Lake Tahoe – East Shore Bike Path and Exploration
Did you know Lake Tahoe has an easily accessible, paved, lake-side bike path?! It was under construction for what felt like years, but now there is an incredibly gorgeous bike path that connects Incline Village and Sand Harbor. It’s on the east side of the lake and aptly named the East Shore Trail. I’ll be referring to it as the East Shore Bike Path because it is a multi-use paved path that is 10 ft wide and 3-miles long.
During the height of summer, in mid-August 2020, I went to check it out. Yes, it was busy, but it was also a lovely way to explore the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe. Our ride featured complete protection from cars, a few tunnels, lake views galore, pull-out areas featuring informational plaques about the area, and beach access points. Without further ado, let’s get riding!
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Let’s Get in the Saddle
You can start at either side of the East Shore Bike Path – at Sand Harbor or on the Incline Village near Ponderosa Ranch Road. Sand Harbor is notoriously busy, so you might have better luck finding parking on the Incline Village side. There are 90 new paid-parking spots on the Incline Village side, and the proceeds go to the maintenance of the path. This is where we started and lathered up the sunscreen. From this parking area, you start up on the mountainside of the road with a big hill! The hill will get your legs warmed up and ready to take on the rest of the bike path – hah.
There were a few more rolling hills before the path had a fun, long, gently sloping downhill. At the bottom of the hill, you’ll pass through a tunnel, which goes under the road. The rest of the bike path will be on the lake-side of the road. Right at this spot, there is “Hidden Beach,” where MANY families stopped to enjoy the lake and sand. There was also a little stand with bike tools available for public use – very cool!
East Shore Bike Path
After the tunnel and on the lake-side of the road is where the views of Lake Tahoe were particularly incredible. Sometimes, trees obscured the lake, but then there would be an opening to the gorgeous blue waters framed by pine trees – who doesn’t love an alpine lake view?! The path was also much flatter on the lake-side of the road. We passed over a few bridges and saw signs for beach access points.
It felt like we were flying while on the flatter segments of the bike path. At the same time, I attempted to soak in the views. Every so often, there was more space with informational plaques. These areas allowed us to pull over and out of the way if we wanted to see something or where we passed pedestrians and other bikers. There were so many little coves that we started to crave a dip in the lake.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would definitely go again
- Intensity: Casual clothes that you can bike in
- Location: The bike path is 3 miles in length from Incline Village to Sand Harbor
- Cost: Free to use, not free to park. We went well beyond the parking lots to grab some free parking.
- Restrooms: There are some at Sand Harbor, but there were no restrooms available for public use at the time we went.
- Timing: 3 – 4 hours
- Distance: You can go as far as you like! We did the entire length, with a little bit of
- extra exploring for a total of 6.62 miles
- Elevation Gain: THERE ARE HILLS! Expect some climbs and fun downhills. We saw plenty of families on bikes, so you don’t need to be a professional to bike this path. Our elevation gain was 442 ft.
Highlights:
- This section of Lake Tahoe is gorgeous, and it was a delight to bike along the lake.
- Opportunity to explore less busy beach access points. So once you are heated up while biking, you can cool off by taking a dip in the lake.
- It was great to have protection from cars and be on a paved bike path as someone who hasn’t biked in a while.
Lowlights:
- The East Shore Trail is a popular trail/path! It thinned out the further we got from the Incline Village, but we were dodging and weaving the entire time. Don’t expect to go fast or have it to yourself, and you’ll be fine.
Having a Lake Tahoe Mermaid Moment
We made it to Sand Harbor before backtracking and finding a cove to explore. After heading north, we decided to explore the nearest little unnamed peninsula. We had it entirely to ourselves, except for the odd kayaker from Sand Harbor. Changing into our swimsuits, we took the plunge into the freezing Lake Tahoe water. It was a shock, but it felt amazing after getting so hot on our bike ride. There was a rock just off-shore that felt would make the perfect mermaid moment,
After being chilled and taking a leisurely break, I felt ready to bike back. We changed back into our clothes, made the short hike back to our bikes, and got back in the saddle. The ride back to our car was equally delightful as when we started. There is a long uphill climb to tackle, but the downhill to the finish makes it all worthwhile!
There are insanely gorgeous cabins on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe, but they are also very private with walls and gates, making the lake almost entirely inaccessible for a stretch. I love that the East Shore Bike Path allows the public to experience this area of Lake Tahoe while also getting a workout.
Where to Rent Bikes
I explored the East Shore Bike Path while on a family vacation and borrowed my parent’s bikes on this day! They brought the bikes with them, so we didn’t need to rent any. However, here are a few places to check out in the area:
- Flume Trail Bikes – Primarily rents mountain bikes for the Flume Trail; this place also has a few bike options to ride the East Shore Trail. I’m listing them first because the location cannot be beaten – right at one end of the East Shore Bike Path!
- Vista Trail Bikes – Cruisers and electric bikes are available in the middle of the North Shore at Vista Trail Bikes.
- Bay City Bikes – Although based in the Bay Area, this place has a North Shore location with various bikes to choose from, including city bikes, electric bikes, and mountain bikes.
I had called both Vista Trail and Bay City Bikes to see if they had any tandem bikes, which I thought would be super fun to take on the bike path, but no luck! Let me know in the comments if you use any of these bike rental places so I can update this blog post and give better recommendations!
East Shore Bike Path – What to Bring With You
You can make your journey on the East Shore bike path as casual or intense as you like. Here are a few things I recommend taking with you in a backpack.
- An early start will help avoid some of the crowds.
- Tennis shoes that are comfortable to bike in
- Plenty of water for the entire trip
- Snacks and food
- Towel and swimsuit if you plan to take a dip in the lake
- Sunscreen – I use this sunscreen for my face, and this one for my body
- Small tripod for photos
Other Things to do at Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a loved and familiar destination for me and my family. Here are other activities that I’ve done in the area (I will link to these activities as I publish them):
- Maggie’s Peak Hike – Tough Hike with Incredible Views
- Rubicon Trail – Connecting Emerald Bay and DL Bliss State Park
- Cave Rock – Short Hike on the Southeast Shore
- My Favorite Lake Tahoe Beaches
Overall Thoughts: East Shore Bike Path
Honestly, I was a little shocked at how well-thought-out the East Shore Bike Path was. There were a couple of spots with tools for bike emergencies, places to lock up bikes and access the lake, tunnels to go under the road, and railings for car protection. And the design of the bike path fits really well with the natural landscape. It’s crazy to think that Lake Tahoe was primarily a gambling destination during summer in the past because it has totally become an outdoorsy destination with more ways to be outside with the whole family. I had a delightful morning on the East Shore Bike Path and cannot wait to see how it develops next!
I’m always looking for more activities to do around Lake Tahoe because I end up going roughly every year. What should I check out next?? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
