Want to check out Lake Tahoe and see the actual lake? You can visit Pope Beach, which is open from…read moreMemorial Day weekend through October. Pope Beach is one of several beaches located on National Forest land. When my husband and I came for a visit 2 Wednesdays ago (in March), it is during the off peak season. It has gated access for cars, in which it cost $10 (but prices increase during July 4th weekend). But we ended up parking along State Highway 89 (among other cars) and walked on the bike trail over to the beach. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed. It was nice to be able to visit this beach when it was not crowded and just watch the water (which looks to be really clean). The beach itself was very clean and this beach allows for you to swim, kayak, canoe or paddleboard. The beach does have public restrooms. There were also picnic tables and plenty of shade from the trees. Definitely a place to consider when you come to Lake Tahoe in the warmer months if you are looking for a little lake/ beach fun.

Ample Parking, multiple bathrooms, shower washing/rinse area, shallow beach area, benches, tables…read moreand trees either shade? Perfection for a beach day for friends, family and kids, except when theres a random thunderstorm of gumball sized hail. The beach is fantastic with tall trees providing much needed shade. The waves are calm and if you're lucky you can secure a table and/bench. Loads of people pack in here like sardines on the weekend so get in where you fit in because when the suns out, the funs out!

My husband and I came to Zephyr Cove - North Beach two Thursdays ago (in March). We came here to…read morekayak and decided up this spot because it was highly recommended by the woman who owned the Airbnb that we were staying in. On the afternoon that we arrived, we were lucky that the parking kiosk was not working and the gate to enter was open, so we lucked out with free parking. But will mention that this most likely was during off season because it was pretty cold on the day of our visit (we were one of very few crazy people willing to kayak in the water on this cold day (low to mid 60's). After we parked, my husband and I pulled our foldable kayaks over to the sand. After putting our kayaks together, we launched ourselves from the sand and then were off. Initially the water nice and calm but about 30 minutes into it, the waves started to get choppy and the winds were blowing kind of hard, so we only managed to kayak for about an hour but it was a fun visit. The view from my kayak was very beautiful and serene (before the winds starting to blow harder). Please note that near this beach is dog friendly, Zephyr Shoals Beach north of Zephyr Cove Resort. But where we parked and launched our kayaks is not dog friendly. There is food sold from the concession stands and there are restrooms on this beach (but I did not use any of the restrooms, nor did I purchase any food). Also kayaks are available for rent here. Overall, we had a good visit and would consider coming back here to kayak again the next time we visit Lake Tahoe.

Beautiful piney area. Long walking paths. Right along the…read morebeach. Great vistas. Unsure if dogs allowed but is off season and no one else was around. By the way she only peed and we were prepared to pick up after her.

This past Saturday was probably my millionth time coming to Lake Forest Beach. It is one of my…read morefavorite spots on the lake. Saturday's visit was probably one of my best and worst. As it was the last time that I ever got to walk my dog. He was always a very happy dog. And lake forest beach brought us both so much joy, peace, tranquility and serenity. He marked it as his many times! It was and forever will be our happy place. We shared many peaceful moments at lake forest beach. Lake Forest Beach just won't be the same without my beloved dog:(

What a find. This a beautiful peaceful beach with…read moreincredible views. It offers picnic tables, BBQ grills, ample shade, and the perfect little beach. It is also a great spot to paddle board and kayak. Perk: Dogs friendly beach. Note: It can get crowded easily because of the very small parking lot. Arrive early and bypass the crowd.

This is my favorite South Lake beach. My family and I have enjoyed camping nearby and lately it…read morehasn't been too busy or crowded. These days I avoid the over crowded beaches. It's well kept as a whole. I highly recommend this beach if you're planning to visit S. Lake. We'll be back in a few weeks.

Not a lot of beach space and squirrels were trying to grab my food! It was hard for the kids to…read moreenjoy the water. Even though it says that there is free parking available it is very limited.

Horrible they take so long and there way too many people here. The rental is way too expensiveread more

This spot on Tahoe has ahhhmazing breathtaking views, dog friendly beach access for everyone and is…read moretruly a hike to a hidden gem that you won't soon forget!! Skunk Harbor not only combines all of these wonderful attributes but also throws in a bit of history for you to check out too! Parking is FREE but limited, located at a turnoff along HWY 28 about a few miles north of the Spooner/HWY 50 junction - look for an old green pipe gate which is also the entrance to the trailhead (do NOT park in front of gate, you WILL be fined). After you park, grab your gear (keep in mind there are NO facilities - take out what you take in). Travel along the old dirt road on the other side of the green gate through the Tahoe forest. When you reach the fork in the road you have 2 choices: left fork leads to Prey Meadows which is blanketed with many varieties of wildflowers in the spring anddd right fork leads you to Skunk Harbor. Throughout your hike down to Skunk Harbor take in the breathtaking picture worthy views all around. Upon your arrival to the beach be sure to find the historical remants of an old railroad ramp used to supply timber to Virginia City after the Comstock Lode plus an abandoned stone house along the waters edge with historical markers from the 1920s that belonged to the wealthy family of George Newhall built as a summer house here for vacations and parties. Everything was brought in by boat, during the Roaring Twenties ~ WOW!! This is a MUST DO!! Hike is roughly 3 miles round trip, I always enjoy an adventure / hike with a reward at the end, Skunk Harbor not only has this throughout but pays off at the end. Be prepared for a bit of workout on the way back out as it is uphill and can be exposed depending on time and season/weather. So bring plenty of H20 and take your time but this hidden gem is worth it!!

My favorite spot to hang out and enjoy Lake Tahoe's pristine waters. If you get there early enough…read moreand don't do in the dead of summer, you'll have a good shot of having it all to yourself. My last 3 trips have resulted in me being the only one down there for a solid couple hours. The trail and beach are dog friendly, so bring your companion along with you. It's a short hike in and out but beware, your going up and up on the way out. Nothing impossibly difficult, but it can wind you. Other than that, go out and enjoy it. Leave no trace, respect the historic building down there, and don't feed the wildlife. Oh, by the way, parking can be a pain. There's only room for maybe 6-7 cars if they cozy up with one another. So like I said above, getting here early is key.

Amazing spot. Chill for you and the kiddos. There's sand that's not all rocky so the kids CAN play…read more It's clean. It's small. Parking isn't that hard as long as you don't block driveways or park like an idiot. That's my new beach next time I'm in that area . That's how much I loved it.

Great little beach one accesses by walking a short trail. It was perfect for the grandkids. There…read moreis a wooden pier that some people enjoyed jumping off into the lake. A small beach area with a few picnic tables above.

The best spot for peace and quiet when it's busy. There was alot of people but you never heard…read moreanyone. It was so clean and such a great experience. We went on a Saturday morning around 10am.

The South Lake Tahoe area (in my opinion) is the most active section, offering the most sights,…read moreattractions and scenic hikes for anyone interested in exploring Tahoe for a weekend getaway. That's how I'd describe my vacation here when I visited. First off....for anyone looking into affordable accommodations.....I stayed at the Lake Tahoe Ambassador Lodge. This motel was a real quaint place to stay and pretty cheap compared to anywhere else. Although I booked a reservations months in advance, I paid $62 per night for 2 evenings! An absolute bargain! So yeah....this Ambassador Lodge is located right behind the main section and casual walking area of South Lake Tahoe....a 5 minute walk. I left my car parked here at the lodge and walked over to the main roads for dinner twice here in the evening times. Also here...is a main attraction.....The Heavenly Gondola. A cable car ride transporting you up to the top of Lake Tahoe w/ stunning views of the turquoise blue and green waters below. Though...when buying a ticket....I waited in line for a good 20 minutes! It's popular. Be prepared for lines. Also, the round trip ride up top and back down below was a whopping $53! When I visited...weather and thunderstorms were in the area delaying and halting the gondola ride, unfortunately. Here in South Lake Tahoe....on the main strip and road...there's plenty of restaurants to eat at along with a couple of casinos to gamble in. And...you can browse and window shop the stores. It's a real nice and pleasant area with lots going on. Don't forget to grab a photo of the iconic giant ski lift chair saying "Welcome to Lake Tahoe"! It was a memorable and worthwhile picture moment. A few of the main attractions in this South Lake Tahoe area included....Inspiration Point (eh, quite mediocre overlook), Lower Eagle Falls at Emerald Bay State Park (not the upper), Vikingsholm Castle in Emerald Bay State Park, the quiet and picturesque shoreline below at Emerald Bay State Park, and of course.....the majestic views of Emerald Bay from the parking lot area of Emerald Bay State Park. So...in general....Emerald Bay State Park is an absolute MUST when here in the South Lake Tahoe section! Continuing....Cascade Falls is a decent hike around here. It takes you along the coastline and edge with beautiful views of Cascade Lake. Though...I never found Cascade Falls. Still, the hike is one of the better paths to traverse. That about wraps up the main highlights from my time here in South Lake Tahoe. But for those still interested.....from this area....I navigated clockwise around Lake Tahoe w/ making Squaw Valley the next main stop along my itinerary. Just some extra side notes....parking in South Lake Tahoe is very difficult. That's why I left my car at the Ambassador Lodge and walked around when I could...especially heading out for dinner and on over to Heavenly Gondola. The shops and stores around here offer gifts and souvenirs. At night....there's good restaurants with seating outside in the mild summer weather along w/ music and entertainment being played. Don't forget nearby (backtracking a little) Sand Harbor Beach was absolutely STUNNING w/ wonderful views of the Lake Tahoe backdrop and beyond. The colors of the waters here (I swear) were clear w/ hints of turquoise green. It's a very popular area w/ virtually no parking during peak times of the day. Certainly worthwhile to visit and relax in late afternoon (5pm and beyond) when I came by. Parking was $10....but totally worth it. Overall, South Lake Tahoe is the most active section of Lake Tahoe. Hope some of these recommended highlights assists folks in navigating around the area.