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    Whale Beach Trail

    5.0 (2 reviews)

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    Marlette lake trail

    Marlette lake trail

    5.0
    (6 reviews)
    2.8 km

    We hiked the Marlette Lake Trail from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake as a backpacking trip for my…read morefriend's bachelorette party! We added some extra distance at the end by hiking to the Marlette Peak Campground to stay for the night. From the parking lot to the campground was about 7 miles each way. The trail itself was well-maintained, moderate difficulty, and had everything you'd want in a good hike! Solid trail conditions. Beautiful mountain and lake views. Some sections of wildflowers. A good amount of sun but also some shaded parts. Gradual incline that never felt super steep, so the elevation gain felt manageable. We saw people hiking as well as mountain biking on this trail. There are several sections of aspen trees along this hike, so it's a great one to come back and do in the fall once the leaves turn yellow. The trailhead area has great facilities, the bathrooms were clean and there is ample parking. The park rangers I spoke to were friendly and helpful. There is a $10/car entry into this area but it's totally worth it, especially when you see how well they take care of it. I loved this hike and will continue to come back to Spooner for hikes in the future!

    There are a few ways to reach Marlette Lake, all of them totally worth it, especially this time of…read moreyear. This trail takes you around Spooner Lake and up to Marlette. It's a 9 mile out and back with fairly gradual elevation gain, up through the trees, until you reach the lake. A great little workout. Marlette sits along the Flume Trail, so you're likely to see a lot of mountain bikers. Fun fact: The Flume Trail got its name because Marlette and the tributaries that feed it were part of a log flume system to carry logs used to build our region all the way down from as far as Virginia City! Marlette has a short fishing season, but people say it's grand if you make the trip. Of course you need to hike in to have that experience. This is definitely a trail worth checking out in our area!

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    Marlette lake trail
    Marlette lake trail
    Marlette lake trail

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    Washoe Lake State Park

    Washoe Lake State Park

    4.1
    (38 reviews)
    17.2 km

    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.

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    Washoe Lake State Park
    Washoe Lake State Park
    Washoe Lake State Park

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    Sand Harbor Beach

    Sand Harbor Beach

    4.3
    (521 reviews)
    4.6 km

    After all my years living in this area, my first visit to Sand Harbor. My daughter had been before…read moreand knew all the needed ins and outs. Most important, do make your parking reservation, $15. Opens at 8:30am, we arrived very early ensuring a great parking spot and a choice of position on the beach. Bringing your own shade is a must, umbrellas are the least popular, we had an Easy Up, perfect! The limited parking also limits the number of people so always comfortable and doesn't feel too crowded. Many bring their paddle boards, floats and canoes. People watching is top notch Fun day being surrounded by people just relaxing, chilling and enjoying the moment. Restrooms are near by, an easy walk and across the parking lot is their restaurant. Nice menu choices and prices quite okay. Later on in the year there are no reservations needed but to have the best experience, check to be sure if you need one before planning your visit. I shall return and that is the best thing you can say about a first time visit!

    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!

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    Sunset
    Sunset
    Sand Point 10.5.25
    Sand Point 10.5.25
    Sandy harbor beach rock

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    Sandy harbor beach rock
    Spooner Lake

    Spooner Lake

    4.4
    (18 reviews)
    8.7 km

    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.

    Photos
    Spooner Lake
    Restrooms
    Restrooms
    Benches throughout the loop around the lake.  This is one of them.

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    Benches throughout the loop around the lake. This is one of them.

    Whale Beach Trail - hiking - Updated August 2026

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