West Shore Lake Tahoe 2026: Trail Extension & Homewood Gondola

by Crystal Bauer

West Shore Lake Tahoe 2026: The Trail Extension Study, Homewood's New Gondola, and What They Mean for Homeowners

West Shore Lake Tahoe 2026: How the Meeks Bay-to-D.L. Bliss Trail Study, Homewood's Gondola, and a Fall of Infrastructure Work Could Shape Homewood and Tahoe City Real Estate

By Crystal Bauer, Certified Luxury Realtor® | eXp Realty

West Shore Lake Tahoe in 2026 is having one of its busiest falls in years. A new trail extension study, a gondola rising above Homewood, and a season of highway, broadband and trail work are all landing on the quiet side of the lake at once.

If you own, or dream of owning, a home between Tahoe City and Emerald Bay, these projects are worth knowing about.

Here's a plain-spoken look at what's happening, the dates that matter, and what it could mean for your property.

What Is Happening on West Shore Lake Tahoe in 2026?

Three things are making news on the West Shore right now.

A study to close the trail gap. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) and El Dorado County have opened public scoping for an environmental study of a roughly 6.5-mile West Shore trail extension from Meeks Bay to D.L. Bliss State Park.
Homewood's new gondola. Homewood Mountain Resort is building an 8-passenger gondola, with a goal of having it ready for the 2026-27 ski season.
A wrap-up of construction season. TRPA's grading season closed October 15, and Caltrans crews have been finishing pavement and broadband work along State Route 89.

None of these is a single headline on its own. Together, they paint a picture of a West Shore that's investing in access, recreation and connectivity.

What Is the West Shore Tahoe Trail Extension?

Today, the paved West Shore trail runs about 12 miles south from Tahoe City and ends at Meeks Bay. It's part of the Tahoe City Public Utility District's 23-mile multi-use trail network.

The proposed extension would carry the path about 6.5 miles farther, from Meeks Bay to D.L. Bliss State Park, according to the October 21 announcement reported by South Tahoe Now.

What would the trail look like?

Generally 10 feet wide and separated from the road
Bridges and boardwalks to protect sensitive stream zones
Water quality and accessibility improvements
Safety railings and retaining walls where needed
Vista points and a transit stop with restrooms

The stated goals are better connections between destinations, improved safety, and less congestion by giving people an alternative to driving the State Route 89 corridor.

It's also a piece of a bigger regional vision: a continuous shared-use path around the whole lake, known as the Tahoe Trail.

Is it approved?

No. This is the very first step. Scoping is the opening public comment period, used to decide which topics the environmental study should examine, such as wildlife, water quality and forest health.

The announcement didn't include a construction schedule, cost or funding plan, so anyone quoting a build date right now is guessing.

Key dates to put on your calendar

November 2, 5:30–7 p.m. — Public scoping meeting at the Tahoe City Public Utility District, 221 Fairway Drive, Tahoe City
November 12 — TRPA Advisory Planning Commission meeting (in person or livestream)
November 20 — Written comments due

Comments can go through TRPA's online form, by mail to TRPA at PO Box 5310, Stateline, NV 89449, or by email to the project contact listed in the notice.

Where Does Homewood's New Gondola Stand?

Homewood has had quite a ride. The resort stayed closed for the 2024-25 season, reopened for 2025-26, and then closed early on March 17, 2026, when weather cut the season short.

Crews began removing the historic Madden Chair right after closing. In its place, Homewood is installing an 8-passenger gondola that will run from the base area up to the site of a future Mid-Mountain Lodge.

The timeline so far

January 2025: TRPA approved Homewood's Master Plan amendment, which includes the gondola.
May 1, 2026: Gondola and snowmaking installation was scheduled to begin, KOLO 8 reported.
June 2026: Crews began pouring concrete for the first gondola tower, according to Unofficial Networks.
October 15, 2026: The target for finishing ground preparation, per the resort's general manager in the KOLO report.

The goal is to have the gondola ready for the 2026-27 season. As of this writing, though, Homewood hasn't announced an official opening day, and the resort is already selling 2026-27 season passes.

What else is in Homewood's plan?

According to the resort's own "Future" page, the Master Plan calls for:

A Mid-Mountain Lodge with dining, firepits and a summer pool
A high-speed quad to replace the Ellis Chair, plus a new learn-to-ski lift
A new snowmaking system
A village with shops, a grocery store, a cafe and an ice rink
Residences and a boutique hotel, whose sales are meant to help fund the ski upgrades
On-site employee housing and a Tahoe City–Homewood neighborhood shuttle

The resort's general manager told KOLO 8 that chalet sales were hoped for in later 2026, with construction on the next village phase expected sometime in 2027. No prices have been announced.

What Other West Shore Projects Wrapped Up This Fall?

Grading season is over

TRPA's grading and digging season for permitted projects closed on Thursday, October 15, 2026. Construction sites must stay winterized from October 15 to May 1 to protect lake clarity from sediment runoff.

The season reopens May 1, 2027. TRPA can grant exceptions only in special circumstances, such as health, safety or water quality emergencies.

Broadband along State Route 89

Caltrans and the California Department of Technology have been installing conduit and fiber for the El Dorado/Placer 50 & 89 Middle-Mile Broadband Network, which includes State Route 89 through El Dorado and Placer counties.

"Middle mile" is the backbone that local internet providers connect to. It doesn't bring service directly to your door, but it lays the groundwork for faster options down the road.

Trail rebuilds closer to Tahoe City

The Tahoe City Public Utility District rebuilt 2.4 miles of the West Shore trail between Sunnyside and Blackwood Creek in 2025. In 2026 it has been repaving roughly 1.4 miles between Sunnyside and 64-Acres, with work in its final stretch as of mid-September.

What Does West Shore Lake Tahoe 2026 Mean for Owners, Buyers and Sellers?

Infrastructure news rarely changes a home's value overnight. But it does shape how people live on the West Shore, and that's what buyers are really paying for.

For homeowners

If you live near Meeks Bay, Tahoma, Rubicon or the D.L. Bliss area, the trail study is your chance to weigh in on things like alignment, parking, privacy and stream protection.

Homewood owners can expect continued activity as the gondola and village phases move forward. Keep an eye on resort updates and Placer County notices.

If you have a project of your own, remember that permitted grading is paused until May 1, 2027. Make sure any site is properly winterized.

For buyers

Bike-and-walk access to beaches, Tahoe City and, someday, Emerald Bay is a lifestyle feature many buyers value. Ask how close a home is to the existing trail and the proposed extension.

If you're eyeing Homewood, ask about the Master Plan, future construction nearby, shuttle plans and how the new village could affect traffic and views.

And always confirm internet options for a specific address. Middle-mile fiber is promising, but last-mile service varies home to home.

For sellers

Proximity to the West Shore trail, Homewood and the lake are selling points. Mention them with accurate, current details rather than promises about future projects.

Plan your listing timeline around the season. Any exterior work that requires grading will need to wait until spring.

Your West Shore Fall Checklist

Mark November 2 and November 20 on your calendar if you want to comment on the trail extension study.
Read TRPA's Notice of Preparation to see the proposed scope.
Confirm any construction site on your property is winterized to TRPA guidelines.
Follow Homewood Mountain Resort's updates for gondola and opening day news.
Check with internet providers about current and planned service at your address.
Plan exterior projects that involve digging for after May 1, 2027.
Talk with a local agent before buying or selling about how nearby projects may affect a specific property.

The Bottom Line on the West Shore This Fall

The West Shore has always been Lake Tahoe's quieter, more old-Tahoe side. That's not changing, but access and amenities are slowly catching up.

A potential trail link to Emerald Bay, a new gondola at Homewood and better connectivity all add to the appeal of living between Tahoe City and D.L. Bliss.

If you're thinking about buying or selling on the West Shore, or anywhere around Lake Tahoe and Truckee, I'd love to help you understand what these changes mean for your home. Reach out anytime. I'm always happy to talk Tahoe.

Explore More Lake Tahoe Real Estate Insights

About Crystal Bauer

I'm Crystal Bauer, Certified Luxury Realtor® with eXp Realty, specializing in luxury residential real estate around Lake Tahoe and Truckee, Reno and Northern Nevada. From lakefront estates on the West Shore to mountain retreats near Homewood and Tahoe City, I help buyers and sellers make confident, well-informed moves in one of the most beautiful places in the country.

Visit Crystal's Property Connection

Crystal Bauer, REALTOR® | eXp Luxury
eXp Realty of California | CA DRE #02099002 | NV S.0196277
120 Country Club Dr #63, Incline Village, NV 89451
CA (530) 788-8251 | NV (775) 530-4747

Research Sources & Further Reading

South Tahoe Now — West Shore Trail extension study underway
https://southtahoenow.com/10/21/2026/west-shore-trail-extension-study-underway

Tahoe Regional Planning Agency — Tahoe Grading Season Ends October 15
https://www.trpa.gov/tahoe-grading-season-ends-october-15-2/

KOLO 8 News Now — Transformation of Homewood Mountain Resort underway
https://www.kolotv.com/2026/03/27/transformation-homewood-mountain-resort-underway/

Unofficial Networks — Concrete Pouring Begins for New Homewood Mountain Resort Gondola Towers
https://unofficialnetworks.com/2026/06/18/homewood-gondola-towers-concrete-pouring/

Homewood Mountain Resort — Future
https://skihomewood.com/future/

Homewood Mountain Resort — 2026 Season Passes
https://skihomewood.com/seasonpass/

Tahoe City Public Utility District — Multi-Use Trail Reconstruction Project
https://www.tcpud.org/WestShoreTrail

CEQAnet (State of California) — El Dorado/Placer 50 & 89 Middle-Mile Broadband Network Project
https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov/2025010140

South Tahoe Now — Construction season winding down in the Lake Tahoe Basin
https://southtahoenow.com/10/18/2026/construction-season-winding-down-in-the-lake-tahoe-basin

This article reflects information available October 23, 2026. Project plans, schedules and approvals can change; check with the agencies listed above for the latest details. Photo: Fabian Quintero on Unsplash.