Such a beautiful place to be in. I went as soon as they opened at 8am. I reserved in the website which looked a bit confusing but anyway i got the spot reserved. The beach was very nice and water still cold so we just stayed by the beach area and watch the beautiful scenery. I love their Visitor Center. It has bathrooms and they have a lot of products. I love collecting stuff every place i visit so it's a plus. read more

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Definitely not my favorite beach and costs money to enter the park. If you didn't make a reservation, you can get in after 10:30am if there is space. We wanted to come to rent paddle boards but saw that the beach was crowded with people. Wouldn't opt to hang out at this beach if we wanted to have a chill morning. read more

What an absolutely beautiful place! The massive, smooth rock formations scattered along the water here are so unique and stunning. We specifically came out here for the sunset because the northern part of Lake Tahoe gives you the absolute perfect angle for it. We arrived around 7:30 PM to claim a spot and wait for the sun to drop. Pro-tip: the absolute best view for the sunset is right near the BBQ place on the bridge that leads over to the sandy beach. A ton of people come here during the day just for the beach itself. It's a really extensive, wide sandy beach area, though the water was definitely on the colder side! For me, the real highlight was just sitting back, taking in those iconic smooth boulders, and watching the incredible sunset colors over the lake. Highly recommend saving an evening for this spot! read more

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After many attempts online to snag a rsvp parking ticket for our last day here. We finally got one. I read many reviews that a reservation a must to enter here. Getting here before 10:30am guarantee. Yes there is traffic but we came 15mins before they closed the gate. So they definitely do close off the gate to control the crowds here. Weather a bit chilly here. Everyone hanging out or riding kayaks and paddle boarding. A beach full of swimsuit and hoodies. I guess the best way to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake. Picture doesn't do justice it is truly beautiful here. Restroom available but I didn't see any feet washing station. A restaurant for a quick bit available close to walking on premises. read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

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One of my favorite spots on the lake and the perfect spot to bring any friends or family from out of town. read more

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I'm sorry but this beach disappointed me so much, this is the worst traffic I even experienced in my life and if you book a reservation I'm sorry but you don't get your money back, there's tons of beach you can go. Me and my family wasted an hour just for nothing and we have no where to go, the patrol shut down the road and being rude to kick us out, we don't know where we're going, fortunately we're able to make a U turn after 6 miles (almost crash into a truck btw) even money can't help you this one. Someone who owns this place just please improve the parking and traffic system, this is so disappointed for me and my family, worst day ever in my Lake Tahoe trip. Shame for the representation in Lake Tahoe!!! Don't ever go to this beach!!! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

It's my 600th review!! Sand Harbor Beach is gorgeous. The beach itself is lovely and the surrounding area is well-kept with clean bathrooms, nice walkways, large parking lots, areas for picnics, a visitor center, a restaurant, and a rental place for kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards. Of course, the water is stunning... clear enough to see through near the shoreline. And when the sun hits the water just so... the water shimmers like stars. Before going, check out parks.nv.gov for park hours, entrance fees, summer day-use reservations (April 15 through Oct 15), and other helpful information to know what you can bring or not. read more

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This is my favorite place to paddle, swim, hike, explore, & relax. It's sad that this place has gotten so popular that it's now hard to visit during warm days and summer months. Please help keep this place clean and pristine so we can all enjoy it for a long time! read more

This is my #1 spot in Tahoe. The water on the boat launch side is sooo clear. The aqua color can't be beat and the large rocks around my kids love to climb and scramble on. This place makes me feel like I'm in some tropical place. I love that it's in Nevada. My only issue is that the bathrooms on the boat launch side consistently stink. And they are flush toilets. I think there is something coming up from the drainage pipe /pea trap. It's appealing and really needs to be addressed. read more

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Made a day trip to Tahoe as we were staying in Reno for a vball tournament. Came here end of April. Had a car rental and I think it was only $10 for NV license plate. Plenty of parking. Great weather. I thought it would be cooler. Had to take off our puffy jackets from all the exploring and rock climbing we did. Wish we had brought our bathing suits, or extra clothes and sandals to dip our feet in the beautiful clear water. I also wish I wore hiking boots for the rock climbing. Took photos everywhere. We didn't even get to explore the entire place because we had a late start in the day and had to keep moving to see the rest of Lake Tahoe. There are restrooms in the welcome center. The trash cans are those bear proof ones. There was a big gazebo area with picnic tables, it was empty. This place was not busy at all end of April. I felt like we came at a great time to visit. They also had restaurants to eat on site I think, maybe 2, but we didn't check it out. I think they even had boat rentals but idk if it was open as we didn't use that either. Little store in the front where the restrooms are at, can buy clothes and souvenirs, I got stickers. I also suggest going in the bridge path and following far to the left, you'll find a bunch of rocks where u can take more beautiful photos. I didn't get to walk the entire path cos everyone started getting hungry. read more

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Sand harbor is a great place to spend the day especially on a hot day! The sand is great at this beach. It does have a tendency of being a bit crowded on a summer day. The restaurant is convenient for a refreshing drink or to satisfy your hunger. The bathrooms could use more cleaning through out the day since there is so many visitors passing through all day. The kids had a blast paddle boarding, rock jumping, walking around, swimming and sun bathing. I do love this lace and will continue to visit whenever I get the chance. read more

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Beautiful beach! Would definitely come back. Highly recommend you reserve a spot early to park here. It gets crazy packed and crowded especially on the weekend. Plenty of bathrooms throughout, only issue is that one of the restrooms did clog, but there were others to use. Also no grilling is available on the beach, so you need to pack food and bring it with you in a cooler. Overall, loved this place! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

I booked a Friday day pass online Tuesday night -- it was easy. There's one big cove and a smaller cove. I left Tahoe City and got there in about 40 minutes, waited less than 5 minutes to get in. Heads up: no dogs allowed, and the paddleboard rental line after 11am was so long that we ended up skipping it. Lots of families around. Definitely a quintessential spot to visit, and I'd come back but next time, I'm bringing the canopy, chairs, the whole setup. Seems like everyone camps out for the day. Bring games, food, snacks, drinks, floaties, an inflatable paddleboard... read more

Sand Harbor Beach - what your pass looks like. - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

Love this beautiful state park offering a beautiful beach with clear water, boulders, mountains views, and a beautiful boardwalk along the water. Had no issues with parking in October both times I've come. Clean restrooms as well. $10 to park if you're a Nevada resident. $15 if you're not. Next time I'd love to come back and experience the beach during the warmer months. read more

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Heaven? Paradise? Sand Harbor! No words can adequately express the beauty of the best beach on the most transcendentally pulchritudinous lake on the planet. The new reservation system seems to work fine. There was still a line out onto the highway at the entrance but it may have been due to some road construction. The reservation system does reduce the anxiety of the unknown at least. read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Water and beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

Absolutely, positively an undeniably beautiful beach, which gives you the full experience of the nature and scale of Lake Tahoe!! The water was so clear you could see the stones beneath the surface, and the big boulders added extra drama to the view of the surrounding mountains! You literally feel like you have just stepped into a postcard. We went in early July and it was peaceful, not overly crowded, and perfect for just relaxing, wading in the water, or having a family picnic. We ended up staying much longer than planned because it was just that beautiful. If you're looking for a scenic, calming spot to unwind and really take in Lake Tahoe's natural beauty, this beach is a gem. There are two options for beach spaces & an amazing walk that you can take with information on the geology of the lake as well as the history of its inhabitants and nature. read more

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Stunning part of Tahoe! Worth the hype. Luckily didn't have any problems getting in. It's a beautiful place to relax or take the boardwalk around the water. It's literally like a painting come to life. Bunch of divers and hikers! read more

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I've been here twice now during the winter and it's still so beautiful! The water is so clear near shore and the snow really adds to the overall vibe. There is also a short and easy walking trail that you can take around the bay - just be careful as it can be icy! The entrance fee is $15 per vehicle and it wasn't super busy either time I came (mid afternoon on a saturday). read more

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Kayaking/Paddle boarding is one of my bucket-list and I can't believe I finally did it! This was definitely a workout, 1000/10 experience though! Based on our experience, We were accompanied well, the process went smoothly and the team from Sand Harbor Beach Rental was great! Cindy, Jeff and Cierra/Sierra were all very nice. Will definitely come back and do it again! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - My friends and I with our instructor Jeff! - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

If you're planning your very first trip to Tahoe, rented a house for the weekend, and dream of visiting the most popular spots - be prepared that you might not actually get in. Or, take a look at my tips to maximize your chances: 1. Reserve your day in advance at www.reservenevada.com to enter before 10:30 AM. 2. If you only realize this during your vacation (instead of a week earlier), you'll have to battle it out at 10:30 AM along with thousands of others. The problem? There's only one lane each way, so you'll end up stuck in an hour-long traffic jam. We left Tahoe City at 9:00 AM on Sunday and still didn't make it in. Part of our group walked in on foot and noticed plenty of empty parking spaces, but when we asked why they weren't opening the gate, the staff told us they'd "open at 5 PM" and even demanded a fee for walking through a park we didn't even plan to stay in (and no, you're not allowed to just walk along the road). Everything besides the natural beauty here is a disaster: - Poorly planned access roads that leave people stuck in traffic for hours, even those not going into the park. - Rude, unhelpful staff who clearly don't care about visitors. - A completely broken system: instead of letting cars in as spaces free up, they just say, "We'll open the gates at 5." At a place this busy, that's unacceptable. I'm giving 1 star not for the park itself, but for its management and staff. Oh, and one more thing: if you finally make it into town and leave your car there, don't count on the shuttle. You'll wait for 2 hours, only for it not to show up - or to arrive full, with staff telling you to "wait for the next one" over and over until your day is wasted. Our situation was even worse: six people with paddleboards. We had to drop off people and gear at a nearby viewpoint (20-minute parking only), then drive back into town, park, and take a $50 taxi ride to meet up with our friends. The nature here is absolutely stunning, but the organization will ruin your day. Plan ahead carefully, since you have no other place with this monopoly. read more

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Run by the state parks Sand Harbor is fun destination if you don't mind the crowds and do a little planning. While it's not my favorite beach in the area it is one of the more attainable ones to visit. The others require residency, hiking or just knowing the "local" spots. Sand Harbor does have it's downsides and that is the crowds, if you don't get there early or plan ahead there is no chance you can just drive over and hope to get in. The bike trail goes here now but I think you still need a reservation or pass to get in. My last trip here was for a wedding on a Tuesday and we still had to get reservations to get in. It took about 10 minutes on a Tuesday at 10:20 in the morning to get in. The wedding was on the water in a little cove and it was beautiful. Everyone loved it, we had a nice little cook out afterwards and the photos were top notch. Definitely one of the more memorable weddings I've been to! read more

Beautiful beach and friendly staff! They started doing parking reservations and I'm so glad. It was so hard to get in before and waiting in line was awful. There are also restaurants around if you decide you want a break and to grab a meal. Tahoe never disappoints! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - And harbor beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

The views are nice. Not much by way of shade and you need to pay the day parking fee, but you get to stay past the sunset and can take a dip in the lake, if you are so keen on that. read more

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Beautiful beach that is a bit on the crowded side but the views are amazing. Best way to go is to make a reservation and try to get there early due to the construction going on. read more

Paddleboarding the lake with my girlfriends or having a leisure day with family. Sand harbor is where you'll most likely find us if we can make it into their parking lot before it fills up. We were super bummed to hear that this area will soon require permits but will hopefully be less crowded. I'm super sad to see Summer Go, but I love the cooler temps of Fall. Cleaner restrooms, and I recommend adding more because the lines can get a little long. It's a family favorite! We like to spend all day at the lake, watch the sunset, and get dinner nearby. There is plenty of dining around, and I always look forward to making new memories with family and friends. Just a few glimpses of this Summers visits! Keep Tahoe blue, and please pack out what you packed in! read more

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Why the hell would u close parking. " we can't manage the lot that way" so ur telling me not one person is smart enough to sit at the end and tell yall if a car comes out???? Straight dumb! read more

Yes, Sand Harbor is beautiful! We did realize how much you have to PLAN ahead!!! You can't just show up and get a parking spot! You must make a reservation way in advance! It's absolutely stupid that there isn't more parking! 50 parking spots is not enough for the extreme large amount of people who want to visit the beach! Every other beach is private, you cannot park anywhere else! There's no ability to access the beach! All of Lake Tahoe is a joke! I wouldn't recommend planning a trip here! Unless you research, make reservations months in advance! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

Great place to bring the family while visiting Lake Tahoe. Gates open at 7 am, but I recommend that you arrive at 6-6:15 am. We arrived around 6:40 am and there was a long line of cars waiting for the gates to open. Parking is $15 for non-Nevada cars and $10 for Nevada cars. CASH ONLY. You want to arrive early, to secure a spot at the beach. Reservations will be required for vehicle entry on Weekends and Holidays starting August 17th. Luckily, we went the first week of August therefore we didn't have to go through this process. There's a kayak rental stand towards the left side of the beach as you enter. The water wasn't as cold as I expected. The restrooms were somewhat clean. You are allowed to bring food, coolers, canopy, chairs, etc. Check the website for more details. This is a great place for swimming! read more

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Wow. This place is truly beautiful. We went on an off season day, and there were quite a few people there. I presume that it can get really crowded during peak times. The view is gorgeous and it's the perfect place to lay down a blanket and soak up the view and some sun. Entrance to the park was 15 dollars, there's bathrooms, a visitors center, and a nice walking path to adventure on. Highly recommended! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - View from the beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

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You can't beat the beauty and convenience of this spot! Lots of place to set up, easy access to the water, and the bathroom and restaurant amenities that are always a nice plus! The downside is....everyone else thinks so too! This place is PACKED and is often tough to get in, but their new reservation system seems to be working out. Love a day at Sand Harbor! read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

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Unfortunately we didn't get to visit the beach I had to be approached. There was a line to enter and someone telling each car that you would need a reservation to enter. We had came around 8 AM and there was people already entering. It seems like you have to wait till 10 or 10:30 AM but unfortunately at that time parking was already getting packed. My sister said this spot is really nice and highly suggest coming in early and reserving. read more

I can imagine this place probably becomes a zoo during the season. So very glad we visited at this time of year, as it was perfect. Gorgeous end to end. The waters, the beach, the boulders, the trees...the photo opps are literally endless. You do have to pay to enter. It's even posted they don't allow drop-offs. So prepare to hand over 15$. But while we were there, a morning in April, it was worth the price and more. read more

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Be aware if you are first time at Lake Tahoe! So it's 11 Am AND Sand Harbor beach is already closed to public. The stuff didn't allow anyone with cars or no car to enter the beach. They said "No parking" in a very rude way " keep moving Sr". Entry workers need to develop Social Skills. 1 star to these review because of their Rude Behavior ‼ While leaving the parking area we saw a lot of empty spots. Very disappointing. Then they said it's not the parking lot it's people Capacity. People drive at least 40 min from the town and are not allowed to the beaches. And we wondered why there was a line of cars on the opposite traffic lane. So they have limited access to the beach and you learn about it only when you get there. It's a summer season, people are here for BEACHES!!! read more

Do yourself a favor and visit this beach when you are in Lake Tahoe! If you desire to rent a kayak or paddle board for anywhere between $50(1 hour)- $90(3 hours), it is TOTALLY WORTHWHILE (paddle out to Bonsai Rock)! Bring lunch with you OR you can buy food and drinks at a little snack shack as well. Overall, beautiful place to spend a relaxing & fun day at the Lake! read more

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Hands down the best beach at Lake Tahoe. Sand Harbor is absolutely worth the hype! The water is stunningly clear and calm, perfect for swimming, kayaking, or just floating around. The sand is soft, the shoreline is scenic, and the whole area is kept very clean and well maintained. Yes, you need to book a parking reservation months in advance, but that just shows how popular (and worth it) this place is. If you don't snag a spot, don't worry there are still options! You can walk in via the East Shore Trail (an easy and gorgeous walk) or take the East Shore Express shuttle, which drops you off right at the beach entrance. There are clean restrooms, changing areas, and even a food stand if you forget snacks. They also have a beautiful amphitheater that hosts events and performances during the summer. Pro tip: Get there early if you're walking in, and bring water shoes if you plan to explore the rocks! We've visited beaches all around Tahoe, and this one is in a league of its own. Peaceful, breathtaking, and totally unforgettable. A must-visit! read more

Heard visiting Sand Harbor is a must, it was not worth the aggravation. We intended to bike as a family but my youngest son sprained his wrist. We tried for a week to get a parking reservation online instead. Last day of vacation on a weekday in June we decided to see if we could get into the lot at 10:30 when it supposedly opened up. It was full so we parked at Tunnel creek, paid for parking which we shouldn't have done since my older son and I rented bikes from Flume bikes so parking would be free. My husband and son with a sprain waited for a shuttle that never came because it didn't start till the end of June, no signs anywhere. My son is 9, he walked to the beach from there about 3 miles up and down hills. My older son raced back only to find a ticket on our windshield for getting to the car 5 min later than we had paid for parking that we didn't need to since we rented bikes. We did the clear bottom kayaks, those guys are great and it was enjoyable, being on the beach not so much, the water looks like toxic waste. Lady nearby heard me comment on it and said it happens every June. We paid the walk/bike fee for 4 of us and we also had to pay the car fee later in the day to pick up my younger son and husband since there is nowhere to pick them up unless they walked back. Writing this to hopefully save others from aggravation we had the last day of vacation, ready to return home. read more

Hearing and reading about the famous crowds at Sand Harbor, I left early in the morning from Truckee. As I drew closer to Sand Harbor, I saw signs that read that the Sand Harbor Boat Launch was closed and another sign that said the parking lot was full. Really? When I arrived at the Boat Launch there were some confusing red barriers and at the beach entrance there were even more red barriers so you couldn't even line up if you wanted to for the 7am opening. What to do? Because I was planning on kayaking, I went back to the Boat Launch which opens at 6am. As I cautiously drove to the entrance, I noticed there were no cars nor boats. Did I not get the memo? At the toll booth, there was a toll booth man who I chatted up and asked him where all the crowds were. He said it's cold (and windy, too) and the kids are back in school. Additionally, I asked the toll booth man about all the closure signs and he replied that the signs were put up a while ago and never taken down. That's confusing. With my kayak on the roof, the toll booth man had inquired where the kayak had been, I said, Prosser Reservoir, which is on the approved list before launching into Tahoe. After everyone's questions were answered, I paid the non-Nevada resident fee of $15 (otherwise $10 for residents) via credit card and parked in the specifically marked Kayak Parking space. Surveying the waters, which were choppy and not like the photos I had seen in many ads, I took my time unloading the kayak and preparing to launch in hopes that the wind and water would calm down. It didn't. Reluctantly, I launched the kayak which was easy to load in the water because it wasn't steep and the docks were clean. After pedaling around for an hour, I deemed the waters too rough and tied up the kayak at the dock (with the toll booth man's approval) in hopes that the wind would die down. It didn't. While waiting for the wind to die down, I used the facilities, which were VERY clean, and went on some of the recommended short trails which had picturesque lookout points. Fortunate for me, I brought plenty of water for the day because the water for water fountains were all shut down! After some photo ops, I gave kayaking a second try, but the wind/water continued to be choppy. Back to the docks to tie up the kayak. When the sun came out closer to noon, more people arrived and so did the fish restocking trucks. What a sight! With everyone gathered on the docks, the truck blasted out trout out of a tube and into the water. From past experience, fish from the hatchery don't make good catching fish because I think they're in shock. However the hatchery man said that they withhold food for three days prior to restocking so they should be ready to bite. OK. For the third and last time, I took the kayak and my fishing poles out on the wavy water (CA license is valid in the water on the NV side, but you can't fish from the shore). Alas, there were no fish to be caught by me....just the shore birds who dove into the water to swallow their fish whole. According to the fish finder, there were hardly any fish in the harbor as they quickly disperse to the deep. With the beach and its facilities clean and the beautiful waters, I can see why this place is popular. read more

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Amazing views of the lake! Too cold to get in right now so don't recommend that. However, really nice area to just chill and have a picnic or drink coffee with this beautiful view. read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

We walked three miles to get here and then the parking lot was closed which was fine- unfortunately we had already paid the fees including for my 9 month old son. It was hot so one person was going to run back and get the car so the baby wouldn't have to go back all the way. We asked if we could just get picked up there or anywhere around there because of the baby and they said no and were very rude about it. The next spot that they said they would "allow" us to be picked up was about a mile back. The parking lot had tons of open space and they must have had ten people just standing around at the entrance tent. We aren't familiar with the area so we walked through the parking lot a little to see if there was a restaurant across the street or something that we could get picked up in instead. A staff member ran out and told us we couldn't be there (we were steps from a public road which she was now blocking us getting to) and on her walkie-talkie someone called through and said to let her know if "we give her any trouble" or if she needed "back up." Honestly embarrassing for them that they are taking themselves this seriously and acting like we are trying to start trouble with them when we are just trying to figure out options to get a baby out of the sun. read more

Sand Harbor beach was my family's favorite! It's right next to the parking lot so it's convenient if you bring a lot of stuff. It does get pretty busy so I suggest getting there early to get a good spot. We got there right before they opened because we wanted to kayak. When we were done kayaking, the beach was full so we decided to leave and come back in the afternoon. Parking pass is $15 and valid all day read more

Sand Harbor Beach - Crystal clear water - Beaches Near Me - Incline Village, Nevada

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