Golden sand beaches and clear turquoise water… which is also freezing! Lake Tahoe’s beaches are stunning, with a dash of shockingly cold water. Don’t worry, the water feels great on a hot day. Over the last ten years, I’ve visited Lake Tahoe about six times and discovered my favorite beaches. There is more to find, but I wanted to start a blog post with my favorite Lake Tahoe beaches, which I can add if I feel there is another strong favorite.
Unfortunately, Lake Tahoe has become such a popular summer destination that you are either paying to park close to the beach or street parking with a hike to get to the water. And even if there is a parking area, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get a parking spot. Many places run out of space during summer, so you’ll want to get an early start to secure your spot. It might feel strange to rush out of the cabin to relax on the beach, but the calm morning waters will be worthwhile! For directions to each beach, pop the name of the beach into GoogleMaps.
I’m writing this in 2021, and I’m wondering how crowded the beaches will be once international travel is available once again. Will people travel farther? Or will the crowds continue in the future? Let me know in the comments at the bottom of this post!
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Sand Harbor – Nevada, Northeast, Pay to Park
When I think about Lake Tahoe beaches, Sand Harbor immediately comes to mind. As the name suggests, this harbor features a long sandy beach with glassy, protected water in the mornings. There are bathrooms, kayak rentals/paddleboard rentals, and even a snack area (which was not open during the pandemic). Situated on the northeastern shore of Lake Tahoe, either side of Sand Harbor is a series of rocky coves, ideal for exploring on a paddleboard or kayak. It always shocks me at how clear the water is. First, a light greenish color near the shore, then to a deep turquoise as you paddle into deeper waters.
The downside is how popular Sand Harbor has become. The extensive parking areas have made it so you must be ready to jump out and claim a spot when you arrive if you want to be closer to the water. That is if you can get in. When we visited in August 2020 (peak season), there was a massive line to get in during the morning. There was a couple of police officers around to direct traffic. Also, the cost to enter Sand Harbor is $10.00 per vehicle.
Sand Harbor, Nevada State Park Website – Click Here.
D.L. Bliss State Park Beaches – California, West, Pay to Park
During the last couple of visits to Lake Tahoe, I’ve fallen deeper in love with the beaches of D.L Bliss State Park. The state park includes two beaches – Lester Beach and Calawee Beach. You can park immediately next to Lester Beach, which is a rectangular stretch of sand. What’s interesting about Lester Beach is that there is a rope on one side to designate the end of the state beach and where private property begins. Unlike ocean beaches, I forget that not all of Lake Tahoe’s beaches are public property. The entrance fee to the state park is $10.00 per vehicle, and keep in mind there is a 3-mile drive from the entrance to the beaches. The State Park will no longer allow vehicles to enter when the parking areas are full. To see the D.L. Bliss State Park Website click here.
Down the road is Calawee beach, a mini harbor with sand and rocks on either side. It feels like a natural hidden paradise. It is stunning. Due to the minimal parking at both Lester and Calawee beaches, the beaches never feel too crowded, which is fantastic. Honestly, the lack of crowds might push Calawee and Lester Beaches to my absolute favorite in Lake Tahoe.
Pair this the Rubicon Trail hike, and you’ve got yourself an incredible little day. Check out ALL the details in the Rubicon Hiking blog post I wrote.
Kings Beach – California, North, Pay to Park
Now I couldn’t list my favorite Lake Tahoe beaches without an option on the north shore! In September 2018, I visited Kings Beach three or four times in one weekend. Not far past the state line in California, this is a public beach with parking available. Since I visited in the fall, hardly anyone was around! We had the sandy beach entirely to ourselves, which felt surreal. There are some pine trees and picnic tables that separate the parking area from the beach.
Click Here for the Kings Beach State Park website.
Skunk Harbor – Nevada, East, Free Parking but a Hike, Nudist Warning
Okay, now that I’ve talked about a few accessible paid parking beaches, I wanted to share a couple of hike-in beaches. There are many unmarked areas around Lake Tahoe that you can park and make your way down to the lake level. These are not easy to find as they are unmarked and typically have rocky shores rather than sandy ones. Although a little rocky, I find these to be beautiful in their way and more secluded. Parking on the side of the highway, this hike was a good 1.4 mile-long walk down a fire road to the lake. Since it is on a fire-road, it was a consistent decline to the lake. For more details about this hike, head to the AllTrails page here.
The harbor itself is gorgeous, with a few little sandy coves surrounded by boulders and pine trees. We swam and dried off on the rocks in the late evening. Boats will park in this harbor, which included some nudity, so I wouldn’t recommend these secluded coves for families! Be sure you’re entirely chilled before you hike up because the hike back to the road will get you heated.
Other secluded beaches in this area include Secret Beach and Chimney Beach, which I have yet to visit.
Bonsai Rock – Nevada, East, Free Parking but a Hike
Not so much a beach, Bonsai Rock is more of a scenic point of interest that might now be most easily accessible by the water. The name comes from a small tree that is somewhat miraculously growing from the split in a rock off the lakeside. You used to park on the side of the highway and make a very short hike down to the water level and see the bonsai rock. I include this point of interest in my round-up because it is gorgeous. The water here is a vibrant light turquoise color with boulders dotted throughout the water.
In August 2020, I noticed a lot of construction happening around the Sand Harbor Area. I am unclear if the parking near bonsai rock is even available. When I visited in March 2018, there were only like 2.5 spots, so I’m sure that it was causing issues for passing traffic. Even without the construction, I wouldn’t visit in summer unless it is for sunrise. Another way to see is by water! You can rent a kayak or paddleboard from Sand Harbor. I recommend a minimum of 2 hours to be able to paddle there and back.
Round Hill Pine (Southeast) and Pope Beach (South) – California, Southeast, Pay to Park
A couple of family-friendly beaches that my family regularly visits are Round Hill Pine and Pope Beach. Both require paid parking and have large sandy beaches. The Round Hill Pine Beach is part of the Round Hill Pine resort, so it has a little bit more to offer in terms of kayak/paddleboard rentals, food, and a beachside bar.
My family also visited Pope Beach while I went to explore the East Shore Bike Path. They thought of Pope beach as perfectly lovely. They liked that it had pine trees nearby, which provided shade. Nearby, Baldwin beach does not have any shade trees.
Overall Thoughts: My Favorite Lake Tahoe Beaches
It’s hard for me to imagine going to Lake Tahoe for a vacation without spending at least some time down by the lake at one of my favorite beaches. And luckily, there is a variety of beaches on each side of the lake, depending on your preferred experience. One way to guarantee fewer people and spectacular views at the beach is to head in the late evening, before the sunset! The sunsets in Lake Tahoe are breathtaking and worth the effort to witness at least once during a vacation.
Don’t forget to check out my list of other things to do in Lake Tahoe:
- 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
- East Shore Bike Path – Bike and Swim in Lake Tahoe
What’s your favorite Lake Tahoe beach? Did I miss any special ones? Let me and other travelers know in the comments which beaches I should visit in the future.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
