Sand Harbor Beach

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Sand Harbor does double duty as both a sandy beach and a boulder climbing adventure.  We enjoyed it so much we ended up traveling the 3 miles from Incline Village several days during the week we visited.

The smooth sandy beach immediately draws visitors, tempting us to throw down our towels and soak up the glorious sun.  But eventually, the same sun forces us into the cool water of Lake Tahoe.  The gently sloping sandy bottom allows us to enter the water as quickly or slowly as desired.  The first day I visited, the lake was so calm I spied a woman lying out on a raft in the lake, reading a Jodi Poucoult novel!  On Saturday, though, there were more boats and skiers out in the lake, and thus more waves at the beach.

Sandy Harbor has several wooden or paved walkways, some with signs describing the lake's geologic and historic past.  There is a small point separating the main beach from the smaller beach that has the boulders, a 5-minute walk between the two.  We enjoyed climbing on and jumping off the boulders, though the small sandy areas near the best boulders do not offer much sun-bathing space.  For the best of both worlds, visit both sections of the beach.  My brothers and nephew preferred the boulders, while I was caught up in a good book so preferred the sand.  Either way, the Park was lots of fun for all of us.

The food service at the park is a cut above most beach snack bars.  I ordered a burger served on a ciabatta roll, tasty and well-prepared for only $8.  The food building also houses and nice shady patio, and rest rooms.  Another rest room building serves the sandy beach, and offers showers as well.

From the boat-launching section of the Park, the Sand Harbor-Memorial Point  trail winds along the lake to the Memorial Point scenic vista, about a mile towards Incline village.  Beyond the Point, a trail still winds through sagebrush lining the shoreline, though it is not as well maintained from that point.  I walked along the trail and was rewarded with some magnificent scenery, though (of course!) I did not have my camera with me on that hike.

More information:  www.aboutlaketahoe.com /beaches/sand-harbor.htm

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