Best Kayaking In Tahoe - Sand Harbor

If you've ever spent time in Tahoe, you probably know that Sand Harbor State Park, on the East Shore of the lake just south of Incline Village, is one of the all-time great spots for beach stuff, water stuff, view stuff, landscape painting stuff, and even theater stuff (Shakespeare On The Beach at the amphitheater).

The park is comprised of a curved spit of land with amazing coves and beaches and foot paths.

If you've never been to Tahoe, check it out when you get here. Bring a picnic lunch and be prepared for an amazing experience.

Launching a kayak at Sand Harbor is extra special because of all of the above.

First, make certain you have your boat inspection sticker/paperwork.

While you can park in any of the lots and carry your kayak to the shore, the easiest way is to park in the boat-launch lot. (There are two entrances to Sand Harbor. The boat launch is at the north entrance.)

Much of the year, you can rent kayaks right on the beach next to the boat launch.

It is glorious to simply paddle around the area. For experienced paddlers, you can go up the shore to the north and paddle along the fabulous houses of Lakeshore Blvd. in Incline Village. This is where the billionaires have their lake cottages that often sell at upwards of $50 million.

You can also go the other way and paddle south down to the Thunderbird Lodge which San Francisco playboy George Whittel built in the '30s. George had a thing for fast boats and cars and exotic animals. (He kept his pet lion Bill at his 40,000-acre estate on the East Shore of Tahoe.)

The lodge, which is actually a stone castle, is now part of the Nevada State Park system. One of the closest views is from your kayak. Enjoy!

Here's a photo tour from our kayak (last fall when the water level was lower than it is now).