Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park
P.O. Box 8867
Incline Village, NV 89452
(775) 831-0494
tahoe@parks.nv.gov


hot newsATTENTION BOATERS AND FISHERMAN - The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Governing Board approved new regulations requiring that boats be launched only at facilities where qualified aquatic invasive species inspectors are present.   Inspections will take effect November 1, 2008.  The new regulation also requires that vessels launching at the lake be decontaminated should inspectors determine they are at risk of introducing invasives such as the quagga or zebra mussel or other species.   In light of the new regulation, the gate at Cave Rock will be open when an inspector is available from 6:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m, seven days a week through the end of April 2009.  Inspectors for the Lake Tahoe Boat Inspection Program are provided by the Tahoe Resource Conservation District.

Summers hours are due to be set for Cave Rock and Sand Harbor launch facilities in the Spring of 2009.  The boat launch facility at Cave Rock may be closed during winter storms due to boater and inspector personnel safety concerns.  The launch facility will re-open just as soon as possible after significant storm activity has ended.  Snow removal may also cause delays.  Please plan ahead before boating on Lake Tahoe by calling (888)824-6267 for up-to-date boat ramp information.   You can also go to www.trpa.org for additional program information.  We are sorry for any inconvenience and ask for your support with this very important program.

The Sand Harbor Boat Ramp closed on September 15th due to low water conditions.   The parking lot will remain open for carry-in boat access until November 1.   After November 1, no motorized and non-motorized water craft will be allowed until the boat ramp opens up.

Lake Tahoe-Nevada State Park offers a number of different areas for visitors to enjoy. Sand Harbor is the most popular, with sandy beaches, a boat launch, picnicking and group use facilities. Sand Harbor is located three miles south of Incline Village on State Route 28. Memorial Point and Hidden Beach, Situated between Incline Village and Sand Harbor, are areas which offer outstanding views of the lake and more secluded access to its shores. Spooner Lake, at the intersection of State Route 28 and U.S. 50, is popular for picnicking, hiking, mountain biking, catch-and-keep fishing with a limit of 5 trout and cross-country skiing . A group use area is available as well as rental cabins . Spooner Lake is also a trail head with access to the back country. The back country between Lake Tahoe and Carson City provides miles of hiking, equestrian and Mountain biking trails plus two primitive campsites. No vehicles are permitted in the back country, which has been designated as a State Primitive Area. Two of the more popular trails in this area are the Flume Trail above Sand Harbor and the Tahoe Rim Trail along the crest of the Carson Range. Cave Rock, located along U.S. 50 near Zephyr Cove, is a popular spot for boat launching and fishing. During July and August enjoy the shows put on by the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival at Sand Harbor.

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Facilities & Amenities

Entrance Fee:  An entrance fee is charged to enter the park, additional fees for launching boats.  Current fees are posted at the park entrance. Click here for all individual park fees by region.


Sand Harbor

Long sandy beaches, rocky coves, and panoramic lake views offer visitors unparalleled opportunities to enjoy Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Nevada Visitor Center and Harbor House

The visitor center has several interesting displays regarding Lake Tahoe's natural and cultural history and a gift shop run by the Nevada State Parks Cooperative Association.  Harbor House Bistro and Beach Goods, part of the same facility, is a food and park store concession.

Swimming and Scuba Diving

Gently sloping beaches, crystal-clear water, and interesting rock formations allow for wonderful swimming and scuba diving. Beach Patrol is on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Picnicking

Located in the shade of the cedars and Jeffrey pines, the picnic area offers a peaceful retreat from the busy beaches. Each site is equipped with a barbecue and picnic table. Paved walkways make the area accessible to persons with disabilities.

Sand Point Nature Trail

The short (1/3 mile) Sand Point Nature Trail is a handicap accessible trail with interpretive signs and breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe. Group Area/Ramada

Group Area
A group use area set on a pine-dotted, rocky point accommodates groups of up to 100 people.  The covered facility is equipped with electricity, water and tables and includes a large barbecue.  Use is by reservation only.

You can download the following:  Information, rules and regulations and the reservation agreement.  You will still need to reserve the date via in person or over the phone.

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Boating

The boat launch includes two wave protected double ramps with docks and adjacent parking. Parking fills to capacity early on summer weekends.  The boat launch closed September 15, 2008, due to low water levels.


Spooner Lake

Lush meadows and shimmering aspen groves surround Spooner Lake. The area is popular for its fishing and abundant wildlife and wildflowers, and also serves as a starting point for many backcountry trails. Spooner Lake is on Highway 28, nine miles south of Sand Harbor and 1/2 mile north of Highway 50.

Fishing

Ice fishing access trail is now available at Spooner Lake.  People that ice fish do so at their own risk and should use extreme caution when walking on the ice.  The park does not monitor ice thickness.  Use the designated path to the lake and avoid damaging ski trails in the area.  Spooner Lake is a catch and keep, limit 5 for trout, stocked annually with trout. Swimming is not recommended due to the abundance of harmless yet pesky leeches in the lake.

Picnicking

Developed picnic sites are spread throughout the Jeffrey pines and white firs that shade the bluff above Spooner Lake.

Hiking

An easy 2-mile trail circles Spooner Lake. Osprey, waterfowl, and other wildlife are abundant, as are meadow and forest wildflowers. Interpretive displays provide information along the trail.

Backcountry Access

Spooner Lake is the major trail head for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians entering the backcountry. North Canyon Road leads to Marlette Lake and the Flume Trail, and offers connections to the Tahoe Rim Trail. The Spooner Lake Trail also has a spur leading to the Rim Trail's Spooner Summit Trail head.  Trails Report.

Concession Services

Mountain Biking and Cross-Country Skiing
From spring through fall, the Spooner Lake Outdoor Company offers guided bike tours, bike rentals, and snacks for visitors at the Spooner Lake Lodge. In winter, they provide an extensive network of groomed cross-country ski trails along with lessons and ski rentals.

Lodging
The Spooner Lake Outdoor Company has two rustic log cabins available for overnight stays. For more details, please contact the Spooner Lake Outdoor Company at (775) 749-5349, or on the web at www.spoonerlake.com. and www.theflumetrail.com.


Cave Rock

This small day-use area is tucked beneath the rugged volcanic face of Cave Rock. Facilities include a boat launch ramp and dock, comfort station, picnic sites, and a small sandy beach. The entrance is on Highway 50, three miles south of Glenbrook, just south of the Cave Rock tunnels.

Boat Launch
Two launch ramps lead to deep waters close to shore. The parking lot at Cave Rock is limited and can fill quickly, especially on summer weekends. Parking is also restricted along Highway 50 above the entrance.

Fishing

A steep shoreline and rocky shoals make this area a good location for rainbow trout fishing.


Marlette/Hobart Backcountry.

The backcountry portion of the park spans some 13,000 acres within the Carson Range, stretching north from Spooner Lake to Incline Village. Miles of trail winding through cool pine forests and across sun-drenched granite outcrops offer exceptional opportunities for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Some of the more popular activities in the backcountry are mountain biking along the Flume Trail, perched high above Lake Tahoe, fishing at Hobart Lake, and hiking on the scenic Tahoe Rim Trail, which offers spectacular lake and valley views. Hike-in, primitive camping is available at a site on the slope of Marlette Peak and along the North Canyon Trail.

Fishing at Marlette Lake.  See "Reminders:" for rules.

Trail heads

Several commonly used trail heads provide access into the backcountry. Spooner Lake is the only developed trail head. Other popular access points are Tunnel Creek Road on Highway 28 south of Inline Village, the Tahoe Rim Trail at Spooner Summit on Highway 50, and Ash Canyon and Lakeview trail head near Carson City.

Please call the Sand Harbor office for detailed information on backcountry use. A Backcountry brochure providing more detailed trail information is available.


Highway 28

Memorial Point:  Memorial Point, one mile north of Sand Harbor, offers fine views of Lake Tahoe and a trail to its rocky shoreline. Photographers, fishermen, and sunbathers delight in this popular vista. Restrooms are available.

Hidden Beach:  The narrow sands and large granite boulders of Hidden Beach are popular with local sunbathers and swimmers. Located two miles north of Sand Harbor, Hidden Beach has no parking lot, and roadside parking in the vicinity is very limited. There are no facilities available.


Volunteers

Nevada State parks actively recruits volunteers to assist within individual parks. If you are interested in volunteering at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, please call the Sand Harbor office.


Environmental Improvement Program.

Following a 1997 Presidential Forum to promote the protection and improvement of Lake Tahoe's water quality and outstanding environmental resources the State of Nevada established the Nevada Tahoe Resource Team "dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Lake Tahoe Basin ecosystem for all to enjoy". The result is a ten-year plan of water quality, erosion control, wildlife enhancement, forest health restoration, and recreation improvement projects located throughout the park.

For additional information on this exciting program please call the park office at (775) 831-0494 or the park's Nevada Tahoe Resource Team representative at (775) 684-2740.


Reminders:
For your safety and enjoyment, please remember the following:
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
No bottles allowed in waterfront areas.
Fires permitted in designated areas only.
Sand Harbor
No pets allowed.
Hwy 28 Beaches
No camping allowed.
Cave Rock
No overnight parking.
Scuba diving restricted to south beach area.
Spooner Lake
"Catch and keep, limit 5 trout" all methods, no ice fishing. Must have a Nevada fishing license.
Pets must remain on leash.
Marlette Lake
"Catch and release only" from July 15 - September 30th, artificial lures, flies only, single barbless hooks. Must have a Nevada fishing license.
Backcountry
Motorized vehicles prohibited.
Camping in designated areas only.
Mountain bikes speed limit: 20 mph on straightaway and 5 mph on corners.

A complete set of rules and regulations are available at the Sand Harbor Office.
To ensure the quality of Lake Tahoe for future generations, we ask that you:

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