No matter from which direction you approach it, when you catch your first glimpse of dáɁaw (dah-ow), the deep blue is always stunning. Lake Tahoe sits at 6,225 feet in elevation. It’s a massive alpine bowl of freshwater straddling the California and Nevada state line that is more than 190 square miles in size and reaches depths of more than 1,500 feet. These geographic feats sum up to the fact Lake Tahoe offers vast opportunities for standup paddleboarding, but this can also be a bit intimidating for figuring out where to paddle upon arrival.
Fortunately, there is the Lake Tahoe Water Trail, a 72-mile route around the lake’s perimeter with access points, signage, and a comprehensive online resource. What follows here is streamlined insight into the water trail and some of the best places to SUP on Lake Tahoe.
Standup Paddleboarding Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe
South Lake Tahoe is the more developed side of the lake, with no shortage of waterfront access or off-water amenities. This side of the lake also offers access to a popular sheltered bay and smaller neighboring lakes.
If you’re staying in South Lake Tahoe, however, you should expect to deal with traffic during the peak summer season. The later shoulder season, when air and water temperatures are still warm, begins in mid-August, when kids are back in school. Go during the week and you might find it to be less hectic throughout later summer into the fall season.
Lakeside and Eldorado Beach
There are beachfronts (Lakeside Beach and El Dorado Beach being popular) that have Paddleboard rentals available for quick, easy outings. Relaxing on the beach with a book or watching the kiddos enjoy a summer day is a nice après between SUP sessions.
Cave Rock
To get away from the bigger crowds and have a bit more of an adventurous outing, consider Cave Rock on the Nevada side of the lake, or paddling round trip from Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay, or venturing up to Fallen Leaf Lake. For all 3 of them, the earlier you can get on the water, the less people there will be.
The Cave Rock unit in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park incurs a $15 entrance fee for vehicles with out-of-state license plates and $10 for in-state. The parking area isn’t all that large, but at the far end of it, there is a beautiful little beach to put in. If you go north from this put-in, you’ll get great views of Cave Rock and the craggy outcroppings, along with glassy water filled with jumbled rocks and boulders visible below your SUP. Going south in the direction of Zephyr Cove offers more spectacular water, with visibility in the tens of feet to the lake bottom. Looking across the lake to the southwest shore and then scanning up to the ridgeline, you’ll see Mount Tallac, Phipps Peak and Dick’s Peak.
A bonus for paddleboarding at Cave Rock is that the spot offers arguably the best sunset view on the lake.
Baldwin Beach to Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay is a gem. Everyone going to Lake Tahoe wants to get a picture of it. Yes, you do, too. One way to experience it and not be elbow-to-elbow while doing so is by paddling from Baldwin Beach over to Emerald Bay. To access the parking area at Baldwin, you’ll go through the entrance that is staffed by the National Forest Service. There is a $12 fee and you will be asked about proper cleaning, draining and drying of your paddleboard. If you don’t have your own board there are rentals at Baldwin Beach.
From the beach, head left in a northwesterly direction towards Emerald Bay. Be mindful of boat traffic as the morning hours pass towards noon. When coming up on the bay, at that point, look up and you’ll usually find ospreys and their nest perched around a treetop. Back at water level, you’ll probably also see mergansers swimming and fishing along the shoreline.
The water hues change as you enter the bay, the emerald green water living up to its name. There is little doubt that you will be in awe of the bay and the surrounding peaks. Natural beauty is defined there. Maybe go farther into the bay and check out the only island in Lake Tahoe and its tea house. Again, watch for boat traffic. Another option would be to paddle over to the other side of the bay, the north shore of it, and find a secluded beach for having a bite to eat or simply taking in the moment.
Fallen Leaf Lake
Fallen Leaf Lake is a smaller neighbor to Tahoe. Heading to the water, the drive to the boat launch area requires patience. The road is narrow and fellow drivers all have to be considerate of each other so that everyone can navigate it. Go slow. Once at the boat launch, which is also a cafe, store and rental area, you will have to pay a $5 fee to get on the lake. They will wash down your SUP for you, if you bring your own, which is included in the fee.
Fallen Leaf is a great place for families, with paddleboard and kayak rentals and a little beach area for having a nice time amidst a gorgeous lake setting. If you’re looking to get away from the larger lake scene of Tahoe that’s fifteen minutes away, check out Fallen Leaf for what might feel like a little bit of solitude.
North Lake Tahoe
North Lake Tahoe is not far from Interstate 80 and it is an easy drive from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. There will be the usual peak summer traffic to deal with, but with views of the surrounding mountain peaks and the cobalt blue water, think of it as a sightseeing car cruise to the various paddleboarding launch spots on Lake Tahoe.
Commons Beach and Sand Harbor
Commons Beach in Tahoe City and Kings Beach in the town with the same name offer easy access to paddling, with parking available at the beaches, as well as rental equipment. The green space/park at Commons Beach is the perfect place to hang and toss a Frisbee when the kiddos have decided they are done paddling.
If you are planning to go to Sand Harbor, there is a new reservation system facilitated by the state of Nevada. You can get in after 10:30 AM without a reservation, but it’s a bit confusing as to how it is opened up at that time, which seemingly has to do with the availability of parking spots. As a heads-up, cars still line up on the road to get in. The boat launch area seemed not to be part of the reservation system, but apparently paddleboards are not permitted there.
Meeks Bay
On the west shore, south of Tahoe City, sits Meeks Bay. You access it by going to Meeks Bay Resort and Campground and paying the $12 day-use fee. There is ample parking but like all of Lake Tahoe, it’s best to get there early. There’s a store with food and a rental center that is open to everyone. The beach, and the water just beyond it, will have you thinking you’re in the Caribbean if it weren’t for the pine trees and snowcapped mountains. The glistening green-turquoise-blue water, with varying shades in between, provides all the reminder one needs to keep Lake Tahoe clean.
From Meeks Bay, you can paddle south towards Rubicon Point or north towards Sugar Pine Point. Either way, you cannot go wrong. Rubicon Point is on the list of many when going to Tahoe, but the park there has been closed for construction and upgrades.
Being on the water affords the opportunity to see the rugged cliffs and crystal-clear water of Rubicon Point from the vantage point of a SUP. Paddle away from the shore, out towards the middle of the lake and you’ll be surrounded by deep blue water, offering a feeling of being in an abyss.
Paddling north towards Sugar Pine Point, as you come to the first point, you’ll begin to feel a sense of remoteness. Boulders plopped here and there, jutting partly out of the water and sitting below the water, as well as what looks like a lesser-traveled shoreline reminded me that I was in the ancestral home of the Washoe people. The lake, dáɁaw (dah-ow), is their beginning. Origin stories exist there. Fishing and hunting stories are passed on. It is a place of community. It is home. Paddle respectfully. As you near Sugar Pine Point, you are entering into a water-land place where trees rise to the sky, some of them being the tallest of their kind on the planet.
More to know before you go
Weather
Lake Tahoe is generally a sunny place to paddleboard in summer, but always check the forecast for the day before you launch. Storms do pop up, with the possibility of turning the lake into a frothy churning bowl. The winds typically pick up on the lake by late morning and into the afternoon. Check wind forecasts in addition to the weather forecasts.
Water Temperature
The water is cold. Lake Tahoe’s summer water temperature is impacted by the winter snowpack. If it was a heavy winter and snow is melting up in the mountains during the summer months, the water temperature will be colder. Generally speaking, the water temperatures don’t peak until around August, when the lake may reach from the mid-60s to the low-70s Fahrenheit. You should always wear a PFD, do not have it just attached to your board. With water this cold, if you fall in cold water shock is a serious factor.
Keep Tahoe Clean
Cleaning your SUP is essential before arriving at Lake Tahoe. This helps avoid invasive species from entering one of the most treasured lakes in North America. It is important to clean, drain and dry your board. There are also online resources to educate yourself about the importance of having a clean SUP and how to do it.
Lake Tahoe Paddleboard Outfitters And Rentals
- North Lake Tahoe: North Tahoe Paddle
- South Lake Tahoe: SUP Tahoe
- Rentals for the entire lake:Tahoe City Kayak & Paddleboard
Food, Drink and Lodging
On the south side
If you’re hankering for delicious Mexican food, head to Verde Mexican Rotisserie.
For a special beer find, go to Coldwater Brewery and Grill and order the Saison. The style is hard to come by in the USA and theirs is an excellent one.
Lodging options are endless. To stay beachside, The Landing has rooms with great views of the lake.
On the north side
Sylva in Tahoe City is quite unique on the dining scene. It’s not inexpensive. The food offerings are impeccably prepared, and the menu is ever-evolving based on what can be sourced locally, as much as is possible.
Grab a beer at Bear Belly Brewing in King’s Beach. It’s a vibe, for sure, and a true Tahoe community space set in a park-like setting where you can also buy Tahoe-artisan works and get a bite to eat at a food truck.
If you’re looking for an outdoorsy feel for lodging, complete with a coffee/full bar, plus a bike rental shop, and a cold plunge experience, evo Hotel Tahoe City is the place to stay. The artwork was curated by snowboarding legend Jeremy Jones. Sierra Surf Club at the hotel is their restaurant. The wild mushroom lettuce wraps are delicious.
