What a phenomenal state park camp ground. Sites are shady and set far enough apart to offer a lot of privacy. Staff is friendly and bathrooms are kept clean. What more could you ask for? It's a super far hike to the beach area so you either have to drive or ride bikes. read more

Nice spot with a great view. Parking for the day is $8, which you drop off in an envelope if the ranger isn't there. Great place to have a picnic or kayak, it wasn't overly crowded when I went which was great and there was even a wedding being set up. Mansion on the property is available for tours for a fee. read more

Worth a day to visit the beach, pier, picnic tables, historic mansion and multiple trails with Olympics history. The forest on both the lake side and mountain side has benefitted from smart prescribed burning that makes it one of the healthier forest areas of the west shore. Take time to read the interpretive signs throughout the park and ask the personable and well-informed rangers any questions for some informative answers. Hiking can be easy along the beach or lighthouse trail, a little more challenging but still easy on the upper trails along General Creek, and even better going a few miles up the creek toward the intersection with the Tahoe Rim Trail. Park in the main park lot lakeside for access to the beack, mansion and 2 or 3 easy walks, or park across Hwy 89 at the campground day use lot. From there it's almost a mile through the campground to get onto the fire roads going up the Rim Trail but you have a couple options for hike length. read more

Amazingly beautiful park. We love the history and events they host for locals and tourists.

Love this park. It is truly one of the best treasures that awaits guests visiting Tahoe. We discovered the fantastic bike trails and avoided paying for parking. The rock is fantastic as the water below that feels like a giant swimming pool. It is truly an amazing view and the property is well kept. The folks at the visitors center are amazing as well. read more

Usually a great campground to visit, but this past weekend it was closed due to the large amount of snow Tahoe has gotten. I understand they can't control the weather, but it would have been helpful if their website and phone messages were updated saying they were closed. I drove 3 hours one way just to have to turn around and go home. I understand things happen but updating the website is a must when they will be closed. read more

This place is closest thing to heaven I've ever seen/experienced. My goodness, this park is amazing. We witnessed this place during the winter, so I can't even begin to imagine what it's like during the summer. It's gorgeous trails lead throughout the park, giving you plenty of walking and sightseeing options. Add snowy tops into the mix, and you have a truly magical winter land. It is absolutely breathtaking. If you go towards the water, a pier leads far into the crystal clear, ice blue waters that entice you to take a swim (though the sign telling you it's too cold will prevent you from doing so). Just one look from this pier and you'll forget anything that troubles you. Apart of this magical place is the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion. We only got to see the outside but WOW! Wow, wow, wow. Combined with the gazebo outside and the killer view of the lake, this spot would make one incredible sight for special gatherings and important events. I can't wait to return this summer where I'll "ooh" and "aah" all over again. read more

**LOCK your FOOD up** We just left Sugar Pine camping. Great Group site with clean bathrooms, paved bike trails and short walk or ride to the lake. We were warned about bears and encouraged to lock everything and anything up in the provided bear lockers. At night we took everything including toiletries, bug spray, chapstick, ice chests and all food to the bear boxes. Our mistake was during the day when we went to the lake for some beach time we left ice chests out in the campsite. When we returned all of our ice chests were gone and we had been ticketed by the Park Ranger! A citation for $1,000 was issued in exchange for our ice chests. BUZZ KILL! There was no negotiation. Citation is in the mail and were stuck with the most expensive camping trip ever! PS we never did see or hear any bears. read more

Gorgeous Gorgeous Gorgeous! My cousin had her wedding on the shore here, with the wedding reception up at the mansion. Everything worked out perfectly and was an absolutely stunning backdrop to a perfect evening! And then. Leaving the recepiton at an appropriate time (around 10:30ish and the party was still pretty raging), my aunt and I had to get back to the car. It is about 1/4 mile hike from the mansion to the parking lots-and there are ABSOLUTELY NO LIGHTS. For a park that frequently rents out this as a party venue, the situation was completely absurd and very dangerous. After trying to feel the edge of the trail and the road with our feet, we finally found a ranger station and had to ask that we be walked to our car with flashlights-thankfully the rangers were very nice and accomodating. I would love to consider this venue for future events, however the lacking of lighting makes it totally inappropriate for evening parties! read more

This place was picked after we failed to with our 1st choice, D.L. Bliss, thus we didn't expect much. The site was small & so "next door" to others that we had hard time to sleep even with headphones on, and it didn't help as 2 afternoons later a medium-sized bear made a surprise visit! Trails & lake was average compared to our had-been places. This place is Ok for a short escape from the hectic life, just don't expect too much. read more

This is such a gorgeous property! The views are awe-inspiring. There is a parking fee for those who don't have a state park annual membership. read more

We have camped at Sugar Pine annually since about 1985 as part of a traditional family trip. The good news is great location and access to all Tahoe has to offer. FYI-the pizza place in Tahoma is AWESOME!!! The bad news is that as the years have gone by, especially the last few, it is an entirely different group camping. Many of the guests are disrespectful to the property and to the other campers. There is lots of loud drinking parties, obvious use of drugs at night... yes, you can smell it burning... 420 culture club... During the week it is fine. On weekends the last couple of years the property "feels" unsafe at times. The site behind me was occupied by a guy with a shotgun and shells on the table. He was lectured by a ranger, but really? He needed to be told it was illegal to have a gun in a State or Federal campground? Showers are filthy and disgusting. People actually leave bowel movements in the showers. And when the bathroom/toilet gets clogged, people just keep going on top of each other rather than walking to another restroom. Totally and completely disgusting. I asked the staff what was going on. They confirmed this was becoming a regular thing with the campers. It is a great park. Many people should be much more responsible and clean up after themselves. The ranger staff is not your mommy. This is a treasure and it is a tragedy to see how it has gone down over time. read more

Private, clean, spacious campground. We visited over the Fourth of July weekend this year and it was a mellow place to camp. There was plenty of space between camp sites. However, we weren't thrilled to have our tokens eaten up by the shower machine or that there are no basins in which to wash one's dishes. (FYI: Because of the drought, showers are closed Tuesdays and Thursdays.) It's a dog friendly campground so expect some prolonged barking from time to time. There isn't a general store nor are there campfire programs. They do sell firewood for $9/bundle. Some pluses include the largely flat bike paths that snake through the grounds, and the lake front beach access right across the highway. The sites aren't heavily shaded and with the shifting sun, expect your tent/picnic table/ bear box will spend part of day in the sun. We were in campsite #89 which was *just* large enough for our six-person tent, fire pit, picnic table, camp chairs, and hammock. read more

The beach here is really nice and not overly crowded. The shore is fairly pebbled, but out a little bit it becomes sandy and stays fairly shallow. DD enjoyed playing in the nearby creek. You can't beat the panoramic views of the mountains and the lake! read more

Sugar Pine Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Meeks Bay, California

My sister booked this camp site months in advance. I don't know how far in advance one needs to book to get a camp site. I would say the earlier the better. She had to revise the dates because of some conflicts. Apparently there was no issue in doing so. Its hard to think a few months out and make plans. And if you end up rescheduling, you just need to remember which was the correct date and when. I'm not sure if there are any reminders since I didn't book the site. My family is big, we needed two camp sites. It was enough room for the kids and everyone to set up a tent. There are so many activities to do while at the camp site. You'll never run out of things to do. You'll probably need a vacation from your vacation. The best place was our trip out to the beach. The kids hung out at the pier catching crayfish. The only think I didn't like were the bathrooms during the peek times. One of the toilets got clogged and it got a little gross. We had to walk a bit of a ways to the next camp site to go to the restroom. There are showers so bring a lot of change. I didn't use the showers . I went au natural. But I heard from the others that there was hot water and 50 cents got you about 10 minutes of water time. The drive was pretty far from the bay area. But nothing that couldn't be done over 3 days. Worth it all the way! read more

Lake Tahoe is what I imagine heaven to look like. We stayed in Tahoe 2 nights and camped at sugar pine point. We basically had the entire place to ourselves beginning of May...perfect weather for camping and we didn't have to worry about bothering our neighbors. Although if we did have neighbors the sites seemed to be spread out enough you wouldn't feel like your on top of each other. Clean bathrooms. Make sure everything goes into the bear lockers and that your car doors are locked...the park rangers take this pretty seriously. Also if you camp you have access to the park beach across the street where it normally is 10 to park a day. GORGEOUS. Not sure how any spot on Tahoe can be less than, but again we basically had the beach to ourselves if you walk down a bit from the dock. No complaints at all and we were sad to leave. read more

Sugar Pine Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Meeks Bay, California

I love this little park. Great for a little stroll in nature, no crowds and access to a beautiful little beach. We usually come here to stretch our legs, but I'm going to make a note to do a little overnight camping trip here, even though I don't live that far away. If you're lucky, you might find yourself one of the most amazing gifts of nature - a giant sugar pine cone. These Amazonian sized pine cones are only found in very specific parts of the Sierra, can run the length of your arm and are very heavy. read more

My favorite place to camp in Tahoe! I certainly prefer it to D.L. Bliss (but, that park is quite lovely as well) and is NO comparison to Camp Richardson (bleck) Beautiful, spacious campsites? Check! Bike paths? Check! Clean restrooms & hot showers? Check and Check! Quick and easy access to the beach? Check! History? Check! I've camped here with friends and family (sometimes 2x per summer) tons and always have a great time. The camp hosts and rangers are always kind, fellow campers are friendly and the area is just beautiful. A short 4 minute (or so) drive to a quaint general store is right down the highway should you need to restock your beer chest or grab some more matches. Hop in your car or onto your bike and take a quick ride down to the lake where you'll pass through and old Tahoe resort and find a spot to lounge on the peer. Lunch time or late evening (after dinner) is a good time to head to the showers if you need to clean off and while I'm sure others have encountered this, I've never had a cold shower. (if I remember correctly, 50 cents will by you 7.5 mins) Unfortunately, these sites fill up ULTRA fast for the summer and need to be booked through ReserveAmerica.com . If you go late enough in the season, sites are reserved on a daily First-Come, First-Served basis. Also, be advised that the rangers will cite you for leaving foodstuffs unattended (we received a warning one year for failing to put our ice chests in the lockers AS we were unpacking the our vehicles and setting up camp). Gathering fallen wood and being excessively/repeatedly noisy after quiet hours will also earn you a ranger visit. Tahoe is gorgeous, this campground is beautiful, you need to visit. Got it!? read more

Great park programs! We loved the night hike led by Natalie. She was informative, funny, and genuine. Can't wait to come back next year.

I went on a day trip with a friend to Tahoe. We weren't planning a specific spot to go, just see where our journey takes us. We came across Sugar Pine Point State Park. I found it to be my favorite place in all Tahoe for its gorgeous views and awesome trails. There is ample space to walk about, camp, make smores, swim, etc. There is a mansion that you can take a tour of and see how rich people lived back in the day! Greenery is all around and spring/summertime is the best time to go. It's only $10 for the day. I suggest putting on some comfortable shoes and bringing some water for the hikes. Truly a must visit spot when going to Tahoe. read more

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If you want a great camping experience at Tahoe, this is the place. It is away from the crowds but only a few minutes into Tahoe City. The camp sites are clean and relatively spaced out. The RV crowd was respectful and kept the generators quiet at night. Flush toilets, bear lockers, showers, fire pits, picnic tables. The park has two sections with a beach access just up and across the road. I use the word beach liberally. If you haven't been to Tahoe, just know that the beach is rock and crushed rock. read more

We spent 2 days here last weekend with family. The location is great, parking is easy and convenient, and they have nice bathrooms and showers. I didn't use the shower but my boyfriend's brother did and said it was clean enough. My favorite part was going to Ehrman Mansion and the docks to hunt crawdads. The beach is beautiful and clean and the water is so clear. We'll definitely be going back! read more

What a find! We were looking for a place to go around Tahoe where we could go to the beach and swim, but also spend time in a California state park. This park is just beautiful. You can walk the grounds and visit the mansion, hang out at the beach and swim or take a hike. It kind of has it all, but maybe without the crowds of the city beaches. Oh and there may be some weddings happening while you're there. There was when we visited. read more

Great spot! $8 to park for the day. The sandy/pebbly beach looked crowded (we went in an August Wed) with families, kayaks, and sail boats so we opted to set up our picnic on the grass just south of the dock below the mansion. Beautiful views. Perfect for a picnic and reading in the shade of pine trees while the glacial water laps against the rocky shoreline. Bathrooms are near the parking lot. Don't confuse the changing rooms on the south part of the beach for toilets. The mansion, built in 1903, also has tours available. I'd love to come back and check this out next time. read more

This lovely park is within walking and biking distance of our cabin, and we seldom go to Tahoe without visiting it. In the winter, there are cross-country trails to ski on both sides of Highway 89 at Sugar Pine that we can ski to from Tahoe Cedars subdivision in Tahoma. In the summer months you can go on a guided tour of the home there. I love the woven bark wall covering in the dining room! (You can see it if you peak through the windows from the porch if you are there when tours are not being given.) Fall is our favorite season! There is a lot of activity as the little creatures are prepping for winter! You will find lots of interesting leaves and pine cones to examine, and there are trail markers along the path that identify and teach about what you are seeing (although many of them need to be replaced as some have worn out or unfortunately been vandalized. There is also a small museum / gift shop with books about the history, flowers, trees, geology, hikes, etc. on the property. There are several out buildings to check out as well, boat houses, an ice house, a pioneer cabin, etc.. It's a great place to spend a day with children...a beach to play on, a stream, a large lovely lawn, plenty of places for a picnic, a great pier, and fantastic views of the lake. read more

This place is beautiful. We happened upon it by chance, and I'm so glad we did. Pristine grounds right next to the lake. We had a picnic lunch at the tables and then walked around a little bit. It's so clean and the air is so fresh. We will definitely be back! read more

This is one of our favorite spots for the Lake Tahoe region. This is another state park that has group camping (10 sites) available and lots of amenities and activities to do while you are there. To book a group site, you have to have 9+ people in your group. A few things to keep in mind: This park along with several others in the Lake Tahoe area are closed to camping unless you have a reservation during September and close for the season (I believe) from October through end of May/mid June. This is for camping only! During the off season (weather and road conditions permitting) you can hike and snowshoe. Lots of wildlife, especially bears. Because of this the law requires those using the state park to use the "bear boxes". As another Yelper indicated, the penalty for not doing so is pretty stiff. Our family has used both the group sites as well as regular tent sites over the years and enjoyed every visit here! read more

Nice quick hike with some very nice beach area if your on the west shore this is a must do. read more

Sugar Pine Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Meeks Bay, California

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Decided to stop by after reading a few reviews and was pleasantly surprised it was just how everyone described it! Nice little beach area and the lawn of the mansion it great to hang out on as well. At the boat house you can rent a kayak or paddle board to get on the water! Yes it's $10/day but you can get into any state park for the day and there are clean bathrooms! Think I found my new favorite beach! read more

Heaven! Peaceful beautiful view of lake and mountains. Visited this park for a few hours while attending a conference at the granlibakken resort in June. read more

Sugar Pine Point State Park - Parks Near Me - Meeks Bay, California

Great state park with easy access to Lake Tahoe, hiking , cross country skiing, mountain biking and more.

What a special location for a wedding! We had our daughter's wedding in the park on 6/23, it was a magical day. Yes, there are strict rules about setup time and cleanup time but if one doesn't mind gambling with mountain weather it's all worth it. Dealing with the Park staff has been a wonderful experience. A special thank you to Stacie Beard, the Special Events Coordinator, and her staff. read more

At the end of September, the bees were still out in full force, but they were not aggressive. My party stayed on site #75, so we were right across from the bathrooms, and while we were there, the bathrooms were very clean since not many people camp out at this time of year. The bathrooms stock plenty of toilet paper, but no soap / sanitizer or hand drying options, so be sure to remember your own hygiene supplies. Showers are available at $1 for 3 minutes. You're not supposed to gather wood for a fire, so you will need to buy bundles when you go into the town proper. or from some of the stores closer in the vicinity. The air was not too dry, not humid either. If you are here at when Autumn takes effect, you can easily gather pine resin and the cones make good Christmas / Winter decorations. We found bear scat close to our camping ground on one of the walking trails, but did not actually hear nor see any of them. The weather was beautiful, and the night temps did not feel too cold. For real camping, this is an ideal spot. Far away from city and tourism bustle, but close enough to drive to it when you're ready. Be sure to check West Shore Pizza about 2 miles up the road. They served some of the best food we sampled on this trip. read more

Sugar Pine Point State Park - Sugar Pine Point State Park 2016 - Parks Near Me - Meeks Bay, California

"Place To Go When You Don't Want To Follow The Rules" There are signs around telling folks, No Dogs On Beach, Dogs Must Be Leashed, No Diving In the Pool, No Wood Gathering. None of these seem to apply. We saw each of these rules broken time and time again. Maybe they're more like guidelines. But anyway, we had a great time here, we got to see a mama bear with her 2 cubs on our very first day, very first walk to the lake. Our campsite was great, not too close to others, not too far away. We've experienced three different kinds of camps now, some where you're way far away from others, some where you're a medium distance, and some where you're right on top of each other. This was the middle range. No bugs, no need for bug spray. It was great to see the Hellman Ehrman Lodge, well worth the $10, which goes for its upkeep. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgable. A triathlon was going on during our stay and that made for interesting driving, dodging bikers on the roads, avoiding runners on the trails, so the park was a bit crowded, but not in an annoying way at all. It was great to see the park being used in this way, I hope they do it more often. The only disappointing thing was the Lighthouse they advertise. When you get there, it's not a lighthouse at all - it's a pole. It marks the spot where a lighthouse USED to be, but isn't there anymore. No one tells you that until you actually get to the spot. But the best part about that is the signpost pointing the way to the spot, if you look at it up close. It says "Lighthouse" and below that someone scratched into the sign, "WTF?" Hilarious. read more

We stayed in site 54 with our 23 foot travel trailer. We loved the the lot was paved but that there was wooded space behind the camper. Nice trails to walk around the grounds and. An access the lake. Facilities were clean and staff were welcoming. We were able to park our camper in the overflow lot so we could enjoy the lake after checking out. Bears were very active, use your vest box! read more

This is a great place to go camping with your family. Showers are operated with coins. Coins are $1 a piece and there is a machine located right next to the showers that takes $1, $5, & $10 bills. read more

Love this camp ground! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed! The camp grounds are spaced apart, location is close to Tahoe city and the park staff are always great! read more

One of the worst campgrounds i have been to and i camp a lot. The campgrounds are too close to each other-you have zero privacy. The toilets were hardly clean and were very smelly. I did not use the shower facilities. Further- the area for laying out my tent wasnt even level. Overall, the whole campground was very poor. The main reason i booked this campground was because according to the map on reserve america- this campground is next to the lake. But dont be fooled by their map- the lake is a mile away. I do how ever have the nicest things to say about Sugar Pine Point state beach. they had a pier there surrounded by 8-12 feet of water and it served as a fantastic diving point into the cool lake tahoe waters. I stayed in Nevada State Beach Campground at Tahoe. The water is actually visible from the campgrounds, the campsites were good 30-50 yards apart i guess because there were on both sides of the access way. The restrooms were squeaky clean! No showers in there though. And there is a safeway with a starbucks right down the road. read more

This was a cool place to stop and hang out for a little while. We walked around the grounds, but didn't actually go into the old house(s). Great place to picnic on the big lawn and look over the lake. There's also a decent beach area with a dock that kids were jumping off of. The little creek behind the boat-house was perfect for creek-walking, I could have hung out in that creek for a long time. read more

Disgraceful. Sugar Pine Point State Park does NOT have ADA compliant rest rooms within the campgrounds. The rest rooms that are there are falling into disrepair. read more