If you haven’t been to Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks, chances are you’ve seen them in pictures. The parks are home to some of the most beautiful and recognizable scenery in Lake Tahoe, including Sand Harbor, Cave Rock and Spooner Lake. Seeing these sites for yourself would be reason enough to visit, but Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks are more than just easy on the eyes — they’re packed with great hiking trails, dive parks, campsites, fishing spots and long, sandy beaches.
Keep reading to learn more about Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks and why you should visit them.
Where are Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks?
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks are home to four unique recreation areas: Sand Harbor State Park, Spooner Lake and Spooner Backcountry, Cave Rock State Park and Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Between the four locations, you’ll find some of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe year-round, including cross-country skiing, back-country camping and kayaking.
What to do at Sand Harbor State Park
Sandy beaches, clear turquoise water and large boulders jutting from the lake make Sand Harbor State Park one of the most alluring places in Lake Tahoe. On the 2,500-foot-long Main Beach, you’ll find visitors sunbathing, swimming and playing on the sand. There’s a smaller beach just north of the Visitor Center. The park hosts two boat launches (please note watercraft inspections are required prior to arrival to help prevent invasive species from contaminating the lake). Kayaks and paddleboards can be rented from Clearly Tahoe adjacent to the Visitor Center.
Hiking trails include two gorgeous, wheelchair-accessible paths. The first is Sand Harbor Nature Trail, a half-mile trek on a boardwalk leading from the Visitor Center to a viewpoint above Diver’s Cove. The second is the three-mile paved Tahoe East Shore Trail, leading from the park to Incline Village. The path is filled with exquisite scenery and access points to several smaller beaches and coves.
On select evenings in July and August, the popular Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival takes place at the amphitheater in front of Main Beach. The lineup is diverse — in addition to Shakespeare, past programs have included Broadway musicals, tribute bands, ballets and orchestral performances. Tickets sell out fast so be sure to reserve yours in advance.
Visitors should be aware that Sand Harbor State Park is one of the most popular places in Lake Tahoe. The gates shut as soon as the parking lot fills up. On busy days, specifically from Memorial Day until Labor Day, this may happen as early as 9 a.m. Be there when the gates open at 8 a.m. (or preferably earlier) for the best chance of entry during peak season. If you miss out, the gates typically open again in the late afternoon, so you’ll probably have better luck if you return around 5 p.m. Pets are only allowed off season, from mid-October through mid-April, and must be on a leash.
Find it: Sand Harbor State Park, 2005 NV-28, Incline Village, NV; 775-831-0494
Spooner Lake and Spooner Backcountry offers more than 50 miles of hiking trails, including the Tahoe Rim Trail. Expect spectacular views.
Shirley F. via YelpWhat to do at Spooner Lake and Spooner Backcountry
The further away you get from the crowds at Big Blue, the more you’re reminded that the majority of the Lake Tahoe region is joyfully unbridled wilderness. There are more than 12,000 acres to explore in Spooner Lake and Spooner Backcountry. The 50 miles of equestrian, mountain biking and hiking trails are the star of this recreation area. Popular paths include the two-mile Spooner Loop Trail, a flat, dirt trail tracing the outline of the lake. Spooner Lake is also the starting point for the 10.2-mile out-and-back trail to Marlette Lake. You’ll also find access points to portions of the Flume Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail. Dogs on leash are allowed on all trails.
Camping is permitted in three primitive campgrounds (disbursed camping is not allowed.) Or, from May 1 to October 15, you can check out two rustic backcountry cabins with amenities like woodstoves and compost toilets. (Reservations required; call 775-831-0494.) There is no trash collection in the backcountry, so plan to pack out whatever you pack in.
Spooner Lake and Marlette Lake also rank among the best places to fish in Lake Tahoe. At Spooner Lake, the catch limit is five, while Marlette Lake is catch and release only. A fishing license is required for either lake.
Find it: Spooner Lake and Spooner Backcountry, Highway 28, Spooner Lake, NV 89703; 775-831-0494
Kent Kaiser of South Lake Tahoe and Anne Pomeroy and her dog “Koda” of Sacramento enjoy the views from atop Cave Rock on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe in Glenbrook, Nev.
Michael Macor / Special to the ChronicleWhat to do in Cave Rock State Park
Cave Rock is a sacred site to the Washoe people, who sometimes refer to it as “the lady of the lake.” Indeed, from a northern vantage point over the water, the rock formation resembles the profile of a woman’s face. Once part of a neck of a volcanic vent that existed about five million years ago, Cave Rock is a staggering 800 feet high and 300 feet wide.
Located beneath the massive rock formation, Cave Rock State Park is one of the best places to launch a boat in Lake Tahoe. The lot offers 40 spaces for trailers and two boat ramps (a mandatory boat inspection is required before arrival to prevent invasive species from being introduced to the lake).
At the south end of the park, a small beach provides space for picnicking, swimming, diving and kayaking (motorized watercraft are not allowed in this area of the park). Fishing is not permitted on the beach or docks, but licensed visitors are welcome to cast their line from the rocks on the slopes above the water.
Find it: Cave Rock State Park, Highway 50, Glenbrook, NV 89413; 775-588-7975
Van Sickle Bi-State Park, yet another example of public lands in the Lake Tahoe region with fantastic access to nature, straddles the state line between Nevada and California.
Neon C. via YelpWhat to do in Van Sickle Bi-State Park
Van Sickle Bi-State Park enjoys a stellar location less than a mile from high-rise casinos like Hard Rock Lake Tahoe in Stateline. Like Lake Tahoe itself, the park straddles the border of California and Nevada and is operated cooperatively by Nevada state parks and the California Tahoe Conservancy. Don’t let the location fool you: despite its urban surroundings, Van Sickle Bi-State Park is a wonderland of more than 725 acres of dense forests and hiking, cross country skiing and mountain biking trails. Up the hill from the lake, rock formations interrupt trees to offer magnificent vistas of Lake Tahoe glimmering below. The trails connect to the iconic Tahoe Rim Trail. Pack a picnic and enjoy it from the many picnic tables dispersed throughout the park.
The park is only open to vehicles from the beginning of May until the end of October. After that, Van Sickle Bi-State Park remains open to pedestrians but the drinking fountains are turned off and amenities like restrooms and trash collection aren’t available.
Find it: Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 30 Lake Parkway, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150; 775-831-0494
This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].