I've had this bookmarked for yeeearrssss, and my kids are teens now, so there's only a few summers…read moreleft before their lives get busy. We had business in the Davis area, and stopped at Wake Island on a Saturday mid-July. It was HOTTTT and the park was pretty busy. We didn't plan ahead with a ton of notice, our decision was pretty last-minute, so we weren't 100% prepared. It doesn't look like much at the end of a sketchy dirt road lines with foxtails & weeds, but an oasis of aqua blue water awaits inside! Cabanas were already sold out, and I didn't know you were expected to bring your own shade & chairs, but we made the best of it. Admission is a little spendy, and the wake boarding portion is an add-on. Lockers are available for rent and there is food and drinks & even adult bevs for sale. Lifejackets are required for ALL entering the water and are provided by the park. Water shoes are essential, IMO, the hot springs feel of the water just made the obstacle course so slick. Seeing all the middle-aged parents out there, wooo buddy, some ACLs/MCLs - all the CLs - were straining this day! We had a blast, and so did our 14yo & 16yo, and if you know *anything* about teens, is they made everything seem like it's just no fun until afterwards LOL. They already said they'd like to go back! Pro tip: bring beach chairs, pop-up or umbrella, and LOTS of sunscreen & some decent water shoes, towels or sandsheet. The only downside was there were TONS of rowdy older teens running & tackling each other. Clearly athletes/football players, they didn't really seems to care that they ran over kids & bumped into other people, as long as they got to body slam each other into the water. So keep your head on a swivel before its your ACL that gets in their way.

Experience was amazing. This was my first time at Wake Island and I must say. I'm glad I checked…read moreTikTok before going. Water shoes and a pop up tent or canopy with chairs are a must if your not renting a cabana there is no shaded area or seating on the beach so pack like your going to a state beach. No outside foods are allowed even though we did see people with food set up at their sites they brought in (kinda felt like we were the only ones without our own food. The key is to sneak it in but we were being honest people) . I guess since it was in a bag and not a cooler they didn't care. They do let you bring in reusable water bottles. This is a great place to bring your family they have the main obstacle course (not for the weak Lol ) which you'll have to be 48" and taller to participate in, but they also have a less intense one for the little kids ans toddlers. There's a slide and zip lining which is included in the price. We choose Groupon for our entry. They also have the wake boarding for an additional fee. Con and definitely should be evaluated!!! The only problem I had was there was no dress code and for this to be a place for families and people of all ages to be at why are girls walking around with their butts out! I don't mean the swimsuits wedgie but full on thong bikinis around children ! I was disgusted to see that and it was just ok. Like it's a time and a place for everything. Not saying the need full on water suites but decorum and consideration along with respect for others goes along way. I kno you can't make someone wear something different but when you go bowling you have to wear the special shoes right ! They should consider no cheeks out at wake island. Other then that. I definitely will go back ! Great price and a fun day !

For the July 4th 2026 fireworks show, our friends, who are residents of Truckee, offered to get my…read moreparty of 6 tickets to see the show at West End Beach at Donner Lake. In order to buy the tickets at the Community Recreation Center, you must be able to show one proof of residency (driver's license, service/utility bill, car registration, current tax bill with an address in the district) and a resident can buy up to 8 tickets. Tickets are NOT sold at the gate. At $25 per person, the whole experience which includes the show at 9:30pm, games for the family beginning at 1:30pm, really good live music, plenty of port-o-potties, and lake fun complete with water rentals, food concessions is pretty good. Being this was our first time at West End Beach, there were lots of decisions to make. After researching this event, here's what we decided: - Take the free shuttle from Truckee High School which begins at 3pm - Bring our own food that was packed in a thermal bag to keep it hot instead of heating up the food at the beach. Although alcoholic beverages are allowed, glass of any kind is prohibited and checked at the gate. When we arrived at the beach around 4pm, there appeared to be no good picnic spots near the lake because those people arrive early in the morning before the gate opens at 9am. However, there's plenty of space to have a picnic meal with picnic tables, but the roped-off area in the park specifically states that the area must be cleared by 7pm. While there was plenty of space in the roped-off area, where would we go after 7pm? As it turns out, things and people begin to shift by about 7pm. In order to avoid putting things away in the dark after the show is over, people are putting their canopies and other equipment away and the family games have ended creating more space to watch the fireworks. After walking around, we found some open spots in the grass to lay down our picnic blankets to watch the show. Speaking of arriving early, there is a beach parking lot which has a limited amount of spaces and those people arrive by 6am to claim those precious spots. One lucky person I spoke with said he arrived at just before 7am to claim the last parking space. Having a parking space would have meant I could have launched my kayak, but my party of 6 was content to play in the water and play games while waiting for the 9:30pm show. If you're going to cook or heat your food, you must bring your own equipment. In fact, you see people cooking on their full-sized BBQs! There were only a few people cooking on the charcoal grills. After the show is over just before 10pm, the shuttle buses are waiting, but it takes a while for everyone to load. Nevertheless, we made it back to the Truckee High School around 10:45p. Since there was some wait time on the bus, I struck up a conversation with the person next to me who said he didn't arrive at West End Beach until 8:40pm and there was still plenty of space for him and his daughter to see the show. If you want to skip bringing your own food/beverages, chairs, and umbrellas, arriving before the show starts sounds like a good option. Lying on our blankets with our coats on was an ideal way for us to watch the show as it felt up close and personal. The show was spectacular.

It's a great, convenient beach, but it will cost ya. They do charge and it's not cheap and this…read morebeach gets crowded. The beach itself has a large sandy area, which is fun. In the summer, there are plenty of life guards, a fairly large parking lot that does fill up fast, pickleball courts, and boat rentals. However, it can get so crowded, so buyer beware. When it's not crowded, it's lovely! Overall, a great Donner Lake beach.

Visiting Backcountry was such a refreshing experience. From the moment I walked in, everyone was…read morewarm, friendly, and genuinely happy to help. You can immediately feel the good energy in the space. The team was not only knowledgeable, but fun and engaging to be around. They took the time to answer questions, offer guidance, and make sure I felt set up and excited for the adventure ahead. Nothing felt rushed or transactional. It felt like being welcomed by people who truly love what they do and love sharing it with others. They made me feel comfortable, included, and ready to get out there and enjoy everything Tahoe has to offer. In a mountain town, places like this really stand out. Great people, great vibe, and the kind of shop that makes you want to come back. Highly recommend supporting them.

Lee's the shit! Super helpful. Gave advice, recs and was very kind. Everyone that works here is…read morevery helpful.