South Lake Tahoe, CA, United States

Pope Beach, South Lake Tahoe

Pope Beach is a three-quarter-mile stretch of sand on Lake Tahoe's South Shore, run as a national forest day-use area with shade, picnic tables and a food concession. The long, straight shoreline suits swimmers who want to log distance parallel to the beach. The gate is open from Memorial Day weekend to mid-October with a parking fee, or you can bike in on the Pope-Baldwin path.

Directions

Satellite view of Pope Beach, South Lake Tahoe

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Know before you go

Best conditions: Summer; Tahoe's water typically ranges from about 50 to 70°F between June and September.
Getting in: USDA Forest Service (Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit) day-use beach on Highway 89, about 3 miles west of South Lake Tahoe, operated by a concessionaire. Walk-in and bike access is possible when the lot is closed, but restrooms and trash service are then unavailable. No dogs.
Parking & transport: Gated lot with a per-vehicle entry fee, open 8 a.m. to sunset from Memorial Day weekend through mid-October; fees rise over the Fourth of July weekend. Season passes for national forest beaches are sold at the Pope Beach kiosk.
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: Memorial Day weekend through mid-October (gated parking season).
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
Fenced habitat for the protected Tahoe yellow cress plant on the beach
Facilities: Restrooms · Picnic tables · Food concession · Kayak and paddleboard rentals · Shade · Pope-Baldwin bike path access · Public transit nearby