5 Dreamy Places to Paddle Board in Lake Tahoe

One of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe, is to go paddle boarding on that magical crystal clear water!

But where are the best spots are to go paddle boarding you might ask… I know, I was overwhelmed when I started looking into paddle boarding spots in Lake Tahoe too because it is SUCH a huge lake.

Now that we have visited Lake Tahoe for ourselves, we have a list of the most picturesque paddle boarding spots around the lake. Imagine turquoise water so clear that you can see all of the way to bottom, framed by a backdrop of stunning snow-capped mountains.

In this guide, we’ll show you the best places to go paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe, along with everything you need to know about parking, renting paddle boards, what to bring, and more!

Girl sitting on rock with paddle board in Lake Tahoe

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Everything You Need to Know About Paddle Boarding in Lake Tahoe

Table of Contents

Quick Tips for paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe

📍 Where is Lake Tahoe: California / Nevada USA

✈ Where to Fly into: Reno-Tahoe International Airport – Find FLIGHTS here!

📆 When to Visit: Best time to visit for paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe is late Spring / Summer / early Fall

🛌 Top 3 Hotels in Lake Tahoe:
Desolation Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9.4 rating
Marriot Grand Residence Club ⭐⭐⭐⭐9.0 rating
Tahoe Lakeshore Lodge and Spa ⭐⭐⭐ 8.7 rating

🚗 Rental Car: DiscoverCars is our go to for the best rental car prices!
🚐 Rental Campervan: Rent a campervan from Outdoorsy!
🏪 Paddle Board Rentals: SUP Tahoe! (South Lake Tahoe)
🛶 Best Lake Tahoe Tour: Clear Kayak Tour

👉 Got a couple of days in Lake Tahoe? Read this 2 day Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary next!

Map of the best paddle boarding places in Lake Tahoe

Secret Cove (Nudist Beach)
Sand Harbor
Zephyr Cove
Bonsai Rock
Pope Beach

Map of Best Lake Tahoe Paddle boarding spots

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

Where to Rent a Paddle Board from in Lake Tahoe

There are a few Lake Tahoe paddle board rental companies but I recommend renting from SUP Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. You can rent inflatable paddle boards and choose to pick them up inflated or deflated or classic paddle boards. The thing we loved most about SUP Tahoe is that if you want to do a sunrise paddle, they have an option to pick up your board the evening before so that you don’t have to rent a board for an entire additional day!

Prices range from $50 – $65 per day depending on which paddle board you choose. It’s then around $15 extra to add on the evening before pick up.

From SUP Tahoe to the further away paddle boarding spot, it is a 40 minute drive.

Life Vests or PFDs

Each paddler requires one Coast Guard-approved PFD. If you are over 13 years of age, although it is recommended that you do wear it, you don’t necessarily have to be wearing it but you should have it with you. Those under 13 years of age need to be wearing one at all times.

Lake Tahoe’s water is fed by snow run off, and therefore tends to be really cold all through the year. Jumping or falling into cold water can cause cold water shock, followed by drowning.

🦺 Read more about how to paddle safely in Lake Tahoe here!

Best Places to Paddle Board in Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is MASSIVE and so there are tons of choices when it comes to paddle boarding. There are however, a few really special and beautiful spots that you should not miss!

My Top Pick for Seeing Lake Tahoe

Clear Kayak Tour of Lake Tahoe

See up to 65 feet (20 meters) below the water’s surface
Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere of a small-group tour
Take in 360-degree views from a transparent kayak
Includes round-trip shuttle service from the Village Plaza rental shop

Book your clear kayak tour here!

Secret Cove

Where to park: Secret Cove Parking (costs around $12 per day)
Hike to beach: Yes – 3/4 mile along a forest road and then down a trail to the beach
Dog friendly: Yes
Toilets: None

Girl paddle boarding in Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe

I had to put Secret Cove as number one on this list because it is just so damn stunning! I should mention, before I get too carried away, that Secret Cove is technically a nudist beach, Is it just me or are all the most beautiful beaches always nudist beaches?

Secret Cove is however, also super popular amongst families with kids, paddle boarders and photographers because of how gorgeous it is!

To reach the beach from the parking lot, it is a little hike and having a paddle board (or 2) makes the hike pretty exhausting. We did it with 2 paddle boards which we carried in their backpacks. It’s not so bad because you can wear the paddle board bag like a back pack on your back.

stairs down to Secret Cove Lake Tahoe — The stairs down to Secret Cove

Girl sitting on rock at Secret Cove Lake Tahoe — The stairs down to Secret Cove

Sand Harbour

Where to park: Sand Harbor Beach Parking lot (fee to park)
Hike to beach: No
Dog friendly: Only during the off-season from October 15 until April 15
Toilets: Yes

Sand Harbor is one of the most popular beaches in Lake Tahoe because it is stunning! If you want to visit Sand Harbor during Summer, make sure you get there bright and early! There is a large parking lot but it fills up pretty quickly.

Like Secret Cove, Sand Harbor has a section of the beach with lots of little rocks jutting out of the water in the shallows.

Sand Harbor is not too far away from Secret Cove. In fact, some people choose to paddle all of the way from Sand Harbor to Secret Cove. This paddle is a 2 mile paddle one way and would take you over an hour.

Zephyr Cove

Where to park: At Zephyr Cove parking lot – fee required
Hike to beach: No
Dog friendly: No
Toilets: Yes

Zephyr Cove is a mile long sandy beach with a restaurant, beach bar and grill and a general store available. There are also paddle board and kayak rentals available at Zephyr Cove resort.

The beach is more of a long sandy beach rather than one of the classic Lake Tahoe bays with the rocks that you see at some of the other beaches on this list such as Secret Cove and Bonsai Rock.

Zephyr Cove is a great beach to bring kids too because they can play in the sand and get into the water easily without having to navigate sharp rocks or pebbles.

Bonsai Rock

Where to park: At the pull-out at these coordinates: 39.18341410479848, -119.92674346773332 (free)
Hike to beach: Yes – very steep from main road
Dog friendly: Yes
Toilets: No

The Bonsai Rock is an iconic spot in Lake Tahoe for paddle boarding, kayaking, picnicking and photography. It is a rock jutting out of the water with a couple of tiny trees growing out of it, making it look like a Bonsai Tree!

You can park along the main road (Highway 28) in the pull-out. If the pull out is full, I recommend parking at Sand Harbor and paddling along the shoreline over to Bonsai Rock.

You can also see Bonsai Rock on the Clear Kayak Tour which can make for some awesome photos!

To get down to the water from your parking spot, if you park along the highway, it is a steep and slippery trek down so be careful. I was wear Tevas for this and wished that I was wearing enclosed shoes instead. There was SO much sand and gravel that got into my Tevas which made the hike quite difficult. Once you reach the water, there are a few different rocks that you can set up on or there is a small sandy spot if you head just past the Bonsai Rock.

We spent hours chilling out on the rocks, jumping into the water to cool off and jumping off the rocks including Bonsai Rock.

Pope Beach

Where to park: Pope Beach Parking Lot (fee required)
Hike to beach: No
Dog friendly: No
Toilets: Yes

Pope Beach is located down the South end of Lake Tahoe and is a beautiful big, sandy beach. There is a restaurant there called the Grove Beach Bar and Grill with views of the water.

There are also paddle board and kayak rentals at the beach and there are picnic tables that you can use a little further back from the water under the trees.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I bring my own paddle board to Lake Tahoe?

Yes! You can bring your own paddle board to Lake Tahoe! You do need to go to a Tahoe Boat inspection station for a free decontamination before you get out onto the water. You can learn more about this here.

Can you paddle board in Lake Tahoe in Winter?

Paddle boarding is still possible in Lake Tahoe in the Winter. In fact, it is really beautiful with the snow capped mountains and snowy trees surrounding you. Make sure you dress appropriately and wear a life vest or PFD because the water will be FREEZING.

How cold is the water in Lake Tahoe?

The temperature of the water in Lake Tahoe changes throughout the year. It can range between 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) in winter to 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) in summer!

Where to book a clear kayak from in Lake Tahoe

One of the best water activities in Lake Tahoe (apart from paddle boarding), is to join a Clear Kayak tour! These tours take you to the infamous Bonsai Rock, where you will have a chance to jump off the rock into the water and get photos of the beautiful crystal clear water! The tours are run by Clearly Tahoe and you can check availability and book using the button below.

👉 Book your Clear Kayak Tour here

Can you swim in Lake Tahoe?

You can swim in Lake Tahoe! We had an absolute blast jumping in the water during our time there because it was SO hot outside! We were surprised to find the water actually quite warm. It was maybe just slightly colder than a swimming pool and it was early – mid July.

You should always be prepared when swimming in Lake Tahoe because the water is usually very cold which can be dangerous. Make sure you swim somewhere that is not too deep so that you can get back to shore easily if you get into any trouble.

Are dogs allowed at the beaches in Lake Tahoe?

Dogs are not allowed at every single beach in Lake Tahoe but there are quite a few that they are allowed at. I have listed which Lake Tahoe beaches are dog friendly in this guide!

What else is there to do in Lake Tahoe?

Lake Tahoe is a really beautiful part of the world and there are LOADS to do there such as hiking, bike riding and of course all of the water activities! I have put together a 2 day Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary to help you plan your Summer getaway to Lake Tahoe so head over there next to add more Lake Tahoe bucket list activities to your list!

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