Kayak
Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Paddling Guide

With its majestic blue water, deep green forests, and surrounding mountains, the Tahoe area draws millions of visitors each year. For good reason. Its 72 miles of wildly varying coastline offer a completely different paddling experience depending on the day and your mood. Paddle away from shore to a quiet spot on a glassy Tuesday morning, bounce between rowdy July 4th boat parties with overhead waves, use your kayak as transit to a private picnic spot, or relax on a boulder just off-shore from your favorite local beach.

 

Paddle for an hour, an afternoon, or a week. With the right camping gear (or hotel reservations) you can kayak around the whole lake, making time for stops at all your favorite haunts.

 

Not sure where to start? On the largest alpine lake in the country, that’s understandable. Here are a few of my favorite Lake Tahoe paddles:

2 kayaks in lake tahoe, seated in them are a man and a woman, holding hands with smoke and sunset in background

Tahoe Water Trail

Pack your tent (and take your time) as you set out to experience all 72 miles of Lake Tahoe’s shoreline on this bucket-list paddle – featuring jaw-dropping state parks, epic views of your favorite summits, and the ultimate sense of paddling achievement
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Lake Tahoe's East Shore

Discover your new favorite beach amongst the giant boulders and teal waters of Tahoe’s least accessible region
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3 brightly colored kayaks on giant round boulders at the edge of lake tahoe california
smokey view from kayak looking into emerald bay on lake tahoe

Emerald Bay

Travel rugged coastline en route to Tahoe’s only island and watch the sunrise from this private corner of the lake

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Speedboat Beach

This perfect half-day paddle is punctuated with classic round rocks and – if you’re lucky – reveals Tahoe’s only lakeside hotspring
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view of lake tahoe taken from kayak, punctuated with a few dark large round boulders. blue sky with a few white whispy clouds.
photo of sup paddle boarders and a pelican on lake tahoe in springtime with white mountains in background

King's Beach & Tahoe City

Take your first strokes onto Big Blue from these shallow, social, and family-friendly beaches
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Reagan Beach (South Lake Tahoe)

Paddle like a local – starting in the heart of South Lake Tahoe

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family of ducks on log in the middle of snag lake in gold lakes region
view of hidden beach on lake tahoe on busy july 4th weekend, filled with boats, kayaks, partiers on beach, american flags

Incline Beach (on July 4th)

Embrace the waves and catch celebratory vibes when you paddle between raucous boat parties and flag-waving revelers on Tahoe’s busiest weekend
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