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With sparkling sapphire waters and 72 miles of incredible shoreline, it’s no surprise that Lake Tahoe has some truly remarkable beaches. For a mountain getaway unlike many others, you’ll love a visit to Lake Tahoe. Known for great skiing in the winter, most people don’t realize just how great the beaches are here, too.
Nestled amongst towering pines and granite peaks, this alpine lake boasts a variety of beaches ripe for exploring. Some can only be accessed by boat or a trek to the shore. Some have large, sandy shores perfect for a beach day with the family and lounging in the sun.
Whether you’re looking for a great secluded beach in a secret cove or a beach that’s easy to reach with parking and plenty of amenities, Lake Tahoe has it all.
Here are the 9 best Lake Tahoe beaches:
1. Pope Beach
Pope Beach is a large sandy beach backed by pine trees located in South Lake Tahoe. It’s easily one of the best South Lake Tahoe beaches. Keep in mind though, it’s also one of the more popular beaches.
Pope Beach is a great beach for swimming, thanks to its gradual sloping sandy bottom and clean waters. You can also kayak or SUP here, and rentals are available from the beach!
The beach also has plenty of shade from the trees, along with picnic tables and grills- making it the perfect Lake Tahoe Beach for a family/group grill or beach day.
If you’re looking for a beach with plenty of amenities, Pope Beach has you covered- in addition to public restrooms, there is a mobile concession stand where you can buy drinks and snacks.
Pope Beach can easily be reached by driving, although there is an $8 parking fee. The lot tends to fill up on summer weekends, so it’s best to arrive before 9 am or after 3 pm to secure a spot.
Alternatively, you can walk to Pope Beach from Camp Richardson, or by biking on the Pope-Baldwin bike path.
2. Lakeside Beach
Lakeside Beach is located right next to Stateline, on the California side of South Lake Tahoe. It’s a beautiful, open, sandy beach that’s great for both watersports, and relaxing on the beach.
Aside from the hot sand and clear waters, the best thing about Lakeside Beach is all the amenities offered. At this Lake Tahoe beach, you’ll find a lifeguard on duty, a volleyball net, picnic tables, clean bathrooms, benches, and picnic tables. If you didn’t bring your own, or underestimated the hot Tahoe sun, umbrellas and beach chairs are available to rent.
If you’re interested in water sports, this is one of the best beaches you can go to. At the neighboring marina, you can rent not only kayaks and paddle boards, but also jet skis!
Lakeside Beach is very easy to reach and offers free parking. However, since it’s technically a private beach, there is a fee for the public to enter the beach. At $25/person it’s not cheap, but the money does go to keeping Lakeside Beach one of the cleanest and best-equipped in Lake Tahoe.
3. Sand Harbor
Sand Harbor is located on the northeast shore of Lake Tahoe, on the Nevada side of the lake. It’s just south of Incline Village and is widely considered the most beautiful beach in all of Lake Tahoe.
Sand Harbor is very unique from other Lake Tahoe Beaches. It’s not great for lounging in the sand, but it’s perfect for exploring in the water! The water here is some of the clearest on Tahoe’s shoreline, and it’s full of interesting rock formations to explore. Since the water here is so clear, it’s excellent for snorkeling and scuba diving!
It’s also a great spot to kayak, and you can rent kayaks, sailing kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards from Clearly Tahoe rentals.
Sand Harbor isn’t just great for water activities- the beach also has a nice picnic space amongst the Jeffrey Pine Trees with tables and grills. Public bathrooms are also available.
It’s also one of the few Lake Tahoe beaches that’s open year-round, and it’s quite scenic in the winter while covered in snow! In the winter, you can even take a sleigh ride here with Sand Harbor Sleigh Rides.
Visitors get to Sand Harbor by driving, and the beach has its own parking lot. Entry fees to the beach are included in the parking fee which is $10 for NV vehicles and $15 for all others. If you’re visiting in the summer, you’ll want to arrive early, because you are not allowed to park anywhere but the parking lot to access this beach due to safety reasons.
If you can’t find parking for Sand Harbor, the only other option for entry is to bike in which has a $2 fee.
4. Bliss Beach
Bliss Beach is right up there with Sand Harbor as a contender for the most beautiful beach in Lake Tahoe. Located in D.L. Bliss State Park, Bliss Beach actually consists of two beaches: Lester Beach and Calloway Cove.
Lester Beach is the pleasant, sandy, sunny, northern part of the beach, and Calloway Cove is a beautiful rocky cove with great views of the lake.
To get to Bliss Beach you can drive to the State Park, pay a $10 parking fee, and walk to the beach. If the parking lot is full (and it usually is by 11 am in the summer) the only way to get to the beach is to park up at Highway 89 and hike down to the beach.
The State Park has picnic tables, bathrooms, and showers beach-goers can use, but no restaurants, so be sure to bring plenty of food! There’s also a handful of hiking trails in this park, if you’d like some added exercise on your beach trip.
D.L. Bliss State Park is located right above Emerald Bay, on the Southwest, California side of the lake. It’s not far from Vikingsholm Castle, which is worth the visit if you’re in the area.
5. Kings Beach
King’s Beach is not only one of the best beaches on North Lake Tahoe, but it’s also the lake’s largest public beach!
This spacious, white sand beach is located on Tahoe’s North Shore, right on the California side of Stateline. Thanks to the beach’s south-facing shores, Kings Beach holds the title of the warmest beach for swimming in all of Tahoe.
Even though Kings Beach is very popular, it’s so big that it can handle a crowd, and you shouldn’t have a hard time finding your own space to relax on the beach.
BBQs and picnic tables are available on a first-come, first-served basis, along with public bathrooms, volleyball courts, and a big children’s playground overlooking the gorgeous alpine lake.
Kings Beach also has a great location- it runs adjacent to many restaurants and shops, so if you get hungry, you’re only a short walk away from some food!
Kings Beach is free to visit, but it does have a parking fee of $10 in the summer, and $5 in the winter.
6. Commons Beach
Commons Beach is part of a 4-acre park located on the west shore of the lake, in Tahoe City, California.
This large beach is free to visit, easy to drive to, and also offers free parking, but it does get quite crowded on weekends in the summer, and the lot can fill up.
Commons Beach is very popular with sunbathers and families- there is a children’s playground in the park, and the water is very shallow (not great for swimming).
One of the best things about Commons Beach is all of the events hosted there. In the summers there are free Wednesday movie nights and concerts on Sundays, along with farmers’ markets hosted frequently.
Commons Beach also has a nice picnic area with tables and bbq pits, along with public restrooms and a lovely waterfront trail.
7. Hidden Beach
If you’re looking for a more secluded beach in Lake Tahoe, Hidden Beach is the place to go. This free beach is located just outside of Incline Village, Nevada on Lake Tahoe’s North Shore.
To get there, you have to park in Incline Village and hike 1 mile to the beach. Once you arrive, you won’t find any amenities like bathrooms or concessions, but you will find a private, secluded beach with rocky coves and outlets.
The water at Hidden Beach is incredibly clear, and it’s an amazing place to swim and enjoy the solitude of the lake. If you want to spend more time here, it’s a good idea to pack plenty of food, water, and even some inflatables to float on!
It’s important to keep in mind that Hidden Beach doesn’t have any facilities, including trash cans, so be sure to take everything you bring to the beach back with you, especially trash.
8. Kiva Beach
If you’re looking for a dog-friendly beach in Lake Tahoe, Kiva Beach is your best bet. This large, sandy beach welcomes all dogs to run around and play, as long as they’re wearing a leash while they’re on the sand. If your dog is swimming in the water, they don’t need a leash.
Do keep in mind that the marsh next to Kiva Beach has a very fragile ecosystem and is closed off to both dogs and their owners.
Kiva Beach is located in South Lake Tahoe, California, right next to Camp Richardson, and has a free parking area that’s a few hundred meters away from the beach. There are restrooms at the parking lot, and picnic tables available for use at the beach.
Kiva Beach also has some absolutely incredible views of Mount Tallac.
9. Nevada Beach
Nevada Beach is another of the most scenic and beautiful beaches in Lake Tahoe. As the name suggests, this beach is located in Nevada on the southeast shore of the lake, about 2 miles north of Stateline.
Visitors can drive in and park at the neighboring campsite to access this beach for a $10 fee per vehicle. Alternatively, you can hike to Nevada Beach via the Lam Watah Nature Trail for free.
With a half mile of sandy beach, there is plenty of space to relax on the beach and take in the incredible views of the mountain peaks in the distance. If you’re interested in kayaking, Nevada Beach has rentals available, in addition to other amenities like public bathrooms and a food concession stand.
Tucked away in the shade, this beach also has several picnic tables and grill spaces. It’s important to keep in mind though that this beach, and most outdoor spaces in Tahoe only allow propane grills, not wood and charcoal, due to severe fire hazards.
If you want to bring your dogs along, Nevada Beach has a small portion of the beach that is dog friendly, making it another good dog-friendly beach option.
Enjoy Lake Tahoe’s Best Beaches
There are so many incredible beaches to enjoy in Lake Tahoe. The bright blue water and impressive backdrop of the mountains make for great views, no matter which beach you visit. Whether you’re interested in swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, or having a beach picnic, there’s a Lake Tahoe beach for you.
Just be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, as the sun at this altitude can be surprisingly strong!
Featured Image Credit: topseller
