Tahoe City, CA, United States

Commons Beach, Tahoe City

Commons Beach is Tahoe City's downtown lakefront park, about four acres of lawn and sand right on Lake Tahoe. It works well for a relaxed dip or an easy swim along the beach, and there are heated restrooms and kayak rentals on site. Free concerts fill the lawn on summer Sunday afternoons, so plan an early swim if you want it quiet.

Directions

Photo: Keiichi Yasu · CC BY-SA 2.0

Get your personalized SwimScore

Latest reading · SwimScore 85/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 21°C, wind 8 km/h, UV 8. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Summer mornings; Tahoe's water typically ranges from about 50 to 70°F between June and September.
Getting in: Free public park run by the Tahoe City Public Utility District at 400 North Lake Blvd., open year-round. No dogs on the beach (leashed dogs are allowed only on the paved multi-use trail).
Parking & transport: Parking lot at the park; it is closed until 2 p.m. on Thursdays during the summer farmers market.
Water quality: UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center tracks Lake Tahoe's clarity, temperature and nutrients and posts live lake conditions; Tahoe's public-beach partners advise checking California's harmful algal bloom advisories before swimming.
Season: Open year-round; swimming season is summer.
Watch for: Very cold water, sudden storms and unexpected waves (Tahoe public beach advisory)
Cold water shock: Take Care Tahoe reports an average of seven cold-water drownings in Lake Tahoe each year
Facilities: Six heated restrooms · Running water · Playground · Three picnic areas and group barbecue area · Small amphitheater · Kayak and paddleboard rentals and storage · Bike repair station