The 5 Best Lake Tahoe Beaches + My Secret Swimming Spot at Lake Tahoe

Before coming to Lake Tahoe, California, and this sounds a little embarrassing, I had absolutely no idea how many incredible beaches there were around the lake. I didn’t even realize there were proper sandy beaches here in the first place.

I visited Lake Tahoe for the very first time during summer and spent about a week exploring the area. I loved every single second of it. We tried to visit a different beach or swimming spot almost every day, and somehow, each new one seemed even more beautiful than the last.

Between the crystal-clear water, sandy beaches, huge boulders, pine trees, and mountains surrounding the lake, some of these places honestly looked more like ocean beaches than anything I expected to find at a mountain lake.

I also know from experience that figuring out which Lake Tahoe beaches are actually worth visiting can feel a little overwhelming. The lake is huge, there are beaches spread all around it, and it’s not always obvious which ones are best for swimming, relaxing, paddleboarding, or avoiding the biggest crowds.

So, to make planning your trip a little easier, I put together this guide to the best Lake Tahoe beaches, including my personal favorites, a few helpful tips from my own visit, and even a little secret swimming spot that not many people seem to know about.

What Are the Best Lake Tahoe Beaches? My Quick Answer

I know not everyone has the time or the energy to read through this entire blog post, so I want to give you a quick answer first and share a couple of my favorite Lake Tahoe beaches and why I liked them so much.

For the easiest and most convenient beach day, I personally enjoyed Nevada Beach the most.

There’s loads of sand, plenty of space to spread out, and the beach is really easy to access. We could park our car right behind the beach, which made it super convenient to bring our SUP and all the other things we needed for the day. There are also restrooms nearby, and overall, it just felt like the most stress-free beach experience.

I’d especially recommend Nevada Beach for families with kids because you don’t have to hike down to a small hidden cove or carry all your beach gear for ages just to get to the water.

Many of the other Lake Tahoe beaches are smaller and a little harder to get to, located in little coves. However, if I’m being honest, Secret Cove Nude Beach was probably the most beautiful beach I saw during my entire trip.

The crystal-clear water, huge boulders, and mountains in the background were absolutely incredible. Yes, we had to arrive at around 8 a.m. to avoid the crowds, but I’d say getting up early was 100% worth it.

1. Secret Cove Nude Beach

Location: Secret Cove Nude Beach
Parking: Paid parking at Secret Harbor + free roadside parking

In my opinion, Secret Cove Nude Beach is probably the most beautiful beach in Lake Tahoe.

I can almost guarantee that when you see photos of Lake Tahoe with crystal-clear water, huge boulders right  in the lake, and mountains in the background, there’s a good chance they were taken somewhere around here.

Secret Cove is a small little beach on the eastern side of Lake Tahoe, and yes, as the name suggests, it is technically a nude beach. But don’t freak out, okay, taking your clothes off is completely optional.

When we visited, I think everyone there was wearing a swimsuit, and I didn’t see anyone naked. So if you’re worried that you’ll accidentally walk into some kind of naked beach party, you’ll probably be fine. 

One thing I do want to point out is that Secret Cove is fairly small, and because it’s so beautiful and popular, it can get super busy.

We arrived before 8 a.m., and there were already other people there. We mainly came to take some photos and explore the area, so we didn’t stay for a full beach day. But if you’re planning on bringing towels, spending a few hours swimming, and relaxing here, I’d definitely recommend arriving as early as possible so you can get a good spot.

2. Nevada Beach

Location: Nevada Beach
Parking: Paid beach parking + free roadside parking

Nevada Beach, located on the yes, you guessed it, Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, might actually be my favorite beach that I visited.

I loved many of the other beaches around Lake Tahoe, but a lot of them are smaller coves. Some also require walking down little trails or carrying all your beach gear for a while before you actually reach the water.

Nevada Beach is very different. It’s what I would call the most convenient beach in Lake Tahoe.

The beach is huge, with loads of soft sand and plenty of space to spread out. There are restrooms, fire pits, and parking right behind the beach, which made it super easy to bring everything we needed for the day.

We visited one afternoon at around 4 p.m., after most people had already left. We found a parking spot right in the front row, brought our cooler with a few beers, grabbed our paddleboard, and spent an awesome afternoon right by the water.

So, if you’re planning a proper beach day with the kids, want to bring chairs, a cooler, paddleboards, or just a lot of beach gear, I’d say Nevada Beach is one of the best and most convenient options around Lake Tahoe.

3. Sand Harbor Beach

Location: Sand Harbor State Park
Parking: Paid parking + reservation required for early arrival
Permit: Here is the link to make a reservation

Sand Harbor Beach was another beach that I thought was absolutely incredible and it had a very similar vibe to Secret Cove Nude Beach. You have that classic Lake Tahoe scenery here with little coves, huge boulders, pine trees surrounding the beach, and crystal-clear water.

So if you’re looking for that typical Lake Tahoe postcard view, Sand Harbor is definitely one of the best places to experience it.

However, I do want to warn you about one thing: this place gets crazy busy.

The first time we tried to visit, the line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot was honestly insane. I’m pretty sure Sand Harbor State Park is probably one of the busiest beaches around Lake Tahoe, and that day we ended up turning around and going somewhere else because it just wasn’t worth waiting.

But mama raised no quitter, so we came back the next day, just much later in the afternoon. By then, most people had already left, we drove straight in, found parking easily, and had a much better experience.

Honestly, coming to Lake Tahoe beaches later in the afternoon worked incredibly well for us. We always still got plenty of sunshine, the water is warm enough for swimming in summer, and you can avoid the biggest crowds.

One important thing to know: if you want to arrive early in the morning, you’ll need to reserve your parking spot at Sand Harbor State Park in advance. After around 10:30 a.m., you can enter without a reservation, but during busy summer days the parking situation can still be difficult. For us, coming later in the day was definitely the better option.

4. Hidden Beach Plaza

Location: Tahoe East Shore Trail
Parking: Paid parking along the trail

We found Hidden Beach Plaza pretty much by accident after hiking Monkey Rock and exploring the Tahoe East Shore Trail, and it ended up being one of my favorite little swimming spots around Lake Tahoe.

After doing some hiking to Monkey Rock, the trail basically brought us right down to Hidden Beach Plaza, and naturally, we had to stop for a quick swim and a little rock jumping.

There are actually loads of swimming spots along the Tahoe East Shore Trail, but Hidden Beach Plaza is one of the easiest ones to access and also one of the bigger beach areas along the trail.

There is a small path leading down to the water, so I’m glad we didn’t bring a ton of stuff with us. We only had our backpacks and towels, which was perfect. We spent about an hour here swimming, relaxing, and eating our sandwiches before continuing on.

I wouldn’t necessarily come here with a whole beach setup, chairs, and a cooler, but if you’re already exploring the Tahoe East Shore Trail and want a quick swim with amazing views, this is a fantastic little stop.

5. Chimney Beach

Location: Chimney Beach
Parking: Roadside parking + short hike required

Chimney Beach is actually the only beach on this list that I didn’t personally visit myself, but some locals we met while exploring Lake Tahoe recommended it to me, so I figured I had to include it here as well.

Apparently, the beach gets its name from an old stone chimney that is still standing right on the beach, which I assume is leftover from a cabin that used to be located here many years ago.

From what I heard, the beach itself is beautiful, with sandy areas, huge boulders, and that classic Lake Tahoe scenery that makes this whole area so special.

One thing I do want to mention though is that getting here requires a bit of a hike, so I probably wouldn’t recommend bringing your entire beach setup with chairs, coolers, and tons of gear.

I’ve also heard that many people actually paddleboard here from nearby beaches like Secret Cove, which seems like a pretty awesome way to visit because you get to enjoy the lake without having to carry everything down the trail.

My Secret Swimming Spot at Lake Tahoe (Artist’s Point)

Now this is probably my most personal recommendation in this entire guide.

My favorite swimming spot in Lake Tahoe was actually Artist’s Point, which, as far as I know, isn’t even marked on Google Maps. Don’t worry though, I’ll add the coordinates here so you can find it.

I found this place while walking along the Tahoe East Shore Trail. We had already been exploring for a while, it was getting hot, and I honestly just wanted to jump into the lake as soon as possible.

We followed a little path down toward the water and found this amazing little spot where we could put down our picnic blanket, eat our lunch, and jump straight into the lake from the big rocks.

After visiting so many popular beaches around Lake Tahoe, where we were always sharing the space with other people, it was so nice to just sit by the water, enjoy the views, and have a little bit of peace and quiet.

Just keep in mind that this is not really a beach. It’s more of a small swimming spot with rocks rather than sand, so I wouldn’t come here expecting a full beach day.

To find it, when you walk down the path at Artist’s Point, take a left first. Once you reach the lake, walk to the right for a little bit until you find an opening where you can sit down and put your picnic blanket.

FAQs About The Best Beaches in Lake Tahoe California

Is Lake Tahoe worth visiting?

Yes, 100% Lake Tahoe is worth visiting. In fact, it’s probably my favorite outdoorsy destination in California right now. I know that’s a big statement, especially with places like Yosemite and Sequoia National Park, but I personally enjoyed Lake Tahoe even more.

Can I go swimming at Lake Tahoe?

Yes, you absolutely can go swimming at Lake Tahoe, and I honestly highly recommend it. I went swimming multiple times during my visit and while I’ll be honest, the water is pretty cold since it’s glacier-fed, it’s also incredibly clear and refreshing.

Are there beaches at Lake Tahoe?

Yes, and this was actually one of the biggest surprises for me. Before visiting, I had no idea how many beaches there were around Lake Tahoe, and I mean actual beaches with sand, crystal-clear water, and beautiful scenery. Some of them honestly rival many ocean beaches I’ve visited.

Is Lake Tahoe expensive to visit?

Yes and no. I can only speak from my own experience, but of course, California is not a cheap place to visit. Restaurants, groceries, and gas were definitely more expensive compared to other places I’ve traveled.

However, I was honestly surprised by how affordable accommodation in Lake Tahoe was, especially during the summer.

What is the best time to visit Lake Tahoe?

In my opinion, spring and summer are the best times to visit Lake Tahoe. Yes, I love snowboarding and skiing, and winter in Lake Tahoe is incredible, but after experiencing summer here, I personally think the lake, beaches, hiking, and outdoor activities are hard to beat.

Final Thoughts on Where to Swim at Lake Tahoe CA

All in all, I genuinely think the beaches in Lake Tahoe are incredible. I was honestly shocked by how beautiful they were because I simply didn’t expect a mountain lake to have proper sandy beaches with water this clear.

The beaches here were honestly better than many ocean beaches I’ve visited, and after spending time here, I even started thinking that maybe I could actually see myself living in Lake Tahoe one day. I’ve always said that if I ever settle down somewhere, it would have to be close to the ocean, but after visiting Lake Tahoe I was like… okay, maybe a mountain lake could actually do it for me.

Anyway, I hope this guide on the best Lake Tahoe beaches could give you a better idea of where to go and what beaches are actually worth visiting.

Just keep in mind, there are so many more beaches around Lake Tahoe that I haven’t personally explored yet. These are simply the ones I visited, enjoyed, and would recommend based on my own experience.

Check Out My Other Lake Tahoe Guides

Is Lake Tahoe Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

My Lake Tahoe 3 Day Itinerary: How I Spent 72 Hours at Lake Tahoe

Is Lake Tahoe Expensive? My Budget Breakdown

The Best Time to Visit Lake Tahoe: When I Would Come Again