We ended up at Chimney Beach Trailhead while looking for a beach in the area. Unbeknownst to us, and something to definitely keep in mind is that this is definitely a moderately difficult hike/trail - with an absolutely stunning beach to enjoy at the bottom of it. The trail itself has no signage, and is very windy with many different options to get (lost) to different sections of the beach . As with many of the other beaches in the area... It was super clean and clear waters, and an amazing lake view at the beach. read more

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We lucked out and did this hike down to the beach on a weekday when it wasn't too busy. Parking in the lot was not an option, too full, but we did park along the roadside. The hike down is very steep, but not long. There are tons of great bird and plants and lizards etc to enjoy on the way up and down. There are several small beach spots to enjoy at the bottom, with calm cool waters with so many colors of blue and soft pebble sand. This beach is definitely worth the 1.5ish mile roundtrip walk. read more

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One of my go-to beaches in my youth. My friends and I would always go in a large group during the week. Carpool and hike in what we'd need for the day. Nostalgia set in visiting so many years later. I felt there was less beach this last time around. I really wouldn't recommend packing heavy with coolers and heavy umbrellas. My Tommy Bahama cooler chair and portable umbrella saves me every Summer. It's a rocky little hike and I wouldn't recommend taking younger children. It was a great day date and we are looking forward to visiting again next Summer as this season closes. Tip: Get there earlier to find parking and claim a spot on the beach. Please help keep Tahoe blue and pick up after yourselves!!! We packed other visitors trash in with us. It's a shame! read more

Our favorite beach on Lake Tahoe. Only caution is that there is a bit of a hike to reach it and the top part is a little steep, but manageable - I find it easier to use trekking poles because I have slightly wonky knees. read more

Chimney Beach - The chimney of Chimney Beach - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

Hiked down from the parking lot to a secluded rocky spot south of chimney beach. Swam and sunned on the rocks and swam out to a couple of them. Waves may get a bit strong and the underwater rocks are slippery from slime but a great experience. We were lucky and found a spot in the parking lot right away but most of the time you'll need to park in the street. Avoid the white line to avoid a ticket. read more

Chimney Beach - Offshore rock Lake Tahoe near Chimney beach - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

1st visit here was in 1973. We had the entire area to ourselves. Today - not so much !! Chimney Beach sits on National Forest lands two miles south of Sand Harbor State Park. A parking lot is on the east side of Highway 28, across from the trailhead down to Lake Tahoe. The trail is steep & please stick to the switch-backs so it doesn't become ruined more than it already has. **If you are not physically fit, this is NOT for you** The beach is named for the stone chimney that still remains on the lakeshore. It's all that's left of a caretaker's cabin. This once hidden treasure is a small sandy lakeshore area that has become very popular. The clear water & mega scenic views of Lake Tahoe remain pretty much unmatched. Unlike most of the Lake's beaches, dogs are allowed with signed restrictions. Give Chimney Beach a try & be respectful. There is nobody there to clean up after you !!#@#!! read more

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Chimney beach was the last resort place on our trip to Lake Tahoe. Our original plan was to get to Sand Harbor lake at 6:30am but by the time we got there, it already reached full capacity. So we came to chimney beach which looked almost identical and way less crowded. The only down side is the hike down to the beach from the parking lot. So my advice is to pack light cause it is a mission to go up after a long day of swimming and soaking in the sun. Also, I encountered a lot of trash on my way back to the parking lot. I tried my best to pick up as much as I could, so if you are visiting please pick up after yourselves. read more

Chimney Beach - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

If you are looking for crystal clear water beach and quiet place to hang around , this is the right beach . You may had very hard time to find the parking there therefore be there early .Hiked 15-20mins to the beach would definitely worth it . Love it and highly recommend it read more

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Fantastic beach !! But in the summer from Mid June until late August, practically impossible to find parking after about 9 am or before 4 pm. Really nice place, very relaxing, amazing view of the lake. Great exercise too, hiking back up the trail to the road, pretty good cardio workout !!! On occasion nudists sunbathe on this beach, especially in years when the lake level is very high. It's one of the few beaches in the area that still has a good amount of sandy beach when the lake is at or near it's highest level. Highly recommended !!!! read more

Chimney beach is located just 30 minutes from Carson, NV. This place is highly recommended! The short drive is beautiful if you want to take a few hours out of your day to enjoy mother nature. We came on a cold November day but that didn't stop us. It was slightly snowing when we arrived. Parking is limited but we didn't have any issue on a Saturday. There is a short 10-15 minutes hike to the beach and the view is breathtaking. You'll know when you get there when you can see a chimney right on the beach. The water is clear and calm. This is definitely worth checking out and you can easily kill a few hours exploring the area. There are other trails that we want to come back in the future read more

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This beach is literally a small hidden gem that not many people go to because it's sort of a trek to get to the beach and more challenging to find. If you're coming from Reno, follow the GPS but keep driving on the road until you see a small parking area on the left (fits about 5-6 cars) - feel free to park on the area right in front of the trees. (Parking is free!!) Tip is to bring hiking shoes or some kind of close-toed shoe so you can hike down to the beach! It's not impossible (I did it half barefoot and half in Birkenstocks) but the pine needles do get pokey and the side of the mountain is slippery and semi-sketch (there's plenty of rocks and stuff to hold on to but better safe than sorry). Hike takes maybe like 15 mins and isn't strenuous, it really is just kind of slippery/downhill and depends on how much stuff you're lugging. Once you hike down the side of the mountain area (just follow the path) and get to the rock ledges that lead down to the water, just be careful and find a chill area to set up your stuff (my friend and I brought lawn/beach chairs and set them up on a little level area on the rocks where we could look out onto the water, but there wasn't an abundance of space). I wouldn't recommend bringing giant paddleboards or kayaks down this beach, it's rough to try to get it down the rocks and the beach isn't super accessible with large items like that. The water is EXTREMELY clear and beautiful - but just be careful because there's a bunch of rocks on the floor underwater that you can cut your foot on, so just be careful. I came here this past summer on the tail end of the season like early September, so there were only like 3 small groups of people here, but in the summer I heard it does get pretty busy. The water is freaking amazing though, perfect place to enjoy some beers, read, play in the water. read more

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I fell in love with Lake Tahoe. The history alone was quite fascinating. When I arrived in Lake Tahoe the first stop was Chimney Beach. As soon as I found a spot I set up tent, blew up the tubes and dunked into the beautiful lake it was so relaxing and the water felt so fresh. The walking trail to the lake was about 10 minutes. Wonderful experience:))) read more

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if you are not physically fit do not attempt to hike down to this lame little beach. trust me it's not worth it. about 3 miles down extremely steep. i fell twice, it's a small little "beach" with extremely hypothermic water. read more

Great dog friendly beach! Finding a dog friendly beach around Lake Tahoe is hard, but this one is great for pups! It's definitely a steep hike down to the beach, so if you have bad knees or are brining a whole wagon of beach gear, you may want to find another beach. However, if you live adventure, beautiful views, and fun boulders to climb on, this is the place for you! I would suggest bringing blondes toed swim shoes bc the sand is more like pebbles read more

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5 stars forsure! Great 10 minute little hike down to get to the beautiful view. If your out of shape like me and my husband it'll be a 20 min hike up LOL but so worth it! Love this place. & even better it's dog friendly so our little one was able to swim with us read more

Chimney Beach - Almost down to the beach! Such a great view. - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

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Lovely place to watch the sunset. The hike down isn't too bad you reach the beach and can enjoy the water! Made sweet memories here, thank you nature. read more

There are a series of 3 small beaches, each separated by rocks. The last beach contains the chimney. Unfortunately, there was a large group already there so my friends & I settled at the 2nd beach next to a tree. The sand is kind of sharp and was a bit uncomfortable barefooted. Dog and kayak friendly. There were people who brought inflatable tubes/kayaks/boat which seemed like fun to be on considering the water is always cold. There are some rocks you can swim to that are close to the beach as well. The trail isn't too difficult, we made it in flip flops, I would say it was less than a mile. The parking lot contains about 20 spots and was full when we arrived (around 2PM) but there were people parked along the street. Don't park in the rain gutter immediately close to the parking lots as we saw a car get ticketed by highway patrol. Overall, it was a clean and family/pet-friendly beach. read more

Chimney Beach - View from the 2nd small beach. - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

I mean...easily one of my favorite spots in the state. Gorgeous views, great sand, hidden, crystal clear water... totally worth the small hike. Kiddos love climbing all the giant rocks, great for watching cliff divers, small and private, perfect slice of Tahoe paradise. read more

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Our favorite beach area second only to Hawaii. We've been here several times and consider it THE highlight of any trip to Tahoe. There is an official Chimney Beach, but don't dismay if the crowds beat you to it and lack of parking has you tempted to turn away. In truth, this whole area is "Chimney Beach" and even if you find LEGAL but perilous parking a mile away, there are numerous trails beckoning you down to the water's edge and your own slice of paradise. DO park legally. Off the road. DO follow a clearly marked trail and avoid cutting switchbacks...erosion is a problem here. Just walk along the road till you find one. DO bring hiking shoes and change into flip flops or sandals after you reach the beach area. DO save / bring water for the return hike back up to your vehicle. It's grueling. DO pack in / pack out. Keep this place as pristine as possible. DO be prepared for several "oh ah" views! Not to mention the occasional "oh my" views as you pass a nudist sunning themselves in full glory. Don't get me wrong, this place is no nudist colony but there hasn't been a time we've been and NOT seen at least one sun seeker baring it all. DO take a dip in the clearest, purist waters you've ever seen. On a hot summer day? So refreshing! If you think it's too cold, trust me....it's fine once you get in. DO check water depths before you leap! Most of the time, the water clarity makes the bottom appear closer than it is....but I've been caught by surprise on occasion and was amazed when a submerged boulder was closer to the surface than expected. Never been hurt myself, but I know others have. Be safe. Help is a long way off. read more

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Chimney Beach is a gorgeous beach that isn't packed on the weekend. The reason this beach isn't packed is because of the 15 minute hike to the beach that is not for the faint of heart. Kids can do this hike but it will be very intense on the way up. I struggled on this hike and I consider myself pretty physically fit. You do not want to bring very heavy items down to the beach- especially rolling coolers, or anything else that is clumsy to carry. You will also want to wear tennis shoes for the hike (just pack flip flops for relaxing) because the hike crosses quite a bit of rocks and the hike back up is really elevated that will hurt your feet in flip flops. When you do get to the beach the water access is huge and there are areas that are shaded by trees and rocks. There is an actual chimney at the beach that you can have a fire in (check the board on the way to the beach to check for current laws)! Dogs are allowed on this beach and there were a few dogs off leash when the forest troopers came through and it didn't look like they got in trouble for it. It's a great beach for the dogs! Finally, the address that Yelp has is INCORRECT. It brings you about 2 miles past where the trail head is. The beach actually has a paved parking lot with about 20 spots. If you're coming from Carson City the lot is on the left side of the road. If you're coming from Tahoe City the lot is on the right side of the road. read more

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We tried to go to a nearby beach, but dogs weren't allowed and we were recommended to go to this place. There was no parking in the lot, so we parked on the street & walked... it's an intermediate 15 min hike down (but very pretty). We made it down in flip flops, but if you're not used to hiking I'd pack proper shoes. After hiking all the way down, we found a private area right before chimney beach all to ourselves (overlooking chimney beach). It was beautiful, clear water. If it's a hot summer day, the cold water is quite refreshing. I liked the area we picked because there were huge boulders to lay out on, and we were aay from the crowd. Things to bring/pack: - proper hiking shoes if you're not used to steep sandy/silty/rocky elevation hikes - towel, bathing suit, sunscreen - snacks & water read more

Chimney Beach - Chimney beach is right around the corner from this secluded spot. You can find many tiny coves along the way - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

SMALL beach that was full by 9:45am on a Wednesday. The little space we had only fit one beach towel for 5 of us. Yea, it's that crowded. Small parking lot (lots of people park along the road but at 9 something am we got the last spot in the lot). From the lot the beach is a long walk to get there (~ 1 mile on mostly paved road and stairs). Only 1 disability parking spot. There are "porta potty" style bathrooms in lot. From the parking lot you can hike downhill on dirt trails (****different from paved road) and get to other parts of the lake/water but no sand (15 mins) down those trails. Just quiet views and boulders you can climb down to the water. If you opt to hike the dirt trail to water, skip the strollers and wagons. It's easier to carry your things. read more

Shhhhhhh. Don't tell anyone about this place! It's awesome, but if you tell too many people, it will get (even more) crowded. (half serious, half joking - this place is not exactly a secret!) However, arrive no later than 8a (on weekdays, even earlier on Sat/Sun) if you want a parking spot at Secret Harbor parking lot. (allow extra time for the daily traffic snafu at Sand Harbor if you are coming from the Incline Village direction). If you arrive late and all of the 20-25 parking spots are taken, I recommend NOT parking on the road near this parking lot. Apparently you WILL get a ticket. Park 1/4 mile south (or wherever the signs say you can begin parking legally) and walk. From the parking lot, you'll find the trail down on the left side. Trail down is about 3/4 mile or about 15-20 mins. If you see any forks on the trail, always go right. You'll end up at Chimney Beach and it is GLORIOUS. I recommend being there from 830a-1230p. At 1230p, hoards of people start arriving, but the morning hours are peaceful and serene. The hike back up 3/4 mile is tough, but the whole experience is well worth the effort. read more

Chimney Beach is one of Lake Tahoe's classics! It requires a short hike to get to. This is so wonderful because it will be crowded on the weekends...if not for the hike it would be overrun completely. The name comes from a chimney that is all that remains from a cottage that is long since gone. The free-standing chimney is cool in and of itself...put it on a pristine beach with several beautiful boulder fields in the water just to the north of the beach and you have something truly special! Getting there can be a little bit of a trick the first time. There is a parking area on the east side of Hwy 28 a few miles south of Sand Harbor...and another on the west side of Hwy 28 a little farther south. You can access Chimney Beach from the north or the south from either parking area. read more

Chimney Beach - Chimney Beach at night - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

This was a great place to hike and hang out. I would say trail is beginner but it can be pretty steep going back up, so be mindful and take your time. There are lots of rocky outcroppings for the adventurous and the water is beautiful. The views are spectacular. Bring snacks and make a day of it. read more

Chimney beach is gorgeous! Nice little beach off hwy 28. My fav beach in Tahoe! There's a nice little hike with breath taking views down to the beach (see photos). The water is clear & freezing, but it feels good on a hot sunny day. It's a smaller beach & it's secluded. I find it much more peaceful than other beaches in Tahoe. Great place for a little picnic & to bring dogs. Both my dog babies had a great time here! There's no restrooms so make sure not to drink too much! Had a really nice time here today, the weather was perfect! Can't wait to go back to Chimney beach! read more

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Smaller beach, plenty of hiking and swimming, free parking, and a much small crowd than the one at Sand Harbor. Chimney Beach is absolutely great and is one of the perfect sunset spots since it faces west. There are a few lots near the trailhead and there is also some parking along the highway. Once you get to the trailhead there is a 15-20 minute hike down to the beach. Hiking shoes are not necessary, but they help keep some sand and pine needles out of your flip flops. The hike back up to the highway is very easy/moderate and not steep at all. The trailhead ends on one beach but if you keep walking to the left or the right, there are some rocks, coves, and other beach areas you can access. It is a bit rocky so this might not be the best beach for little kids, but it is a great place for adults to go! The beach is considerably private but is growing in popularity so getting there early in the day is best if you want a shaded spot or easy parking. read more

Such an awesome beach. There's a small parking lot but honestly not a big deal. A lot of cars just ended up parking on the side of the road. You definitely want to get there early to claim a good spot. We ended up bringing my dog who LOVED it so much. Highly recommend it! read more

Awesome Awesome Awesome Definite place to go if you can afford the mini hiking. Good for kids. Dog is allowed it seems. read more

Chimney Beach - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

So far this is my favorite beach in Lake Tahoe! It's peaceful, not so crowded, and has a lot of cool rocks to climb. People bring their dogs, inflatables, snorkels and picnic food. The sand feels much cleaner than King's beach, and there are many little nooks to enjoy your lunch! Many photo ops here! read more

Chimney Beach - Near the end of the hike right before you hit the beach! Fun rocks to climb! - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

Heard about Chimney Beach from a local in Tahoe. It's a little bit of a hike down the mountain but the water is crystal blue and the views are beautiful! I've been the a couple times and one time the water was really rough and the other time the water was completely calm and you could swim out to some of the big boulders in Lake Tahoe. read more

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Free parking a short (less than a mile) hike and boom you're at a local favorite: Chimney Beach. Free parking is a big deal for Tahoe as many places make you pay. I wouldn't recommend hiking large water toys like kayaks and paddle boards down there (trust me, those suckers are TERRIBLY inconvenient to hike out). While hike itself is not bad, it can be a bit dusty and include some downhill action, so don't wear heels or try to bring great grandma down there unless she's an absolute beast. It's absolutely gorgeous and the sand is pristine. Beware: this year there is very little beach to choose from due to high water levels, but still totally worth it. Due to lack of beach I would recommend an easily portable floaty. But, I would recommend that going to any lake :) read more

Chimney Beach - No filter...it's seriously that gorgeous - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

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Beautiful spot in north Lake Tahoe. Local favorite. It's a bit hard to find because I got lost getting here. It's too bad you have to park on the side of the highway and cross the street because the parking lot is no longer open. There's a sign that says chimney beach this way. I hiked down only to get lost and ended up at another spot. I actually never made it to chimney beach. I got to basically a cove area and thought it was chimney beach lager to find out it wasn't thru yelp. If you're ever in Tahoe, do visit. It's very calm and relaxing. The water is beautiful !!! A must see. read more

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The beach is nice and all but people do not pick up after themselves! Found so much trash and clothes left in the trees and scattered all over... it's so disgusting.. read more

Chimney Beach - Seriously saw underwear randomly throughout the trail this was only 1 out of 4 that I saw...people need to keep the beaches clean! - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

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This place is beeeaaauuuutiful and great spot to go in the water and enjoy with your dog. We got there pretty early round 10ish. It was great and the crowd there was soo nice and respectful of space. We ended up leaving around 2ish because crowds were coming in and were super rude climbing or walking over us on the beach. One got too close for comfort for our dog lol. So come early and leave eary unless you like ppl invading your space. read more

this place is ok when you come here you get a nice view. but there are 2 problems 1. you can get lost in the woods 2. you can experience cold wheather. when i went inside the waves it was cold so dont forget to bring a jacket! read more

Chimney Beach - a beatiful view - Beaches Near Me - Carson City, Nevada

Great little beach tucked away on the twists and turns of Hwy 28. There's a sign at the trail head saying "No Glass, No Camping, Watch for Bears, etc" but no actual marker for the beach... you kinda have to know where to go. The trailhead is between some huge boulders, across the highway from a parking lot with a split-Y entrance / exit. The trail itself: When you first start down, stay to the left! We learned the hard way that the old, scary steep, cross a creek on a rickety bridge trail (the one we'd always taken) has been abandoned for a new, gently sloped trail that's a hell of a lot more user friendly. We practically bushwacked our way through the foliage, and carrying a jogging stroller across boudlers? So not fun. STAY TO THE LEFT! The beach itself is tiny, so get here early. The views of the lake are hard to beat, and there are great places to jump into deep water from the rocks. The sand here is nice too - somehow it's managed to avoid being full of pineneedles like every other beach in Tahoe. The wind picks up in mid to late afternoon, and you get some killer waves. Not surf-worthy, but so fun to throw yourself into! read more

White sand, some part is just rocky, some part is just flat beach -Great place for a short hike, nice view of the ocean w/ lots of big rocks. Great for photography. I ate my lunch on the rocks, and I must say .... the view is breath-taking !!!!!!!! -Wear hiking shoes and bring flipflops when get to the beach area read more

It's a hike but completely worth it! The beach is gorgeous. The water is a perfect clear blue, it was calm when we went and clean for the kids. I would say the trail is a medium level. My 3 year old Hiked the whole way down but had to be carried up. It took about 20 minutes to get down 35 (for us with kids) to get back up. On the way down, if you want to see the actual chimney, Stay right, you'll reach a little board bridge, some stairs and you're there! *Be careful on you way back up!!! we got a little lost, the trail gets a little hard to follow. Best advice is if you feel like you've gone too far, you have. The trail was actually easier to see back tracking. *wear real shoes!!! This is a hike after all and flip flops will just not do. * bug spray, you are hiking through woods and lots of critters live in it. A first aid kit in the car is not a bad idea either. *Bring water! You'll work up a sweat, especially on the way up. *The only real bathroom is located in the parking area. *Lastly, there are no trash cans so please carry everything out you bring in. Let's keep this beautiful piece of nature clean so we can keep visiting it year after year. read more

Best way I heard this beach described: "Wild" This beach has no trash cans, no bar-be-cue grills, no lifeguard posts, and no bar. It's raw, quiet, beautiful, and hidden, and is a great counter to Sand Harbor State Park. There is a small unmarked parking lot on the lakeside of State Route 28 about 15 minutes south of Incline Village, and even on a weekend in the summer we were able to find a spot. How can you pass up free beach parking at Tahoe? From the lot, it's about a 20-minute walk downhill to Chimney Beach and/or Secret Cove. It's this walk that keeps most of the people away from Chimney. It's not arduous, but it can be steep at parts, and does not make for easy transfer of big coolers or beach chairs. Once you navigate the trail down, the beach is pristine, very sandy, and, frankly, idyllic. So glad I read the other Yelp reviews on this before we decided on a beach, and I can't wait to get back. read more