Sand Harbor is one of the most amazing sandy beaches on all of Lake Tahoe.

Most of Nevada’s east shore of Lake Tahoe is void of sandy beaches. The exception is Sand Harbor. The many beaches on the Nevada side beaches have coarse sand that can be very tough on your feet.

Due to Lake Tahoe’s prevailing breezes, they deposit a fine grained white sand at Sand Harbor that has become its namesake.

The protected cove at Sand Harbor absorbs the afternoon sun and the prevailing winds also warms the lake’s water. So in the summer, this makes swimming very enjoyable in the otherwise chilly alpine waters.

Sand Harbor also features a boat launch, restrooms, picnicking, group use areas, and a Lake Tahoe informational center. Visitors can also find the Harbor House Bistro and Beach Goods concessionaire, where you can find quality dining and beachwear.

Sand Harbor is also home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, held during summer.

Because of its white granite boulders and beautiful sandy beaches, Sand Harbor is also one of the most unique places to paddle on Lake Tahoe. Scuba diving and snorkeling are both very popular here

Sand Harbor is located about three miles south of Incline Village, on State Route 28.

The hike to Eagle Lake is a relatively easy one. It is also one of the most popular hikes in the South Lake Tahoe area.

On the busy weekends, you will find a variety of families, singles and group hikers, even dogs enjoy the amazing Lake Tahoe regional views.

Due to the popularity of the Eagle Lake hiking trail, be sure to get there early to avoid the mid-day heat and avoid the crowded parking lot.

The actual hiking route to Eagle Lake begins as a somewhat steep climb through a patch of woodland. As you continue up the south side of the ravine, you’ll arrive at the junction after about after 0.7 miles.

At this point you are in a scenic, sheltered basin that is surrounded on two different sides by both steep and jagged, granite cliffs.

The overall elevation rise is about 450 feet. The overall hike is about 2 miles in length and will take about one and one-half hours , on average.

Eagle lake is located in the Lake Tahoe Desolation Wilderness.

Many people take the hike to Eagle Falls Trail and continue on to Eagle Lake.

There are two different waterfalls named Eagle Falls – Lower Eagle Falls, and Upper Eagle Falls.

Both of these beautiful waterfalls can be easily reached, off Hwy 89, across from Emerald Bay. You can find a trail to the falls that begins from the  Emerald Bay State Park parking lot. located along highway 89.

It should be noted that no dogs are allowed on the hike trail.

The Lower Eagle Falls is approximately one mile hike down from Lake Tahoe.  The hike will bring you to the sandy white beach in Emerald Bay.  You will also view the impressive Vikingsholm Castle.

Lower Eagle falls consists of two large, falling cascades.  The first cascade is about 60 feet in length, and the second is about 90 feet long. There are wonderful views all along the entire length of the hike.

The hike to Lower Eagle Falls can be classified as easy to moderate. The hike should takes roughly 20-30 minutes and is considered one of the most popular hikes in the Lake Tahoe area.

A hike to the Upper Eagle Falls is not as amazing, but still well worth it. The Upper Eagle Falls waterfall is about 20 feet in length. You can reach the Upper Eagle Falls after a quarter of a mile hike from the Eagle Falls picnic area.

For those looking for more, continue your hike to Eagle Lake, within the Desolation Wilderness. Even further, you can reach Velma Lakes Basin.

As you leave South Lake Tahoe heading up the west shore on Hwy 89, you’ll come to a series of beaches that all seem very similar in nature.

The first of these is Pope Beach, which is basically a one mile long by 300 foot wide strip of sand, and separates the Truckee Marsh from Lake Tahoe.

Pope Beach is the longest of all of lake Tahoe’s beaches.

Pope beach is operated by the USDA forest service. This unfortunately means there will be a parking fee.

This is an excellent beach for families, with lots of sand, room, clear shallow water, and relative shelter from the winds. The parking lot runs the entire length of the beach so there are no long walks. There are plenty of picnic tables and grills as well.

As with other beaches in this area (i.e. Baldwin, Kiva, Camp Richardson), there is typically less wind than the east shore.

The Emigrant Trail Museum was completed in 1962 after 15 years of effort by local citizens, park staff and legislators. Open all year, the museum includes exhibits about the natural history of the Truckee Basin, local Native American life, the overland immigration of the 1840s, the Donner tragedy, construction of the transcontinental railroad, lumbering and ice harvesting.

The museum store featues books on the Donner Party and Emigrant Trail, local natural history and recreation and related items. The Pioneer Monument, located near the museum, was erected in honor of all who made the difficult trek across the western plains and mountains to reach California during the 1840s. Work on the monument began Donner Lake in 1901, when the Native Sons of the Golden West purchased the site and constructed the stone base on which the bronze statue stands today. The monument was completed and officially dedicated June 6, 1918.

This is the site of the Breen Cabin, one of the structures used by members of the Donner Party during the winter of 1846-1847. The Murphy cabin site is located 200 yards south of the museum. It was built against a large rock that formed the west end of the cabin. The cabin was built in November 1846, and was approximately 25 feet long and 18 feet wide. It was cold and damp, with an earthen floor. Sixteen members of the Murphy, Foster and Eddy families spent the winter in this cabin.

A gentle, self-guided nature trail starts near the museum and makes a loop through the forest. Printed trail guides are available at the museum and entrance station. An easy, 1-mile lakeside interpretive trail starts in the lagoon portion of the day-use area and continues along the lake.

The Truckee River Winery may not be big but it owns the unique distinction of being the highest and coldest winery in the United States.

Owned by winemaker Russ Jones, the Truckee River Winery is a special place high up in the Sierra Mountains in Truckee, near Lake Tahoe.

The winery is housed in a beautiful red barn on a picture perfect, tree lined property.

Russ Jones brings the Pisoni clone Pinot Noir grapes from Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir up to Truckee. He then makes an amazing Pinot that is quite rich with berry accents flavors of cola, subtle floral undertones, along with a hint of spice.

Truckee River Winery makes only limited quantities of its fine wines, including Lodi Zinfandel, Nevada County Merlot, Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir, in addition to a small amount of white wine.

Courtesy of: Truckee River Winery

Due to the fact the Truckee River Winery is colder and higher than any other U.S. winery, the prefermentation cold soak and naturally cool fermentation creates an exceptional fruit of the pisoni clone.

The end result is a smooth wine that is well balanced and offers fabulous mid pallet flavors, topped off with the ever present “pisoni backbone”.

Truckee River Winery
10061 South River St.
Truckee, CA
(530) 587-4626

Tallac Historic Site is one of those hidden gems of Lake Tahoe that definitely is a must see.

Admission is free except to special concerts. Thirty percent of all purchases from the Cultural Arts store and all ticket sales go to assist with preserving the historic site. On a typical sunny August weekend afternoon in August, you might find the Reggae Allstars performing on the lawn, a theatrical performance scheduled for evening and visitors chatting with artists displaying or creating their works.

Tallac Historic Site, run by the U. S. Forest Service, contains three historic properties that once belonged to the Baldwin, Pope and Heller families. The houses, built between 1894 and 1923, offer a glimpse of the lifestyles of Tahoe’s early rich and famous. But it’s the Tahoe Tallac Association’s Cultural Arts Program that breathes life into what might otherwise be a museum-like setting.

Carol Spain, executive director of the Tahoe Tallac Association, says, “From the beginning, it was a community endeavor. We held many, many meetings, talking about uses for the historic site. High on the list were the arts, historic preservation, and recreation.” The association follows that early mandate, sponsoring the plethora of summer cultural activities that make Tallac so special – concerts, plays and “meet the artist” programs. Local artists in all media exhibit their works in the historic buildings. These aren’t cold, gallery-style exhibits, though. The artists are there with their creations, explaining them and telling stories of their creation, from the changing weather that inspired a series of paintings, to the perfect conditions that turned Emerald Bay into Magenta Bay, to the cultural background that inspired a painter’s style.

Summer events include an annual Renaissance Festival, theater performances in the renovated boathouse and films.
Article by: Betsy Malloy

The Tallac Historic Site is on CA 89 at Camp Richardson, a few miles west of South Lake Tahoe.

Tallac Historic Site
Lake Tahoe, CA
(530) 541-5227 (Baldwin Museum)

The Gatekeeper’s Museum can be found amongst the ancient conifers on the south bank of Lake Tahoe’s only outlet.

Located in Tahoe City, the Gatekeeper’s Museum was built back in 1981 thanks to funds that were raised by the North Lake Tahoe Historical Society.

The unique, hand-carved log cabin is built from local Lake Tahoe Lodgepole pines. The new museum was re-built on the same foundation as the original Gatekeeper’s Cabin, which was destroyed by arson in 1978.

The museum holds many local treasures and features the vast history of the scenic, Lake Tahoe region. Some of the many gems to be discovered there are: Indian artifacts, stories of our pioneers, natural history displays,  as well as the Ellen Attardi Library.

In addition, the Gatekeeper’s Museum also houses the Marion Steinback Indian Basket Collection.

Gatekeeper’s Log Cabin Museum
130 West Lake Blvd.
Tahoe City, CA
530 583-1762

Donner Memorial State Park is located in the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains. Donner Memorial State Park offers the many summer vacationers opportunities for camping, picnicking, boating, fishing, water-skiing, and hiking.

In the winter, visitors can cross-country ski and snowshoe on trails and enjoy the season’s beauty.

Visitors are welcome year-round at the Emigrant Trail Museum and at the Pioneer Monument, built to commemorate those who emigrated to California from the east in the mid-1800’s.

Included in the museum are displays and information about one of the earliest pioneer wagon trains, the Donner Party, forced by circumstances to camp at the east end of Donner Lake in the winter of 1846-47, resulting in human suffering and loss of life.

If you are visiting the Lake Tahoe area, be sure to see the following Donner Memorial State Park and Donner Lake visitor attractions:

Public Boat Ramp -
While the park has no boat launching ramp, a public ramp operated by the Truckee Donner Recreation & Parks District is available in the northwest corner of Donner Lake. There is a fee charged for boat launching. For information call (530) 582-7720. The lake is open to both power and sail boats.

Fishing -
The park has over three miles of frontage on Donner Lake and Donner Creek. Although the fishing is not usually spectacular, the lake has some native kokanee and planted trout. A fishing license is required. (Many fishermen prefer to use the park as a base to visit nearby lakes).

Hiking Trails -
The park has about 2.5 miles (4 km.) of hiking trails. Park property in Coldstream Canyon to the south contains the alignment of the primary Emigrant Trail, which leads up to U.S. Forest Service and the Pacific Crest trails beyond the park. Maps are for sale at the Emigrant Trail Museum.

Camping and Day Use -
Located at Donner Memorial State Park is a campground of 154 sites and a day-use area along the lake with picnic tables, restrooms, a beach, fishing, and a lakeside interpretive trail that has 18 panels which discuss the natural and cultural resources in the area.

Emigrant Trail Museum -
The Emigrant Trail Museum, located at Donner Memorial State Park, takes about 1 hour to visit. It depicts the history of the area and the people who came into this part of the Sierra, including local Native Americans, the Donner Party, and builders of the transcontinental railroad. Postcards, posters, maps, and books about the human and natural history of the area are for sale at the museum.

Pioneer Monument -
Near the museum is the Pioneer Monument and the Donner Party’s Murphy family cabin site. Also starting at the museum is a self-guiding nature trail which is a one half mile loop. Nature trail guides are available at the museum and campground entrance station. Staff-led hikes, special feature shows, and campfires start in late June. Hikes, ranging from 1 – 2 hours, start at the museum at 10:00 a.m.

Located in the Tahoe National, the impressive Truckee River’s crystalline waters originate at alpine blue, Lake Tahoe.

The Truckee River begins at Tahoe City’s famous “Fanny Bridge”. The river ends about one hundred and ten miles later at Pyramid Lake. The Truckee River is filled with Trout and dogs are allowed off leash along the river. Head north on Hwy 267, take a right on Glenshire Drive, go 4.5 miles and cross the Glenshire Bridge, take a sharp right after the bridge on the dirt road and park near the river.

The Truckee River encompasses an area of approximately 3,060 square miles in the states of California and Nevada. The basin stretches in a generally north by northeast direction.

The Truckee River was first discovered by Captain John C. Frémont in January, 1844.

At the head of the Truckee River is the Lake Tahoe Dam with its 17 sluice gates. Back in the very early 1900’s, a gatekeeper (water master), lived at the river’s source. He was assigned the job of managing the flow of water over Lake Tahoe dam.

You can view the reconstructed gatekeeper’s cabin, which is now a museum. The museum houses artifacts from the history of Lake Tahoe. It includes a incredible collection of Native American baskets, representing over 80 different tribes.

For recreation, the Truckee River is a great place to fish, ride a raft down the rapids, or just do some casual sightseeing. At the famed “fanny bridge” or “rump row”, you can enjoy watching tourists from around the world, leaning over to look at the mighty Truckee River below.

If you’re looking for terrific white water rafting, try the Truckee River. The Truckee River offers Class I through Class IV stretches. Beginners and casual sightseers will enjoy the long, calm stretch from the Lake Tahoe dam to River Ranch.

But if you’re looking for a bigger challenge, just beyond Boca Reservoir where the Truckee and Little Truckee rivers merge, is where the real fun begins.

Exciting Class II, III, and IV, rapids are present until rafters reach Floriston. After that point, rafters will enjoy a nice ride into Reno – “The Biggest Little City in the World”.