When snow isn't king, water is! The warm months bring out the Lake Tahoe water sports in abundance, and just about any Tahoe thing to do you want to do that gets you wet, you can do it! Tahoe water sports take place all over, not only on Big Blue. Try out the other lakes and rivers in the area.
Featured for Your Visit
Truckee-Donner Recreation & Park District
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
15962 South Shore Drive, Truckee, CA
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.
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...read more
Lake Tahoe, 15 minutes away, gets all the attention, but Truckee has a gem of...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Coon Street Dog Beach and Boat Launch is in Kings Beach. Situated at the corner of Coon Street and Highway 28, this rocky public beach is option for both putting a boat in the water and for walking your dog. Dogs must be on a leash of 6-foot or shorter and in your control at all times. There are shaded picnic tables, public bathrooms and parking for regular cars as...read more
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Creek Beach is in a succession of beaches along the same trail network that connects Chimney Beach, Secret Cove, Boaters Beach and Whale Beach. Creek Beach is the third beach that one comes to after passing Secret Cove. To access the beach, park at the free public parking 2.6 miles south of Sand Harbor on Highway 89. Take the single track down a steep hill...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
What would summer be without a sparkling mountain lake and all the toys to go with it? A total bummer, that’s what. The folks at Donner Lake Watersports and Marina are there to supply all the watersport toys one could want. From muscle power to horsepower, all your Donner Lake fun is covered. Those looking to water ski or wakeboard are set with powerboat rentals...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Gilligan's Guide Service is your in for fly fishing Lake Tahoe. It is run by Matt Koles (a.k.a. Gilligan), whose intimate affair with the rivers of the area began when he was a teenager. His knowledge spans the Truckee River of California and Nevada, West and East Reno and the Little Truckee River as well as the state's plentiful trout fisheries. He also is experienced...read more
Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Hidden Beach is a public beach a mile from Incline Village. Just off Highway 28, free parking is found along the highway. The beach is 750 feet in length and is comprised of rocky alcoves, a boulder-filled shoreline and stretches of soft sand. This area tends to be busy, but it isn't impossible to find your own private piece of paradise on a large Tahoe...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
High Sierra Water Ski School began operations in 1978, creating a highly respected reputation that carries on today. The level of instruction and deep knowledge of the sports accelerate any person’s learning curve. They offer lessons in a multitude of fun water activities, including waterskiing, wake boarding, wake surfing, wake skating and paddleboarding. In addition to lessons, they also rent power boats, Jet Skis, canoes,...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Hooked Up Sport Fishing gives visitors and locals a go at hooking a big Lake Tahoe fish. Focusing on mackinaw, rainbow and brown trout as well as Kokanee salmon, Hooked Up Sport Fishing provides a full-day excursion to catch the fish of your dreams. Their 2006 24-foot Trophy Fishing Boat provides a comfortable ride for four guests as well as the gear needed like Scotty...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Kaspian Recreation Area is on Highway 89, 4 miles south of Tahoe City at the base of Blackwood Canyon. A campground and outdoor recreation area, the zone is excellent for wilderness fun in summer and winter. Kaspian Beach and Campground are located on National Forest land managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. The summer offers mountain biking, road cycling and hiking....read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Lake Forest Beach is a free day-use park within the neighborhood of Lake Forest Glen, a few miles outside of Tahoe City. The beach is a secluded, sandy and pebbly shoreline. The views are spectacular from the angle provided by the park, giving direct sight of Mount Tallac and other framing mountains. This beach is perfect for launching paddleboards, kayaks or windsurfing equipment. The area...read more
The south and east shores of Lake Tahoe span two different states and three different counties and exhibit physical attributes more diverse than one might imagine. This area contains the lake's one and only island and a native Washoe spiritual site. It contains a cove known for its afternoon winds and beaches known for their shallow shorelines and gentle slopes. The south...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
Lake Tahoe is the second-deepest lake in the United States (and the entire world at its elevation of 6,228 feet). The bottom depth is measured at 1,645 feet deep in Crystal Bay near Kings Beach. With such a deep floor the lake has some unique attributes: Its colors shift to play off the sky's hue, it never freezes and, sometimes, the waves get so big...read more
Lake Tahoe Water Sports
The first inhabitants of Lake Tahoe were the semi-nomadic Washoe Indians who would migrate to the lake when the snow started to melt. The men would spend the summers fishing and hunting small game while the women wove baskets and gathered pine nuts. The lake was a spiritual place with healing powers for the Washoe, where they could rid themselves of worries and concerns. The...read more