Lake Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places in America. That’s what I’d read everywhere and let me tell you - it didn’t disappoint. This alpine lake is the largest in North America and second deepest in the United States. The crystal clear water is mesmerizing and unbelievable at times. Not only are there plenty of launch sites for your paddle board, hiking is very popular in the summer! I’m not a skier, but I hear the slopes aren’t too shabby, either. We stayed in South Lake Tahoe - right on the border of California and Nevada. This was a good base to explore the East shore and hit Emerald Bay. I also brought my own paddle board with me, which makes it that much easier to explore!

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is your guide to the entire shoreline including maps with designated launch points, weather tips, and other resources. I used this guide to plan my paddle boarding trips and monitor the weather. Water trailhead signs are all along the highway to help guide you, as well. Sand Harbor and Zephyr Cove are on the East shore of the lake and within a 30 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe. We only had a few days in Tahoe, so we had planned to stop at King’s Beach for a paddle on the way in from Reno, but the water was pretty rough and it honestly didn’t look all that special. So, we headed straight to Sand Harbor.

Sand Harbor

The Sand Harbor parking area was easy to find and after paying the $10 entrance fee, we found a parking spot and unpacked our boards. You can launch right from the beach and paddle north through those large, picturesque boulders you’ve probably seen on Instagram, or south to Bonsai Rock. We paddled a little over a mile south to Bonsai Rock with four little trees defying nature by growing out of the top. Along the way, there are giant boulders everywhere and the water is so unbelievably clear - I can’t emphasize this enough! Take a jump off Bonsai Rock, if you’re feeling adventurous, and head back towards Sand Harbor. Head just north of Sand Harbor to paddle through another cluster of huge boulders. This is the perfect place for pictures - the clear water unveils huge boulders peaking above the water. The area is surrounded by alpine trees and mountain views that will take your breath away.

Zephyr Cove

Zephyr Cove is about halfway between Sand Harbor and South Tahoe. You can access the beach by paying $10 to enter the parking area near Zephyr Cove Resort. This stretch of beach has beach volleyball, dogs, and SUP rentals are available if you don’t bring your own board. We saw several tour boats here, too. Our visit to Zephyr Cove was very windy and the water was pretty rough. We’d intended to launch and paddle north to Cave Rock, but we settled for paddling out to the nearby cluster of boulders, docking the boards and climbing around for a while. The beach is nice and there is a fairly large area to paddle here without going out of sight, but I enjoyed paddling through the boulders the most.

While You’re There

Cave Rock - I didn’t get to see Cave Rock from the water, but I did the next best thing - hiked to the top! The parking lot is right off Highway 50 and about a 20 minute drive from South Lake Tahoe. This short, 15 minute hike follows a dirt path parallel to the highway until you reach the base of the rock. The climb to the top is steep, but very short. Trust me, the views are well worth it!

Heavenly Mountain Gondola - If you are staying in South Lake Tahoe, the Heavenly Mountain Gondola is located in the middle of the village. The gondola ride is 2.4 miles of breathtaking views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Make a stop at the Observation Deck for a few photos before continuing your journey to the top. You can take the Tamarack Express chairlift even further up to access hiking trails. Unfortunately, many of the trails were closed when we were there, but the ride up was still worth it. There are other adventures to experience at the top such as zip lining, tubing, a ropes course, and climbing walls. If you have the time, definitely take a gondola ride.

SUP Lake Tahoe: Top Places to Paddle on the East Shore

Sand Harbor

Zephyr Cove

While You’re There