Tahoe Things to Do: Beaches

History buffs, campers, cyclists, hikers and those who love their water sports will find Donner Memorial State Park the perfect place for either a visit or an extended stay. The Donner name is a nod to the story of the snow-stranded emigrants and their ill-fated wagon train in the winter of 1846–47. One part of the forlorn pioneer group made camp near Donner Lake, now site of the state park, during record-breaking snowfall. Now visitors can go to Donner Memorial State Park and check out the new $6.6 million visitor center/museum that chronicles the Donner Party and the human and natural history of the region. During summer season the park has 142 spaces for car, RV and tent camping. There is also a concessionaire renting water-sport toys from kayaks and SUPs to two-seater personal watercraft. Being a state park in the Sierra, everything is surrounded by beautiful pines and plenty of hiking and biking in adjacent Cold Stream Canyon and swimming in the kid-friendly canal and China Cove. Depending on snowfall, a cross-country ski trail is groomed through the park, which is also a great place for snowshoeing. An entrance fee is charged.

If visiting Lake Tahoe in the summer, a great place to camp is Emerald Bay State Park. The park includes two campgrounds: the Boat-In Camp (accessible by boat and foot only) and Eagle Point Campground. Within the park are various treasures including Tahoe's hidden castle, Vikingsholm, the scenic Rubicon foot trail that connects Eagle Point Campground with Vikingsholm and DL Bliss State Park. The park also encompasses Fanette Island, the only island of Lake Tahoe. The park extends below the surface of the lake, where visitors will find a historical story book of days gone by in the form of sunken barges, ships and launches. The park closes down in the winter, though people are able to walk the mile-long, steep trail to Vikingsholm Castle to enjoy the grounds and beaches. The trail can be a bit treacherous in winter if snowy or icy. Visitors should remember to pack it in and pack it out and to leave no trace. 

Take a look around and it’s clear that Truckee is a special town: history, mountains, lakes, river and forests. But there are many hidden gems known mostly to locals. Those gems are kept shining by the Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. Some of the amenities and facilities managed by the district are accessible for free, others for a fee. The district has deservedly received awards for its facilities, from the nine-hole Ponderosa Golf Course and an ice rink in winter to super-kid-friendly West End Beach and the public piers on Donner Lake. The crown jewel is the 40,000-square-foot Community Recreation Center with, among other things, a two-court gymnasium, a state-of-the-art indoor aquatics center, an indoor running track, exercise equipment, two climbing walls (one is 29 feet tall) and a state-of-the-art aquatics center. Want to find Truckee’s soul? Check out the bike park at Riverview Sports Park and the popular disc golf course and skate park in Regional Park. Be sure to explore all of Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District's programming and facilities that continue to provide a wide variety of recreational opportunities in the Truckee area. 

Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of its own: Donner Lake. While not as big and broad as Big Blue, Donner Lake offers up a good bit of watery fun too. One of the best places to access Donner is West End Beach. In summer months, there is a modest admission fee to enter the 10-acre west end area, but the sandy beach and roped-off, kid-friendly swim area is the place to take youngsters to build sand castles and splash in the water all under the watch of life guards. Operated by the Truckee Donner Park and Recreation Department, West End Beach also has paddleboards, kayaks and pedal boats available to rent. There is plenty of fun on the beach area: two playgrounds for kids to get their kicks on, a sand volleyball court, tennis court and horseshoe pits. A snack bar serves up soft drinks, hot dogs and ice cream. Get there early and stake out a picnic table and grill. There are shady group picnic areas available by reservation.