Paddle Boarding Lake Tahoe Guide – Best Places To Paddle Board

Looking to go paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe and wondering where to find the best Lake Tahoe paddle boarding spots?

The picturesque crystal clear blue mountain lake is the best place to SUP in California and the US in our opinion and an absolute California bucket list activity. Nothing comes even close to the incredible scenery in Northern California and Nevada.

In our Lake Tahoe Standup Paddle Boarding Guide, we’ll give you useful tips on paddle boarding Tahoe, including Lake Tahoe paddle board rental shops and where to find the best beaches to launch your SUP around the lake.

Best Lake Tahoe Summer Activities

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Lake Tahoe Paddle Boarding Guide

Best Places To Paddle Board In Lake Tahoe

Where are the best places to paddleboard in Lake Tahoe?

With Lake Tahoe being such a huge lake, surely you are wondering where the best spots to paddleboard in Lake Tahoe are? And maybe you have seen those amazing photos and videos of people paddleboarding in Lake Tahoe around those giant boulders and crystal clear blue water and want to know where to find those unique spots.

Best Lake Tahoe Clear Water Spots

In the following, we will break down the best places by their location around the lake.

South Lake Tahoe Paddle Boarding Spots

El Dorado Beach At Lakeview Commons

El Dorado beach is located right in the center of the city of South Lake Tahoe. South Lake Tahoe paddle boarding, especially at Lakeview Commons, is great for beginners. Beach access could not be easier from here. The beach at Lakeview Commons itself is a wide sand beach and the water is pretty shallow which makes this a great spot in South Lake Tahoe to learn how to stand up paddle board and gain confidence.

Kiva Beach

Kiva Beach in South Lake Tahoe is a wide sandy beach with shallow waters stretching out far into the lake which makes it a great place for beginners to learn paddle boarding in South Lake Tahoe. From Kiva beach, you can easily paddle to other nearby beaches, like Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach.

Emerald Bay Paddle Boarding

Emerald Bay is the most scenic South Lake Tahoe paddle board spot. The almost enclosed bay is not only an eye-catcher from the vista points above, but also from down at the water level.

When paddle boarding Emerald Bay you have views and access to Eagle Point, the tiny Fannette Island in the middle of the bay, and the Vikingsholm Castle. The water in the bay is a lot calmer than out at the open lake, which is great for beginner paddle boarders.

There is no easy access/launch place for paddleboards at Emerald Bay. Paddleboarders must park at the parking lot of the scenic overlook on Highway 89 and walk down the 1-Mile path, including their SUP! You will also have to walk back up again afterward, which is going to be more difficult. However, there is a kayak and SUP rental place called Emerald Bay Kayak down by the bay if you are looking to rent paddle boards at Emerald Bay. This doesn’t save you the hike up and down but certainly the schlepping of the SUP.

One thing to keep in mind, Emerald Bay is a very popular spot and parking is very limited, especially during the weekends. Therefore, you must arrive before 10 am or even earlier to get a parking spot.

Baldwin Beach To Emerald Bay

As an alternative, you can launch your SUP at nearby Baldwin Beach and paddle north to get to Emerald Bay. This is the closest public launch site for paddleboarders heading into Emerald Bay. Baldwin Beach lies 2 miles south along a rugged, curving shoreline. This route is for more experienced paddlers and not for complete newbies. The complete trip from Baldwin Beach to and around Emerald Bay is an about 8-mile round trip.

D.L. Bliss State Park To Emerald Bay

Yet another alternative to paddleboard Emerald Bay is from the North from D.L. Bliss State Park. This route is, as well, for more experienced paddleboarders as you will face an undeveloped shoreline and potentially choppy water depending on the weather conditions of the day.

Paddle Boarding Lake Tahoe’s West Shore

D.L. Bliss State Park

Further up the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, you will find Calawee Cove Beach and Lester Beach in Rubicon Bay at D.L. Bliss State Park. The Rubicon Bay area boasts gorgeous sandy beaches and calm crystal clear blue water and is therefore great for beginner paddle boarders.

Calawee Cove Beach To Rubicon Point & Emerald Bay

Intermediate paddle boarders can launch their SUP off at Lester Beach heading south along the shore passing Calawee Cove Beach and the Old Lighthouse to Rubicon Point or even further all the way to Emerald Bay. You paddle along towering cliffs that drop all the way into the deep blue water of Lake Tahoe.

If you continue further south, you will pass numerous coves perfect for taking a dip and resting during your Lake Tahoe paddle board trip. Located just north of Emerald Bay State Park you will pass Rooster Rock, a Lake Tahoe hidden gem only accessible from the water. It’s a big rock that looks like a rooster from where you can try your rock jumping skills.

Meeks Bay

Another easy area for paddle boarding at Lake Tahoe is Meeks Bay, just north of D.L. Bliss State Park on the West side of Lake Tahoe. The clear blue-green waters of Meeks Bay are gentle and protected from challenging winds and choppy waves.

Sugar Pine Point State Park

With the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, Sugar Pine Point State Park is one of Lake Tahoe’s most cultural and historical sites to visit. At Sugar Pine Point Beach you can rent a paddle board at West Shore Sports or take your own SUP and paddle from the public pier northwards or southwards.

To Tahoma & Chambers Lodge

If make your way up North you will paddle along a more rocky coastline and can make a stop at the Chambers Landing Pier Bar which is a wooden shack at the end of a pier and a favorite spot for locals to hang and have a drink or two. There is also a beach for you to hang out and have a picnic.

Sugar Pine Point Beach To The Rail Tracks

If you paddle South from Sugar Pine Point beach you will come across some railway tracks leading into the water which is a secret photo spot in Lake Tahoe.

Commons Beach In Tahoe City

Located at the heart of Tahoe City is Common’s Beach. This is a convenient and easily accessible place to SUP Lake Tahoe with the whole family. The parking lot is nearby which makes launching your board from here super easy. There are also a bunch of paddle board rental places in Tahoe City.

For more sandy beaches and clear waters head past the city’s marina.

Paddle Boarding North Lake Tahoe

Stand-Up Paddling At Kings Beach

Kings Beach in the North of the lake is one of the most frequented and popular places to paddle board Lake Tahoe for the whole family. There are a lot of Tahoe paddle board rentals in Kings Beach. Amongst them, The Wild Society, which rents those popular clear kayaks and SUPs that you have probably seen on Instagram.

From Kings Beach, you can paddle to either North Tahoe Beach or the stunning secluded Speedboat Beach where you’ll find giant boulders surrounded by azure blue crystal clear water.

Speedboat Beach To Stateline Point

Starting here at Speedboat Beach you will find that iconic Lake Tahoe scenery with crystal clear blue waters and giant boulders peeking through the surface. Speedboat beach is only a tiny beach, in-between a residential area. Parking is very very limited.

Sometimes the water level of the lake is so high that there’s almost no beach area left. However, exploring this area of Lake Tahoe by paddle board is amazing. From the water, you will see many homes and piers that you otherwise wouldn’t be able to see.

Crystal Bay

From Speedboat Beach, if you pass the California-Nevada state line and continue around the headland of Stateline Point you will enter Crystal Bay, the most spectacular bay on the lake. For good reason! At Crystal Bay the water is so clear that you can see straight to the bottom of the lake, hence the name.

Crystal Bay has only a few public access points. Almost all of the shoreline is inaccessible due to private homes or gated communities. Incline Village Beach, Burt Cedar Beach and Ski Beach can be accessed for a fee or by being a resident or guest of the area, for instance when staying at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort.

As mentioned, you can also make your way here from Speedboat Beach or Kings Beach even.

Paddle Boarding North-East Lake Tahoe

Sand Harbor Paddle Boarding

Sand Harbor State Park is the prettiest and best place to paddle board Lake Tahoe and our favorite spot to start an incredible Tahoe SUP tour.

Not only does Sand Harbor Beach feature shallow bays with crystal clear blue water and tons of giant boulders stacked on top of one another, it’s also the starting point to explore the iconic picturesque East Shore of Lake Tahoe.

In fact, there are actually three bays at Sand Harbor in North Lake Tahoe. A small rocky cove that is great for snorkeling and diving, a large stretch of sandy beach and shallow blue water and Sand Harbor itself with a boat launch and the Sand Harbor paddle board rental.

Sand Harbor is one of the most, if not the most popular, spot for paddle boarding and kayaking around Lake Tahoe and in general a very popular beach due to its incredibly beautiful scenery. There is a lot of parking space available, but it fills up very quickly. On the weekends you got to be there right away when the Lake Tahoe – Nevada State Park opens at 8 am in the morning to get a spot. During the week it is a lot easier. The day-use fee is 15 USD.

From Sand Harbor, you can paddle North and South to picturesque rocky coves on Lake Tahoes East Shore.

Memorial Point Cove & Hidden Beach Plaza

To the North you can paddle to Memorial Point Cove and past Memorial Point Scenic Overlook and other smaller coves to eventually reach Hidden Beach Plaza which boasts azure blue water and a sandy stretch of beach. Both spots can only be accessed from Sand Harbor.

Bonsai Rock & Thunderbird Lodge

If you paddle South you will come by the most photographed coves, beaches, and points of interest in Lake Tahoe.

The first is the famous Bonsai Rock followed by the Thunderbird Lodge (Whittell Estate) located in a picturesque cove.

Unique Bonsai Rock Lake Tahoe

Chimney Beach

After paddleboarding by multiple smaller and insanely beautiful rocky coves with big boulders, you will reach the equally beautiful Chimney Beach, named after the remaining chimney that is located at the beach.

Chimney Beach can also be accessed via the Chimney Beach Trail from a very small parking lot at the top by Highway 28 on the East Shore. There is also street parking along the Highway, but only in certain areas. Since you most likely will have to park along the highway, make sure not to park in the restricted areas.

Secret Cove – Secret Harbor Beach – Creek & Whale Beach

From the same Chimney Beach Parking lot, there are also trails to some of the other picturesque and best Lake Tahoe paddle boarding spots like Secret Cove, Secret Harbor Beach, Creek Beach, and Whale Beach.

While these are the most beautiful paddle board spots in Lake Tahoe, they don’t come with easy access. That would be too easy, wouldn’t it be? You gotta work for it to be able to paddle board here. Either in the form a long paddle from Sand Harbor or a hike carrying your SUP.

You will have to carry your SUP all the way down from the Chimney Beach Parking lot or from along the highway, which can be quite exhausting, especially on the way up again. Just a heads up!

Paddle Boarding Tahoe’s East Shore

Skunk Harbor

Another great place to SUP along Lake Tahoe’s East Shore is Skunk Harbor. Like all those before-mentioned scenic SUP spots on the Tahoe East Shore, you have to work for this one too. It takes a 1.5-mile hike to get to Skunk Harbor. But once you get down to the water you will be rewarded paddle boarding among big boulders in azure blue water surrounded by green pine trees.

Parking is at the side of the road.

Zephyr Cove

Last but not least: Zephyr Cove. Located on the Southeastern shore, this Lake Tahoe paddle boarding location is easier to access again while still offering amazing views, crystal clear water, and stunning rock formations.

From the beaches at Zephyr Cove, you have plenty of flat and calm waters to explore, all the way down and around Zephyr Point.

A highlight at Zephyr Cove is the Lake Tahoe SUP rental Clearly Tahoe, which offers tours in transparent kayaks and paddle boards.

Guided Lake Tahoe Paddle Board Tours

Lake Tahoe Paddle Board Rentals

Where to rent paddle boards in Lake Tahoe?

Paddle boarding has become a very popular summer activity in Lake Tahoe and hence a lot of paddleboard rental places have popped up. You can find paddle board rentals in Lake Tahoe at almost every corner of the lake. Where there’s a beach, a rental shop is usually not far.

Therefore, if you plan on renting a paddleboard in Tahoe for the day or just for a few hours, it depends more on the location you are looking the paddle board at than on where a rental place is located.

We have listed some of the most popular Tahoe paddle board rental shops by their location around the lake here.

How much is it to rent a paddleboard in Tahoe?

Generally speaking Lake Tahoe paddle board rental prices range from approx. 25-35 USD per hour to around 80-100 USD and more per day. Half-day SUP rentals (4 hours) are approx. 60-70 USD.

The prices vary of course by shop and location as well as the type of SUP board. For exact pricing, availability, and reservations, contact the respective Tahoe SUP rentals directly. See below!

Considering the high SUP rental prices, it might make sense for you to consider buying your own inflatable paddle board. See our Paddle Board Buying Guide further down below for more information.

Paddle Board Rentals South Lake Tahoe

Most South Lake Tahoe paddle board rental shops are located in the city of South Lake Tahoe. You will find others in Zephyr Cove, Cave Rock, and Emerald Bay as well.

The latter-mentioned spots are more scenic. At Clearly Tahoe in Zephyr Cove, you can rent those cool transparent SUPs and kayaks.

North Lake Tahoe Paddle Board Rentals

The majority of paddle board rentals in North Lake Tahoe are located around Tahoe City, Kings Beach, and Incline Village. Sand Harbor paddle board rental, near Incline Village, is located at the most scenic spot from where you have those giant boulders right there.

Renting The Clear SUPs And Kayaks

If you want to rent the clear paddle boards that you probably have seen on Instagram, visit The Wild Society SUP rental in Lake Tahoe located at Kings Beach.

Heads up, renting those clear kayaks and SUPs is pretty expensive, but certainly worth it to get those incredible views into the crystal clear water.

Paddle Boards Lake Tahoe Buying Guide

Renting a paddleboard in Lake Tahoe can be pretty expensive, especially if you are looking to rent a SUP for a couple of hours. The rental costs add up pretty quickly.

Unless you only want to try paddleboarding once for an hour and then never again, it makes sense to look into buying your own paddleboard right away. Yes, SUPs can be pretty expensive too, but there are also lots of good and affordable inflatable paddleboards on the market that are fairly cheap and pay off pretty quickly after only a few times of use.

Therefore, if you like paddleboarding, we highly recommend looking into buying your own.

Below we have listed some popular and affordable stand-up paddleboards for Lake Tahoe. Check out our Best Affordable SUP Guide if you want to get more information and see more options.

Affordable Inflatable Paddleboards & SUP Gear

SUP Boards For Tahoe

Inflatable Stand Up Paddle Board For Under $300

All Skill Levels | 9′ X 30″ X 6″ | Max. load 242lbs

This inflatable paddleboard for adults is very popular and top-rated amongst people who look for an inexpensive inflatable SUP.

Inflatable Stand Up Paddle & Yoga Board Set Under $350

All Skill Levels | Suitable for Yoga and carrying kids | 10’6″ x 32″ x 6″ | Max. load 330 lbs

The DAMA inflatable budget paddle board stands out with its cool wooden style design. It comes with a dry bag, waterproof phone case, and carrying strap for the SUP. The cool looks make this SUP one of our favorite budget stand-up paddle boards. It is also very popular and top-rated.

Paddleboarding Gear

Useful Gear For Paddle Boarding In Tahoe

Electric Air Pump Compressor For The Car

Waterproof & Floatable Paddleboard Bluetooth Speaker

Waterproof SUP Dry Bag

Useful Things To Wear Paddle Boarding In Tahoe

Water Shoes To Wear For Paddleboarding

Tips For Paddle Boarding Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Water Trail

For advanced paddle boarders who are looking to explore the Tahoe waters beyond the beaches and get the most adventures out of paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe, check out the Lake Tahoe Water Trail which gives you a great overview of the 72-mile plus water trails along the Tahoe coastline.

What to keep in mind when paddle boarding at Lake Tahoe?

When is the best time to paddle board Lake Tahoe?

The best time of year for paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe is in the summer when the water is not freezing cold anymore. It’s still somewhat cold though!

The best time of day to paddle board Lake Tahoe is usually in the morning, as it gets pretty windy and wavy in the afternoon which makes paddle boarding pretty hard, especially for beginners.

We had days, where we had to skip paddle boarding entirely, simply because it was too windy, even in the morning already. But then there were other super calm and wind-free days where taking out the paddle board in Lake Tahoe for a ride was pure bliss throughout the entire day.

So you never know, until you know. But in general, the lake is a lot calmer in the morning than around noon and midday and therefore it’s best to start paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe early in the morning.

Can you paddle board Lake Tahoe in April?

Yes, you can, of course! You can even paddle board in Lake Tahoe in the winter if you are up for it and confident enough that you won’t fall in the water.

Starting April, Tahoe slowly transitions from winter season to summer season and the weather may already be nice and sunny. However, keep in mind that the water temperature is still freezing cold and only gets bearable for swimming months later.

Water Temperatures

The water temperatures in Tahoe range from about 40 degrees in the winter to roughly 70 degrees in the summer.

What do you wear paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe?

That said, when stand-up paddle boarding in Lake Tahoe in the winter or around springtime, it’s probably best to wear a wet suit, water shoes, and water gloves to be safe. If you are a daredevil, you will at least need to wear warm clothes that don’t soak up tons of water should you fall in the water.

To paddle Lake Tahoe in the summer, you are fine with your regular bathing suit and a cover-up to protect you from the sun. Having water shoes comes in handy too, especially for the walk to and from the water and to have extra grip on the SUP board.

Always put on sunscreen, when on the water in Tahoe, as the sun is super strong at that high altitude. We also always bring a cap or summer hat and sunglasses of course!

Where are the best paddle board in Lake Tahoe?

The best places to paddle board in Lake Tahoe are in our opinion Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, Zephyr Cove in the Southeast, Kings Beach in North Tahoe, and D.L Bliss State Park on the Southwest shore. From those places, you can experience the incredible crystal clear blue water and big boulders and explore otherwise inaccessible or hard to access parts of the lake.

Other Activities At Lake Tahoe In The Summer

Lake Tahoe is not only famous for being the best place to paddle board in California, the iconic mountain lake has many other summer activities to offer as well. Hiking, camping, boating, and cycling are just a few to mention.

Check out or Lake Tahoe Summer Vacation Guide for the complete overview of the best things to do in Tahoe in the summer.

Lake Tahoe Lakefront Hotels

Still looking for a place to stay in Lake Tahoe? Check out our post about the best Lake Tahoe beachfront hotels that give you immediate lake access. Those lakefront hotels have amazing lake views and offer the easiest beach access without the hassle of finding parking and schlepping your SUP.

Best Lake Tahoe Hotels By The Beach

Lake Tahoe Paddle Boarding Guide

We hope you found our Lake Tahoe Stand-Up Paddle Boarding Guide helpful and now know where to rent SUPs around the lake and find the best paddle boarding spots in Lake Tahoe for an amazing adventure on California’s prettiest mountain lake.

 

Julia & Felipe

 

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier

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