Little Truckee Ice Creamery - Experience Quality, Handcrafted Ice Cream in Reno, Lake Tahoe, & Truckee

Locations

*Downtown Truckee (featured in post)

10157 Donner Pass Rd.
Truckee, CA 96161

*Donner Lake 
15628 Donner Pass Rd
Truckee, CA 96161

*Downtown Tahoe City

North Lake Tahoe Visitor's Center Parking Lot

100 N Lake Blvd, Tahoe City, CA 96145

*Northwest Reno

1650 Robb Dr Ste B4, Reno, NV 89523

Website

Instagram

The moment I tasted this ice cream, I knew I had to tell the whole world how amazing it is! Honestly, it's some of the best in the Reno-Tahoe area... scratch that, it's some of the best ice cream anywhere! Creamy, rich, and packed with flavor, and most importantly, fresh as can be.  I can never get enough of it, and I always find myself craving this stuff as soon as I'm done with my serving. I used to drive to their shops in Truckee, even though it's pretty far from Reno. Then, one day, the ice cream Gods answered a call and poof, they magically appeared at the old Rita's Italian Ice location in Northwest Reno.  Can't love this shop more.

Little Truckee Ice Creamery serves up all the classic flavors you crave, crafted with care and top-notch ingredients, plus some unique options, like Truckee Trails, that's made with a pine nut brittle, caramel, and house made brownies in a sweet cream base, that really stand out.

Locations

-Donner Location: Right next to Donner Lake & Donner Memorial State Park ($10 day-use fee) - both gems filled with natural beauty and endless things to do. Camp, kayak, paddleboard, pedal boat, hike, or just lounge on the unique, almost private patches of shoreline while enjoying a nearby BBQ picnic.  There's absolutely nothing more satisfying than spending a whole day at the beach and later topping it off with the best ice cream.

-Downtown Truckee: Truckee is one of the most charming alpine towns that has the best views and vibes.  Catch the ice cream trailer on the main street and enjoy a scoop or two with a magnificent backdrop of evergreen trees and a bustling strip of shops, boutiques, and restaurants.

-Tahoe City: Just about a 20-minute drive away from Truckee, you’ll find this neighborhood gem, another strip of charming shops and restaurants right by the shore that goes by the name of Tahoe City. The ice cream truck is usually parked in the Cobblestone Center’s lot, but has since moved to the lot next to the visitor's center, right next to the Common's Beach parking lot.  Common's Beach is one of my top 10 hidden beaches in Tahoe where you can enjoy seasonal markets, movies on the beach, events, an epic playground, watersports rentals, and more.   At Cobblestone Center, enjoy dining and live entertainment at Tahoe Tap House, catch a movie, and browse some really cool boutique shops.  The beach is across the street of Cobblestone Center.

-Northwest Reno: Located at one of the last Reno exits (Robb Dr.) before ascending on 80W to Truckee.  This stop is a great location to visit while heading in and out of town.  It's conveniently located next to another favorite local spot - Inclined Burgers & Brews.  Craft burgers, fries, and ice cream?!?... sounds like the perfect meal & day to me.

Now, back to the ice cream...

All of their flavors are incredible.

-Blueberry Honey Lavender: Fresh and delicious, with the honey and lavender taking center stage while the blueberry adds a subtle touch. Every bite had me saying, "YUM!"

-Truckee Trails: Pine nut brittle and brownie in sweet ice cream marbled with caramel.  Hands down my favorite flavor! This OUT OF THIS WORLD foodie dream combines crunchy, flavorful brittle with brownie and ice cream, with pine nuts adding a warm, nutty tone that plays perfectly with the other ingredients. The pine nuts are a fitting touch, considering Lake Tahoe is surrounded by tons of pine trees.

-Chocolate Brownie: A sophisticated treat with RICH & INTENSE chocolate flavor and homemade brownies for extra flavor & texture.

-Salted Caramel: It's a popular flavor everywhere for good reason.  Theirs is no exception.

-Strawberry Lemonade: Super refreshing & the perfect non-dairy option.

-Spooner Strawberry: Clean and fresh with supreme strawberry flavor.

-Mountain Top Mint Chip - mint flavor not too overpowering, loaded with chocolate chips.  No artificial dyes.

-Cookies & Cream - OMG good!  Loaded with cookies and that classic oreo flavor. And they don't skimp.

They even have vegan options, like roasted coconut - a coconut milk base with toasted coconut and chocolate shavings, and rotating selection of sorbets. 

I could keep on going on about their other flavors.  I've tried all of them, but you get the picture.

As someone who cooks at home all the time, I know that simple ingredients can be elevated with quality & care. Little Truckee Ice Creamery nails this, achieving a perfect balance between mouth feel, sweetness, and flavor that’s hard to get right.

Topping Options
Brownies, cookies, coconut, chocolate/caramel sauce, nuts, cherries, chocolate chips.


Seating
-Limited seating at the Downtown Truckee location.
-Outdoor patio seating at Donner.
-No seating at the Downtown Tahoe City location, but you can easily enjoy your treat right down the street at Common's Beach.
-Indoor seating available at the Northwest location.


NOTES
-If you're celebrating a special occasion, or just celebrating life, their brownie sundae is the ultimate indulgence. It’s huge & so perfect for sharing!
-In a single scoop, you're allowed to pick two flavors.
-They offer a mini option, perfect for kids or if you just want to sample a few flavors.
-Espresso available at the Donner & Reno location for affogatos.
-If you're planning to camp at Donner State Memorial Park (nearby), make sure to book well in advance. Those campsites fill up fast!
-Watch out for specials on pints throughout the year.

Prices as of 2020

Categorized under "Good Eats"

Dazzle Your Taste Buds at Icecycle Creamery & Pedaler's Deli in Reno

6147 Lakeside Dr. Suite 102
Reno, NV, 89511

Instagram

Yelp
Website

Icecycle Creamery is where you go for the most adventurous flavors in town. Along with ice cream, they serve fresh and tasty sandwiches with bread made in house, salads, comforting soups, and drinks.

Some crowd favorites like Cookie Roulette, Chocolate, and Home Means Nevada are staples you will almost always find in the case. If you are feeling adventurous, check out their rotating unique flavors such as Lemon Lavender, Horchata, Earl Grey, Salted Pretzel, Apple Pie, Mango Cardamom, and a variety of Asian inspired options.

The original owner of the shop, Jeremy, started out selling his ice cream from the back of his bike out of a cooler. After a ton of encouragement, he opened a brick and mortar shop. When it was time for him to focus on other goals, he passed the business to Juan, who is still keeping Jeremy’s bold, amazing flavors alive with just as much passion. Juan has even added his own twist, introducing flavors inspired by his Mexican culture, like a mango tajin flavor that will remind you of those delicious and highly sought after mangonada drinks from Mexican snack shops.

Did I mention how awesome Juan is? He kept my three high energy kids entertained for quite a while, and if you are a parent, you know how challenging that can be. Beyond that, he is just a genuinely nice person, dedicated to creating fun, flavorful ice cream and food for the whole community to enjoy.  Fun Fact:  Juan used to work for De La Rosa in Mexico when he was a kid.

Everything here is made in house, and I love the deli and ice cream combo because it satisfies both hot and cold cravings year round.

With so many unique ice cream flavors to choose from, you might find yourself unsure of what to get. In that case, I recommend trying their six flavor flight, perfect for a foodie adventure.

Prime location, quality products, awesome service, and adventurous flavors. Always a good time at Icecycle Creamery.

Notes
*Pints available for purchase
*They have an actual espresso machine on hand. Affogato anyone?
*Deli closes an hour before closing 
*Deli features hot and cold sandwiches, salads, and drinks, including beer
*Bartley Ranch Park is just a minute drive away - the perfect outdoor spot to enjoy your food and drink. Grassy areas, picnic tables, restrooms, nature trail, visitor center, and views included.

***All opinions are my own.  Information subject to change.***

Categorized under "Good Eats"