Sand Harbor
- Elevation
- 6,225 ft
- Permit
- Required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Vehicle entry needs a reservation: daily May 15 to Sept 30, required for vehicle entry from opening to 10:30 a.m. Entry fee: $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles). Sand Harbor is a lake cove on Lake Tahoe in Washoe County, Nevada. See every spot on Lake Tahoe.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Lifeguards | Beach Patrol on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day. |
| Water clarity | Gently sloping beaches with crystal-clear water and rock formations, per the park. |
- Main Beach : Paddle craft allowed.
- Divers Cove : Paddle craft not allowed.
- Boat Beach : Paddle craft allowed.
Access
| Parking | Paved lots inside the park, with kayak parking at the boat ramp. Parking or drop-offs on Hwy 28 are prohibited except at designated Memorial Point parking. |
|---|---|
| When it fills | Gates close once the park reaches capacity, most often Memorial Day to Labor Day, and usually reopen by 5 p.m. No re-entry while the gates are closed for capacity. |
| Fee | $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles) |
| Hours | 8 a.m. to 1 hour after sunset. Boat Ramp: 6AM - 4PM (Boat Docks Unavailable). Office Hours: 8am - 4pm, Tues-Fri |
| Reservation or permit | Required |
| Reservation window | Daily May 15 to Sept 30, required for vehicle entry from opening to 10:30 a.m.; first come, first served after 10:30 a.m. if the park is not full. Not needed on foot or bike via the East Shore Trail. |
| Reservation fee | $5.00 non-refundable fee per reservation booked ahead; no fee for same-day reservations (until 10:29 a.m.). |
| Elevation | 6,225 ft |
| Wheelchair access | One all-terrain Trackchair, first come, first served (sign a waiver at the park office); paved walkways in the picnic area; the one-third-mile Sand Point Nature Trail is accessible. |
| Managed by | Nevada Division of State Parks (Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Yes |
| Shade | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Picnic sites under cedars and Jeffrey pines. Visitor Center and gift shop open year-round; Kokanee Bar and Grill concession sells snacks and drinks. |
- Sand Harbor boat launch boat launch, $20.00 ($25.00 for Non-NV Vehicles) : Two double ramps, first come, first served; watercraft inspection required. Dock reinstalled June 1, 2026. Closed for the season per the park's fee table (checked 2026-09-28).
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Not allowed |
| Glass | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Sand Harbor open?
Hours: 8 a.m. to 1 hour after sunset. Boat Ramp: 6AM - 4PM (Boat Docks Unavailable). Office Hours: 8am - 4pm, Tues-Fri.
Can you swim at Sand Harbor?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Sand Harbor. Lifeguards: Beach Patrol on duty Memorial Day through Labor Day.
How do you get to Sand Harbor?
Parking: Paved lots inside the park, with kayak parking at the boat ramp. Parking or drop-offs on Hwy 28 are prohibited except at designated Memorial Point parking. Gates close once the park reaches capacity, most often Memorial Day to Labor Day, and usually reopen by 5 p.m. No re-entry while the gates are closed for capacity.
Do you need a reservation for Sand Harbor?
Yes. A reservation or permit is required: Daily May 15 to Sept 30, required for vehicle entry from opening to 10:30 a.m.; first come, first served after 10:30 a.m. if the park is not full. Not needed on foot or bike via the East Shore Trail. It costs $5.00 non-refundable fee per reservation booked ahead; no fee for same-day reservations (until 10:29 a.m.).
Is there a fee at Sand Harbor?
The fee is $10.00 ($15.00 for Non-NV Vehicles).
What facilities are at Sand Harbor?
Restrooms, drinking water, shade structures, picnic sites, and a boat launch. Picnic sites under cedars and Jeffrey pines. Visitor Center and gift shop open year-round; Kokanee Bar and Grill concession sells snacks and drinks.
What are the rules at Sand Harbor?
Dogs are not allowed, camping is not allowed, and glass containers are not allowed.
Photos
Nearby
Sources
7
- https://parks.nv.gov/parks/lake-tahoe-nevada-state-park (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.fee, access.hours, access.permitRequired, rules.dogs, rules.glass, waterbodyName, swimmerNotes.waterType, lat/lng, manager, access.parking, access.boatLaunches, access.wheelchairAccess, access.amenities, rules.camping, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.entryType, swimmerNotes.lifeguardSeason, swimmerNotes.waterClarityNote)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tahoe (accessed September 28, 2026; backs elevationFt)
- https://ca.water.usgs.gov/data/drought/gage10337000/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs elevationFt)
- https://parks.nv.gov/sand-harbor-frequently-asked-questions/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs beaches, access.parkingPattern)
- https://parks.nv.gov/about/frequently-asked-questions/sand-harbor-reservations/ (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.reservationWindow, access.reservationFee)
- https://parks.nv.gov/about/reservations (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.reservationWindow, access.reservationFee)
- https://parks.nv.gov/news/boat-launch-at-sand-harbor-state-park-to-open-without-docks (accessed September 28, 2026; backs access.boatLaunches)
More: Nevada swimming holes