After a quick paddle, we hopped out of our kayaks and banked the SUPs, so we could jump off the granite boulders around Bonzi Rock along the east shore of Lake Tahoe.
“Yahooo!” We shouted just before splashing into the brisk 52-degree water.
Lake Tahoe is one of the premier lakes in the world boasting stats like the "cleanest motorized lake in America" and "largest natural lake in California" but not many talk about how to enjoy this water. Why is that? Well, the water temperature of Lake Tahoe ranges from 43 degrees in the winter to 64 degrees in the summer. That is cold! So, how do you enjoy this blue wonder without freezing? Boating.
Yup, that is right, getting on top of the lake is the best way to experience the blue waters that made Lake Tahoe famous. However, many tourists opt-in for a motorized boating experience, but, as somebody who grew up in the area, I can confidently say there is a better way to experience Lake Tahoe.
My go-to exploration tool for the 72(ish) miles of coastline has been a kayak or a SUP. While all paddling crafts can make for a great outing on Lake Tahoe, some are better than others. The best two paddling crafts for Lake Tahoe are kayaks and stand-up paddle boards. Both of these allow for maneuverability, access to the water when you start heating up, and can cut through the choppy waters if the wind picks up. And trust me, the wind can pick up! If you don’t have either of these crafts with you, there are several places you can rent around Lake Tahoe.
Now, let’s launch into the best spots to paddle.
Headed down to the beach of Emerald Bay to go kayaking. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
5 Best Paddling Spots of Lake Tahoe
1) Zephyr Cove
Hidden on the southeast coastline of Lake Tahoe, Zephyr Cove is a “locals” paradise with a small sandy beach with large granite boulders poking out of the water. Parking your car and walking towards the beach takes about 10 minutes, as the cove can be hard to find on your first trip, but all paths lead to the stairs.
Once at the stairs, head down to the beach and set up. From here, you can launch your craft. Make sure to keep an eye out for some of those boulders as your SUP fin and kayak bottom can sometimes snag on them. If you do snag a rock, not a problem, just back up and go around.
Zephyr Cove is a splendid place to paddle for all levels of paddlers. If you stay within the cove, you will be protected from the wind, making the paddling easy, however, there is more to see around the corner. If you are feeling adventurous, paddle out and around the rocky point, heading north along the coastline to find more boulders to paddle over, a rugged coastline, and almost no people.
If you are trying to maximize the beauty of your time at Zephyr Cove, make sure to stay for sunset. From the water, or sitting on the rocks at the point of Zephyr Cove, you can watch the sun dip behind the Emerald Range that creates the skyline of Lake Tahoe’s western shore.
Pros:
Secluded and small beach
Sandy beach makes for easy boat launching
Granite rocks you can paddle over
Stellar sunset views
Cons:
No public restroom
Finding parking is difficult
Want to learn more about kayaking at Zephyr Cove? Read this full article about kayking and SUPing at Zephyr Cove
2) Emerald Bay
Getting its name from emerald green-blue waters, Emerald Bay is often considered the crown jewel of Lake Tahoe. From the parking lot, you look down 400 onto the colorful waters, but your eye goes directly to the island centered in the bay. If you are anything like me, the next question is obvious, “Can I go to that island?”
Yes! Fannette Island is open to the public and can only be accessed by boat. But, how do you get down to the water?
The Vikingsholm Trail, which starts at the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot, winds down the hillside roughly one mile and 400 vertical feet.
Luckily, there is a kayak and SUP rental at the beach, so you can save your shoulders and avoid hiking your kayak, or SUP, one mile to the beach. If that doesn’t seem difficult to you, think about the return one mile up 400 vertical feet after a full day of paddling. I’ve done it and it burns.
Once on the water at Emerald Bay, you can paddle to the island in about 20-30 minutes. Once at the island, you can hike to the remains of an old tea house, cliff jump, and warm yourself up after a refreshing dip by sunbathing on the granite island.
What’s more, there is a sunken boat that you can find in Emerald Bay by locating the red diving buoy along the south shoreline.
Pros:
Get to paddle to, and hike on, Fannette Island
The water is some of the prettiest in all of Lake Tahoe
Spectacular sunrises not to miss
Kayak and SUP rentals on site
Cons:
Mostly paid parking, but there is limited free parking
Motorboats will be around you as you paddle
Want to learn more about kayaking at Emerald Bay? Read this full article about kayaking at Emerald Bay
Jumping off Bonzi Rock while kayaking around Lake Tahoe. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
3) Bonzi Rock
Bonzi Rock is my favorite place to paddle, but it doesn’t come easy. Over the years, Bonzi Rock has grown in popularity across social media for good reason, its raw beauty.
Parking your vehicle in one of the two turnouts, you’ll carry your gear down the steep and sandy slope to the water. There is no official trail to get to the water, but there are several small trails. Please, try to stay on these to preserve the cliffside.
After a little slipping and sliding, you’ll end up at the beach and should be able to immediately identify Bonzi Rock with its characteristic “bonzi tree” sprouting on top of it. The said bonzi tree is an evergreen that used to be manicured by an unknown individual, but that tradition has stopped as the area has become popular.
From the rocky beach, launch your vessel and head out among the granite boulders visible through the clearest water in all of Lake Tahoe. Many iconic boulders in the area look like whales, monkey faces, and so much more, so, as you paddle, let your imagination run wild as you soak in these magnificent views.
While paddle around, keep an eye out for boulders you can jump from, there are many! The most popular and largest of the boulders you can jump from is Bonzi Rock. Depending on the water level the jump can be anywhere between 8-15 feet high. Make sure to always check the depth of the water before jumping!
Pros:
Rock jumping
Secluded
Paddling over granite boulders
Clearest water in Lake Tahoe
Cons:
Limited parking
No public restroom
Water access can be difficult
4) Rubicon Bay
Often overlooked, Rubicon Bay is a great place for a family picnic as well as the perfect place to become proficient at paddling. The bay is well protected from the winds, so you can paddle without worrying about waves capsizing you. Also, the waters close to shore are often very calm and perfect for swimming.
There are several access points for Rubicon Bay as this bay is long. Stretching over 7 miles, Rubicon Bay has several hidden gems within itself, a few of which can only be accessed by boat. So, finding some solitude is easily done here if you are willing to work for it.
If you are looking for an adventure, Rubicon Bay is the perfect starting point. From this long bay, you can paddle to D.L. Bliss State Park for some cliff jumping, or take a personal challenge and paddle to Emerald Bay which would be roughly 10 miles of paddling.
Also, make sure to check out the Rubicon Hiking Trail that stretches from Rubicon Bay to Emerald Bay.
Pros:
Stellar sunrise views
Great place to learn how to paddle
Family-friendly beach, perfect for a picnic
Lots of parking
Cons:
Motorboats will be around you as you paddle
No public restrooms
5) Sand Harbor
Sand Harbor is the top destination for paddling in Lake Tahoe. Water access is easy, there are kayak and SUP rentals available on the beach, Sand Harbor is a State Park with ample parking (but the lot does fill up so come early), and the views while paddling will take your breath away.
Getting into Sand Harbor has a fee, but that shouldn’t keep you from coming to this beautiful sandy beach. Once parked, you will need to make a hard decision on which beach to enjoy, as there are two. My personal favorite is the southern beach, but it can get windy here. Whereas the northern beach has more protection, but less sun.
Launching your boat is easy from either of the sandy beaches and you will immediately gain access to clean and clear water, large boulders, and views of blue water meeting mountains. Paddling on the northern beach is better for beginners because the waters are more protected and less choppy. Meanwhile, the southern beach provides great access to the open lake, which can be a little daunting to new paddlers.
If you are looking for a paddling adventure around Sand Harbor, head south a few miles to Bonzi Rock for some rock jumping, or head north along the rugged coastline devoid of people.
Pros:
Great place to learn how to paddle
Kayak and SUP rentals on site
Large sandy beach perfect for an all-day adventure
Cons:
Fee to enter
Fills up fast, so come early to get your spot
Kayaking at Zephyr Cove during sunset on Lake Tahoe. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
As you can see, your options are limitless for paddling around Lake Tahoe. There are so many little spots throughout the coastline that you can’t access with motorized boats that exploring this blue world with a kayak, or SUP, is a must. The best part, most of the paddling is accessible to all levels of paddlers. So, what do you say, is it time for you to brave the brisk waters of Lake Tahoe and go for a paddle?
