Sand Harbor Beach: Incline Village Nevada

The Beautiful Turquoise Waters Of Lake Tahoe

Getting In Is Half The Battle

It was the beginning of August and campers were out in force. Little did we know what that meant to us though. We knew it was hard to find a campsite, but what about the beaches.

We went to Sand Harbor Beach on a Friday at 8am. We had no trouble getting in, but the lot soon filled up and the gates were closed. Let me just jump ahead for a moment. The next day, Saturday, we decided we would go back because it was such a beautiful beach.

We drove off with an arrival time of 8am only to be greeted by a 1.6 mile line of cars trying to get into Sand Harbor Beach. We waited and waited and waited for one and a half hours. Then all of the sudden, with a half mile to the gate, the cars started moving. Then we saw “The Guy.” The guy who walks down the road saying the lot was full. Ugh, we were bummed, Zephyr Cove Beach was a great second choice though.

The Beach

From the sand to the to the crystal clear turquoise water, this spot is amazing. No wonder it is one of the most popular beaches. It’s so popular that you have to have a reservation starting in mid August 2024 (see reservation link below).

As would be expected, the beach was packed. Arrive early, very early if you want a good spot on the beach. The further south you go on the beach, the less crowded it is. The sand is fine and soft and the water is perfect for wading, swimming and floating.

Rangers patrol the beach so make sure your music is low and you don’t have any glass on the beach. People are stacked three deep from the water’s edge to the fence between the beach and parking lot. To get a spot right on the water I imagine you want to arrive at the gate no later than 7am. Enough about the beach, let’s get out in that amazingly clear and fairly warm water.

Our Paddle Boarding Experience

As I was looking into places to paddle board around Lake Tahoe, I would always come across these pictures of people paddle boarding through clear turquoise water with hug boulders beneath them. My first thought was that those pictures had to be heavily filtered. Surely lake water can’t look that beautiful.

Well, I can honestly tell you it does. We couldn’t believe how clear and colorful the water was. We could clearly see the bottom of the lake 20 feet down. We were out on the water for at least 5 hours, paddling and swimming. It was such an amazing experience. These Body Glove paddle boards have really added to our summer vanning experience.

From the beach we first paddled to the left along the shoreline. This offered the most beautiful views of the clear turquoise waters against the sandy and rocky bottom. There were people out there who rented clear plastic kayaks and paddle boards for an unobstructed view right to the bottom.

After we had some lunch, it was time to turn right and see what that side had to offer. Keep in mind that the wind usually picks up in the afternoon which can make your return to the beach a bit tougher. On the right side there is another beach with a huge roped off area that kayaks and paddle boards are not allowed in.

The boat launch area is on that side so there are a few boats anchored in that area. There is also a fun pile of huge rocks that people were jumping off of. There is also a nice cove with rocks around it and a small beach spot. Have fun exploring this area. Every direction has something fun, beautiful and amazing.

Amenities And More

$15 entrance fee.
You cannot park on the highway and walk in.
Reservations at www.reservenevada.com see reservation policy here.
Boating, kayaking, paddle boarding, scuba diving, hiking, swimming and fishing.
Camping is not permitted.
Store with food and drinks.
No glass on the beach.
Flush toilets.
WiFi.
Once the park is full, the gates don’t reopen until 5pm to allow more people in.
No in and out privileges.
No pets April 15th to October 15th.
Paddle boarding – under age 13 must wear a life vest. Over age 13 must have a life vest on the paddle board. Harbor patrol enforces this. Ask us how we know lol.

Final Thoughts

We will definitely be back, but we will have to make a reservation next time. Our pictures only capture a fraction on the true beauty of these waters. Definitely put this spot on your destination list. Have fun and let us know what you think.