Sitting right on Washoe Lake, you'll get the most out of a…read morevisit to Washoe Lake State Park by camping at $15.00 per night. It's offered on a first-come basis, There are 29 campsites, equipped with a table, grill with fire rings and room for trailers. Two comfort stations, one of which includes a shower, are available. Several sites can hold an RV up to 45 feet in length. Don't forget to get your Nevada fishing license before dropping a hook into the lake. The views of Washoe Valley & the Sierra Nevada Mountains make it all worthwhile !!

In the almost 20 years we have lived in Northern Nevada, and driven by here enroute back and forth…read morebetween Carson City and Reno, this is the first time I have stopped, gotten out and walked around. I spent some time in the picnic area and walking along the shoreline. The park was well maintained with lots of shady spots, cool grass and sandy beaches. The bathrooms were convenient and clean and there was a generous parking area. There are BBQ grills and lots of picnic tables throughout the area. There is also a large group pavilion. There are a number of trails around, but may be better suited for cooler weather as there is not a lot of shade away from the day-use area. There is a ranger station a few miles north that is worth a stop. Staff are friendly and helpful and there is a small exhibit of old mining and farming equipment and a very nice native plant garden. Definitely worth the stop.

This was one of our most memorable camping trips with our kids when they were younger. We last…read moreminute joined a few of our friends from work and their families. Another family sold us their spot for this week. If you've ever been here to Fallen leaf you know the breath taking views this lake and it's grounds has to offer. Our campsite was the largest and no one was behind us. Our kids played in a creek nearby. We hiked and ventured to a few waterfalls in Angora while here. It was so sad to see where the fires burned through this area. None of our photos taken here do the grounds any justice. Everything was pristine. I look forward to returning some day. I'm due for some grounding and getting lost in nature.

Gorgeous hike from the main road, easy for kids and a great scenic view of the lake. If the…read morecampground is open it's an even shorter hike. We enjoyed looking for mushrooms and wildlife!

One of my go-to beaches in my youth. My friends and I would always go in a large group during the…read moreweek. 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!

What used to be one of the best beaches in Tahoe has become one of the worst. Went today on a…read moreThursday, and there was trash everywhere!!! Makes me sad. Humans have ruined this beauty. Seriously how hard is it to "pack it in, pack it out." Don't come here if you're going to leave trash everywhere. Also parking used to be free now it's $12. They also added another parking lot, which is so bad because this is a very small beach it can not ahold all those parking spots. Still can not believe all the trash left on this beach. Shame on those people.

Wow wow wow!! This is a must stop point if you like waterfalls, creeks, rock formations, mountains…read moreand scrambling. Brought my kids 5 & 8 and they can do most of it. Views are incredible. We went to the waterfall (10 mins on the trail) and bridge and then to the vista point. Wanted to do more but the 5 y/o got tired. You can scramble this whole mountain!

The hike was just the right amount of challenging to really appreciate the top and sit and look…read moreover the lake. It took us about 4 hours round trip. Nice clean trail, no bikers. It was great. Would do it again.

Easily my most favorite beach in Tahoe. I came to Tahoe every summer growing up, and although it's…read moregotten a lot more crowded overall, it's still my favorite place to go when I can come out here. The water is so clear and beautiful, and it's one of the best places to paddleboard/kayak. Some tips for anyone wanting to go here for the day: 1. PLAN AHEAD! Yes, vacations are supposed to be relaxing but if you don't put in the work to research and plan things ahead of time, then of course you're going to be disappointed when you can't find parking or gain entry to not only this beach, but tons of other places in the basin. They've implemented a parking reservation system sometime in the last 2 or so years. Go to Reserve Nevada and it's $10 for NV license plates, and $15 for out of state plates. 2. GO EARLY! Rule of thumb with anything in Tahoe (or any major park really) is go early or go home. I left SLT at around 6:30 am to give myself wiggle room getting up to the entrance for Sand Harbor. They open at exactly 8:00 am on the dot. 3. Entering the lot: Coming from the south/SLT, it will be a left turn into the entrance. You can queue up in the middle lane dividing the lanes going north/south, but there is limited space to do so. If it's too early, you can keep driving and park at the parking lot for Monkey Rock Trailhead for a bit before turning back to head down to the entrance. Coming from the north/Incline Village, it's a right turn into the entrance. They block off the right turn lane into the entrance with cones if they aren't open yet, so you have to time it right if you're approaching that way. 4. Paddleboarding: Clearly Tahoe is the only paddleboard/kayak rental business on shore. It's pretty pricy at $60 for 2 hours on a paddleboard. I opted instead to rent a paddleboard from SUP Tahoe in SLT and it was $50 for the whole day + $15 overnight fee. That way, I could have the paddleboard picked up and loaded onto my sedan the night before and head out to Sand Harbor early in the AM. If you go early like I do, you get to experience the best water conditions because morning is much calmer than the afternoon. As always, getting a reservation is easier on a weekday. I planned my whole trip only a few days before going, in late June/early July (before 4th of July). It's easy if you avoid major holidays and weekends. If you think the main beach is too crowded, you can paddleboard or kayak further up the shore and explore a bit!

Sand Harbor is one of those places that never gets old. The crystal-clear water, granite boulders,…read moreand mountain views make it one of the most beautiful beaches on Lake Tahoe. The only downside? Getting in can be a challenge. If you're planning a visit, here's a tip: instead of trying to park at Sand Harbor or Tunnel Creek/Hidden Beach (which fills up very early), park in Incline Village at the Wells Fargo shopping center and hop on the free East Shore Express Shuttle. Since it's one of the first shuttle stops, you'll have a much better chance of getting a seat before it fills up. Once you're there, spend the day floating in the unbelievably clear water, exploring the rocks, or just soaking up the views. Don't forget to stop by the snack bar for an ice cream or, if you're in vacation mode, a Rum Runner. A little planning goes a long way, and this beach is absolutely worth it. Have a great Tahoe day!

Super pretty hike with a couple different trails some very easy and others with pretty decent…read moreelevation changes

Spring is here! Discovered this close-in trail for quick midday hike. A few trails at this…read morelocation to choose from. Small paved parking lot allows for off street parking. Trail head has bathroom facilities, clear trail signage. Be aware that some trails do not allow dogs while some allow them on leash. Did a quick family friendly hike to the Kings Canyon Waterfall (.3 miles) and then the North King's Loop (1.8 miles). Waterfall hike is short and a well-groomed trail makes for a great family friendly stroll for all ages. Falls are really flowing right now with a lot of shade trees. North King's Loop. 1.8 miles loop with about a 450' elevation gain for about .9 miles. Trails are well-groomed (kudos to City of Carson and volunteers). For most of the loop, the trail is narrow to a shoulder width with a hill on one side and a slope off on the other. My hike is late March, early spring, so still signs of snow and ice hazards on parts of the shade sections of the trail. Overall, a great hike in the City of Carson.

Spooner Lake State Park is easily accessible off NV 28 (on the way to Incline Village), but does…read morecharge for parking. I had previously purchased an annual pass through Nevada Parks for $30 (Senior Rate). The parking area, visitor's center, picnic areas, and large greenbelt are all well maintained, pretty, and with a great view of the Lake. I was most recently here for a well-executed and family/dog friendly Day 2 Rosh Hashana service led by Temple Bat Yam (Stateline). That included a interactive and leafy 2.1 walk around the lake on a almost perfect day. Spirituality experienced outside is a special thing, and meeting a few new friends along the way was a welcome bonus. Note: Yelp also has a Spooner Lake Trailhead listing, which overlaps with this one.

Mom and I got lucky when we visited Spooner Lake on a Tuesday in August. Hardly anyone there so…read morekeeping our distance was easy. We only passed 1 couple on the trail. I wasn't really sure where the trail for Spooner Lake loop was so I parked and we wandered a bit til we saw the map and a little sign. Followed it down to the water... and then from there the trail was clear. We did the lake loop trail... I think it's about 2.5 miles... with all our walking around we did 3. It's a great trail! Lots of shade with a little bit of elevation change.... not too much tho. There was 1 big hill but that's it. So, a really nice easy trail around the lake. If I lived in the area, I would get an annual pass and come here regularly to do this loop and explore the other trails that connect to this one. It's a state park so $10 fee... we wanted to buy an Annual Pass good for all state parks but they were sold out.