poop bags.
- Pack out pet waste until you reach a trash can.
- Use designated dog-friendly beaches, trails, and recreation areas.
- Keep dogs on designated routes where required.
- Encourage other dog owners to do the same.
These habits protect more than the view. They help keep bacteria and excess nutrients out of waterways, reduce litter, protect wildlife, and make it easier for communities to keep dog-friendly spaces open and welcoming.
Responsible recreation is about enjoying the places we love in a way that keeps them healthy for the next person, dog, and generation of Tahoe-lovers.
Join Keep Tahoe Blue and Wilderdog
This summer, Keep Tahoe Blue and Wilderdog are turning that message into action through the Tahoe Trails & Tails Cleanup.
As a Tahoe Blue Business, Wilderdog is partnering with Keep Tahoe Blue to give dog lovers and Tahoe lovers a hands-on way to protect the places they enjoy together.
When: Wednesday, August 26, 2026, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Lam Watah Nature Trail to Nevada Beach (193 Kahle Dr, Stateline, NV 89449)
Volunteers will help remove litter and dog waste from a popular recreation corridor that connects people, pets, trails, and the shoreline.
Can’t make the cleanup? You can still support the partnership by purchasing the limited-edition Keep Tahoe Blue × Wilderdog bandana at the Keep Tahoe Blue Store here in South Lake Tahoe, or right here at wilderdog.com. We are donating 5% back from sales back to Keep Tahoe Blue.
Every purchase helps support Keep Tahoe Blue’s work to protect Lake Tahoe.
Report What You See
If you notice recurring dog waste, litter, algae, cloudy water, invasive species, or other concerns while you are out with your dog, report it through Keep Tahoe Blue's Citizen Science Tahoe app. Your report helps researchers, Keep Tahoe Blue, and partners better understand what is happening around the Lake and where more cleanup, education, or prevention may be needed.
A cleaner Tahoe starts with simple actions repeated across the Basin. Pick it up. Pack it out. Toss it in the trash. That is how dog-friendly Tahoe stays clean, healthy, and enjoyable for everyone.
