Planning your first visit to Lake Tahoe?
Read on so you can make the best of your trip and avoid the frustrations I had on my first visit.
Two very important things to keep in mind:
- Lake Tahoe gets insanely crowded in the summer
- Parking is difficult and expensive
Perhaps you have the same idea I had, thinking you can visit various areas of the lake on the same day. Technically this would be possible, even with summer traffic one can drive around Lake Tahoe in about 2-3 hours, however accessing the shores of the lake is not easy. Most beaches have very limited parking and fill up in the morning. It is also expensive to hop from beach to beach as the parking pass needs to be paid for the entire day and is only valid at the beach where it was bought.
The only exception to this is on the California side of Lake Tahoe for the beaches that are part of the State Park system and only if you are camping in one of the state park campgrounds. If you do have a campsite reservation you can park at any of the beaches that are part of the California Sate Parks for free and go in and out as you please. As long as there is parking available.
The Nevada side of Lake Tahoe has been more prominently featured in social media posts for areas with giant boulders and coves which many consider more photogenic and unique.
Accessing these beaches is especially competitive in the summer month. You better be there before 9am to snag a spot or be prepared to wait in line for up to an hour or longer and risk getting turned away once the parking lot gets full.
Plan your day in such ways that you do not need to leave the beach, except when you are ready to give it up for the day because parking really is the largest hassle around Lake Tahoe. It is true not only by the lake’s beaches but also in areas with restaurants and shops right around the lake. Pack a large dose of patience and head out to eat way before you are absolutely starving.
On my first visit last year I had booked two nights in a hotel for the first nights and had the rest of my time there in a campground. It was so much easier and more relaxing staying at the campground because of the perks I mentioned above regarding free parking and beach hopping at California State Parks beaches, which I found are just as beautiful as the well known ones on the Nevada side, and some also have huge boulders.
To have the most relaxing trip:
- Book a house/cottage that includes its own parking and is walking distance to the beach of your choice; or
- Stay at a campground that is part of the California State Parks
Another thing to note is that on many parts around the lake, the road is much higher up and there is quite a bit of walking required from the parking lots down to the beach. Keep this in mind when you consider which beach you want to go to and how much stuff you need to carry down to the beach.
Locations Around Lake Tahoe You Might Want to Stop By:
South Lake Tahoe
Located within California right by the Nevada border, it might be your first access point to Lake Tahoe if you are driving from the south. This is a very busy area, there are hotels, restaurants and bars but it is also a residential area so you will find banks, grocery stores, pharmacies and other necessities easily around here. There is also a Whole Foods here, a good spot to get some groceries before you drive on to your cabin or campground. Do keep in mind though there are many bears living around Lake Tahoe and they often visit campsites so store your food in the bear proof containers.
In South Lake Tahoe you’ll find Pope Beach, one of the very easily accessible beaches, where the beach and the rest of the ground are almost on the same level. There is a fairly large parking lot right by Pope Beach, with a set daily use fee, and free if you go in the evening.
There are kayak rentals on the beach.
This is a pet free beach, remember that in case you have your furry friend with you.
Going east along the California shoreline of Lake Tahoe is Emerald Bay. There are a few areas here definitely worth checking out:
Inspiration Point– is an elevated area with amazing views of Emerald Bay and the entire lake, and a wonderful spot to catch the sunrise. There is a small parking lot right by the designated viewpoint. This is a paid parking lot during the daytime even though it is just a viewpoint and there is really not much to do here once you check out the view and perhaps take some photos. If you are so inclined you might try stopping along the road for a few minutes if you find an open spot, although the road is narrow and if I remember correctly parking is not allowed so keep close to you car and move on after you snap your photos.
Emerald Bay State Park– has a beautiful beach and a campground. Along its shore is Vikingsholm, an old mansion designed by a Swedish architect and completed in 1929. The mansion is open for tours during the summer time. Parking is at the Emerald Bay State Park Lookout, it is free and there is a fairly steep trail that goes down to the beach from here.
Even if you don’t plan on making the track down to Vikingsholm, stopping at the Emerald Bay Lookout is a must. The views over Lake Tahoe are stunning. You’ll also get the best view of Fannette Island and the little tea house built on it. Plus there is a visitor center just up the road where rangers can answer all your questions about the area.
Across from the Emerald Bay State Park Lookout parking lot is the parking for the Eagle Falls Trailhead. This is a small parking lot and during the summer it is almost always full. If you are very keen on making the hike to the falls or at least to the viewpoint come early in the morning or be prepared to wait around until a spot opens up.
Continuing up north, very close to Emerald Bay State Park is DL Bliss State Park, with several campgrounds very near the shore. In this area you’ll find Rubicon Point, Calawee Cove and Lester Beach, some of the most scenic beaches, in my opinion, on the California side of Lake Tahoe. If you are looking to kayak or paddleboard among giant boulders you see in many photos taken at Lake Tahoe, this area on the California side is the most similar to the ones on the Nevada shoreline.
A little further north are Meeks Bay and Sugar Point State Park, these too offering camping and beautiful beaches.
The stretch between Emerald Bay and approximately Tahoma is the “wildest” area around Lake Tahoe. This is where you’ll find the least number of businesses, and those few that operate here are tucked away among the trees.
Going further up north along the California side of Lake Tahoe is the town of Tahoma right by the shore of Lake Tahoe. There are a few restaurants and coffee shops here. From around here and going north towards Tahoe Pines the lake and the land surrounding it are almost on the same level so it offers the easiest access.
If you can snag a house or cabin to rent here you will have very easy access to the lake and you’ll be able to walk to dinner to the local establishments.
As you go further up north, it gets busier, there are several beaches next to each other and the area is more developed commercially all the way to the Nevada border and well past it. This means you have many options for stays, restaurants, bars, shops, however it also means bumper to bumper traffic at most times of the day during the summer.
The areas you might have seen most often highlighted in social media posts such as Sand Harbor, Bonsai Rock, Chimney Beach, Zephyr Cove, are located on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. These are all very busy beaches and you need to be there early in the morning to get parking.
From what I have see on my visit most well known uber popular beaches are full by 10am/11am, some even earlier. You can always try smaller lesser known ones if you snooze and get turned away at a popular beach.
