The Magical Secret Cove Beach in Lake Tahoe

Secret Cove – A Lake Tahoe Nude Beach

Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe is a dream! The water is so clear and glass-like that you can see all of the way down to the bottom. We paddle boarded while watching the sunrise from Secret Cove and it was magical. It truly is one of Lake Tahoe’s most beautiful beaches.

Secret Cove is located on the East side of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. It is not too far from Sand Harbor and Bonsai Rock, another two of Lake Tahoe’s best swimming spots. It is a sandy beach with large rocks and boulders sticking out of the water which are great for sitting on and jumping off of.

In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about visiting Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe, including how to get there, whether you can wear a swimsuit and how cold the water is.

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Quick Links and Tips for Visiting Lake Tahoe

📍 How to get to Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe

Whether you are staying in South Lake Tahoe or in Incline Village, you will need to take the NV 28 to get to Secret Cove. Make sure you get to Secret Cove early in order to get a parking spot and a spot on the beach. We got there at around 7am and were the first ones there but by 8am, it started getting more busy.

From South Lake Tahoe, it is about a 30 minute drive and from Incline Village, only a 12 minute drive.

There are a couple of different places that you can park for Secret Cove. Both are marked on the map below.

The first parking option is a little further away from the beach, but in a dedicated parking lot with a restroom. This is where we parked and carrying the paddle board from here all of the way to Secret Cove and back kind of killed me.. Even though, it was packed into a backpack, it is EXTREMELY heavy.

The second parking option is along the highway on the opposite side of the road from the trail down to the beach. This option makes the walk much shorter but the downside is that you will be parking along the highway.

Click here to open the map in Google Maps!

The hike to Secret Cove

Distance (return): 1.92km / 1.2 miles | Elevation: 44m / 144ft | Time: 30 minutes

The above stats are from the Secret Cove parking lot return. There is no avoiding hiking to get to Secret Cove, however if you park on the highway closer to where you start heading straight down to the beach, you can cut your hike in half.

From the Secret Cove parking lot, you’ll need to head towards the bathrooms and walk straight past them onto the gravel trail. Keep walking along this trail, until you reach another set of restrooms.

You will need to turn right just past these restrooms, where the trail will become narrower and steeper. This is the way down to Secret Cove Beach.

The hike itself is pretty easy but once you add in a heavy paddle board, it’s a bit more exhausting.

👉 Don’t visit Lake Tahoe without reading this!

📆 Best time to visit Secret Cove

The best time of the year to visit Secret Cove is in Summer when you can swim and paddle boarding without getting too cold. We spent hours paddling around, jumping in the water and chilling out.

The water was surprisingly warm in the middle of July at Secret Cove. It almost felt as warm as a swimming pool! We were shocked because we had heard so much about how cold Lake Tahoe’s water usually is.

I recommend getting to the parking lot as early in the morning as possible, as parking fills up very quickly. We had the beach entirely to ourselves before the sun completely came up and a couple of other people arrived.

🌊 Paddle Boarding at Secret Cove

If you decide to visit Secret Cove, you definitely need to rent a paddle board! We had an absolute blast paddle boarding around the crystal clear blue waters of Lake Tahoe and jumping in and out of the water. It was soooo much fun!

👉 I do recommend booking a rental in advance of arriving in Lake Tahoe because it is one of the most popular Summer activities and they book out quickly! Check availability and book here!

👙 Isn’t Secret Cove a Nude Beach?

Yes, Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe is a nude /clothing optional beach. Due to its increasing popularity on social media, there were only about 4 out of 50 people there who were nude. When we were there, there were even a few families there with kids.

Just remember to be respectful, don’t stare and be careful when taking photos of the gorgeous Lake Tahoe water that you don’t aim your camera at anyone in the nude.

⚠ Things to consider before visiting Secret Cove in Lake Tahoe

• Be respectful of others and remember that Secret Cove is a nudist beach.
• Bring lots of sunscreen, a hat and cover ups. The sun is strong in Lake Tahoe. We got very burnt. 🥵
• If you are paddle boarding, I recommend renting an inflatable paddle board with a backpack so that you can hike down to the water with it.
• Bring snacks and plenty of water. The sun and freezing water can be draining.
• HAVE FUN!

Commonly Asked Questions

How cold is the water in Secret Cove?

The water at Secret Cove can be extremely cold, however, the shallower you are, the warmer the water will be. When we were there, we found that the water felt like a swimming pool! It was much warmer than the glacial lakes we are used to in BC.

However, don’t take my word for it because Lake Tahoe’s water is known to be freezing so make sure you are well prepared with a towel and warm clothes to change into and don’t swim out too deep.

Can I wear a swim suit at Secret Cove?

Even though Secret Cove is a nudist beach, if you would prefer to wear a swim suit, you totally can. Secret Cove is a very popular beach and you will find that most people are clothed.

Are dogs allowed at Secret Cove?

Dogs are allowed at Secret Cove on leash. It’s the perfect place in Lake Tahoe for your pup to cool off in the hot Summer heat. We saw lots of dogs lazing around on the sand, sitting on boulders and joining their pawrents on paddle boards.

Where to rent a paddle board from for Secret Cove Lake Tahoe?

We rented our paddle boards from SUP Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe. You can choose whether to get inflatable or classic and whether you want the paddle board deflated in a bag or put onto your roof when you pick it up. We got ours deflated in their bags and pumped them up once we got down to Secret Cove Beach.

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