panorama view of lake tahoe
East shore of lake tahoe above sand harbor, steep mountains and pines
view of hidden beach on lake tahoe on busy july 4th weekend, filled with boats, kayaks, partiers on beach, american flags

Kayaking Lake Tahoe from Incline Village - 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

This is a review of a day’s mood, as much as the paddle itself. When you live in a tourist town, holiday weekends can be…interesting. Maybe you’re working. And that’s great. But, when it feels like an entire city’s population has descended on your home, you have some decisions to make. Sometimes, if you can’t beat them…why not put your boat in the water and join the mess.

 

Is it the peaceful morning paddle you’re used to? Absolutely not. But – I highly recommend the experience.

 

For this Independence Day trip, we started at Ski Beach in Incline Village. This put-in has it all – sandy beaches, grassy shaded areas, and just enough paddling-distance to more natural-feeling sections of coast. Access is free for Incline Village residents and by fee for other visitors. You can drop off your vessels at Ski Beach’s convenient boat ramp before leaving to find parking.

 

On this Independence Day, the beach was a zoo. It felt like ever inch was covered in revelers. Music was blaring. Grilling was happening. It was energizing…for a moment….and then we were ready to go. We pumped up our boats and started on our way. We turned left, leaving Incline Village and heading towards Tahoe’s dynamic east shore. From the water, the scene was similar. We saw hundreds of (motorized) boats on our short journey, some puttering around slowly, others anchored for the duration of their celebrations. We passed a few other groups of kayakers. The waves hit well over our heads as we maneuvered carefully around these floating parties, each attempting to out-blast the rest with their competing musical styles.

view of lake tahoe with calm water, pine trees in foreground
view of sand harbor state park in nevadas lake tahoe taken from kayak

We eventually reached a fun section of undeveloped coast, filled with Lake Tahoe’s classic round rocks. Most of these rocks were also filled with partiers. Less boats here, but more inflatable animals and pizza slices. The people-watching was excellent. We paddled until we reached Hidden Beach.

 

As you might guess, Hidden Beach usually sets a quieter vibe. There’s very limited parking along the highway here, and that keeps crowds reasonable. Of course, this day was different. Hidden Beach was busy, with more music, more speedboats, and more parties. We took a break for lunch and enjoyed some tunes, before heading back to Ski Beach. If you take this July 4th trip, depending on the year, you might stick around Incline Village long enough to catch some fireworks.

 

If you’re looking to paddle farther, Sand Harbor is well within reach. I’ve enjoyed the paddle from Ski Beach to Sand Harbor many a time before, but opted not to continue on this July 4th due to traffic and waves. If you make it as far as Sand Harbor, you’ll be rewarded with a coveted spot to lay your towel. Sand Harbor is one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular state parks, and if you kayak-in you can visit on your own schedule, without having to wait in line for early-morning parking.

 

If you’re looking for an active beach day on a holiday weekend, I highly recommend this paddle. And if you’re looking for a quiet weekday trip – you’ve also come to the right place.

 

Note: All but one of the photos on this page were taken on quieter days.

map of tahoe water trail in sand harbor area

Recommendations for Kayaking Lake Tahoe from Incline Village

Kayak Rentals

You can’t rent a kayak from Ski Beach. If you’re staying next door at the Hyatt, they’ll have rentals for you.

Incline Village Camping

There are no campgrounds near Ski Beach or in Incline Village. Consider staying next door at the Hyatt.

Kayaking with Kids

This would be an easier choice on a quieter day.

When to Go

This description is for July 4th, but this beach is open for paddling year-round…depending on your tolerance for icy waters.

Build Your Tahoe & Incline Village Weekend

You’re in Lake Tahoe – your options are limitless

What's Next?

Continue paddling the Tahoe Water Trail – the 72 mile loop around Lake Tahoe, in segments. On your next trip – how about beginning your kayak at Sand Harbor or Speedboat Beach? Or, for a more natural change of pace, check out Yosemite’s Tenaya Lake.