Quick Facts Summer in the Lake Tahoe - Lake Donner State Parks
Welcome back to our parks! Check out what our parks offer to create welcoming and fun experiences!
Donner Memorial State Park
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from 7am until 8pm. Camping available during the summer months.
Parking Rates: May 1 to September 30, $10 per vehicle for the day, October 1 to April 30, $5 per vehicle for the day
Facilities: Visitor Center - Open from 10am until 5pm. Restrooms and showers available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available. Wheelchair Accessible.
Camping Allowed?: Yes! The Donner Memorial State Park campground offers 154 sites with picnic tables, restrooms (closed during the winter), beach, fishing, and lakeside interpretive trail. Due to extreme fire danger, no wood or charcoal fires until further notice. Book at Reserve California. For a full list of camping information, visit CA State Parks - Donner Memorial.
Hikes: China Cove Trail Loop, Historic Donner Pass Trail, Donner Summit Canyon, Cold Stream Trail, Donner Lake Bike Loop, Split Rock Loop Trail, Donner Memorial Park Nature Trail. More information about these trails can be found at AllTrails.
Dogs Allowed? Yes! Dogs are allowed on the Lakeside Interpretive Trail, Zig Zag Trail, fire roads, and along the shore of Donner Lake except for China Cove Beach. Dogs must always remain on a six-foot (maximum) leash. Dogs are not allowed in the visitor center, on the half-mile Nature Trail, or China Cove Beach. Dogs are not allowed on designated ski trails when snow is present.
Activities: Rental jet skis, paddle boards, boats, peddle boats, hydrobikes, all available from Donner Lake Marina. Free public docks are available on the North side of Donner Lake.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from 6am until 10pm. Parking lot in operation from 7am until 8pm.
Parking Rates: Parking lot is open 7 am to 8pm. May 1 to September 30, $10 per vehicle for the day, October 1 to April 30, $5 per vehicle for the day
Facilities: Restrooms available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available.
Camping Allowed? No! No camping is allowed at Kings Beach State Recreation Area.
Hikes: Kings Beach Boardwalk Trail
Dogs Allowed? Dogs allowed at Dog Beach which is located at the east of the Park beyond the boat ramp (rocky area). Dogs not allowed on sandy beaches in Placer County.
Activities: Kayaks, paddle boards, hydro bikes, peddle boats, jet skis available to rent from North Tahoe Watersports as well as parasailing experiences. Jet skis are also available from Tahoe Aquatic Center.
Tahoe City State Recreation Area
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from 6am until 10pm. Parking lot in operation from 7am until 8pm.
Parking Rates: Parking lot is open 7 am to 8pm. May 1 to September 30, $10 per vehicle for the day, October 1 to April 30, $5 per vehicle for the day
Facilities: Restrooms available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available.
Camping Allowed: Yes! Tahoe SRA campground has 23 available tent & RV campsites. Due to extreme fire danger, no wood or charcoal fires until further notice. Book at Reserve California.
Hikes: Tahoe City Boardwalk Trail
Dogs Allowed? Yes! Dogs allowed only in the following areas: Truckee River Outlet known as "Gatekeepers" within the day-use area along the Lake Tahoe shoreline.
Activities: Fishing, water play.
Sugar Pine Point State Park
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from 7am until 8pm. Camping available during the summer months.
Parking Rates: May 1 to September 30, $10 per vehicle for the day, October 1 to April 30, $5 per vehicle for the day
Facilities: Visitor Center - Open from 10am until 4pm. Restrooms and showers available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available. Wheelchair Accessible.
Camping Allowed: Yes! The Donner Memorial State Park campground offers 154 sites with picnic tables, restrooms (closed during the winter), beach, fishing, and lakeside interpretive trail. Due to extreme fire danger, no wood or charcoal fires until further notice. Book at Reserve California. For a full list of camping information, visit CA State Parks - Donner Memorial State Park.
Hikes: The Dolder Nature Trail, Sugar Pine Point Nature Trail, General Creek, Tahoma to Lost Lake. More information about these trails can be found at AllTrails.
Dogs Allowed? Yes! Dogs allowed in developed areas only, which include campsites, paved roads and paths, dirt fire roads, and paved parking areas. Dogs allowed in developed picnic areas and day-use areas. Dogs not allowed on beaches or dirt trails.
Activities: Hiking, fishing, water play, interpretive displays.
Tours: Tours available for the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (also known as Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903 in a grove of pine and cedar. From the turn of the century until 1965, the lands of what is now Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park were owned by financier Isaias W. Hellman, and later by his daughter Florence Hellman Ehrman. The mansion provides an interesting view into the lifestyles of the wealthy on Lake Tahoe. To learn more about booking a tour, click HERE.
Emerald Bay State Park
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Camping available during the summer months.
Parking Rates: May 1 to September 30, $10 per vehicle for the day, or $3 per vehicle for 1 hour
Facilities: Visitor Center - Open from 10am until 4:30pm. Restrooms and showers available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available. Wheelchair Accessible.
Camping Allowed: Yes! Emerald Bay State Park has two campgrounds - Eagle Point Campground and The Boat-In Campground. Book at Reserve California. For a full list of camping information, visit CA State Parks - Emerald Day.
Hikes: Vikingsholm Trail, Emerald Point Trail, Eagle Bay Vikingsholm Loop, Eagle Falls Vista Point Loop. More information about these trails can be found at AllTrails.
Dogs Allowed? Sadly, no! Dogs are not allowed in any areas on land, including beaches, dirt trails, service roads from highway 89 going down into Emerald Bay, Boat camp, and Vikingsholm. Dogs are not allowed on the Rubicon Trail or the entire grounds surrounding the Vikingsholm Mansion or Fannette Island. Dogs however ARE allowed in the campgrounds.
Activities: Hiking, fishing, water play, interpretive displays, historic tours, scuba diving.
Tours: Tours available of Vikingsholm Castle. Tours begin May 29th from 10:30am until 4pm. Tickets are $15 dollars for adults, $12 for students (with valid ID) aged 7 to 17, active duty soldiers, and seniors. Children under 7 years old are free. To learn more about booking a tour, click HERE.
DL Bliss State Park
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. DL Bliss is closed to vehicles beginning October 4th. Camping available during the summer months.
Parking: When the parking lots are full, day use vehicles will not be allowed into the park
Facilities: Visitor Center - Open from 10am until 4pm. Restrooms and showers available. Water fountains closed due to Covid-19. Picnic tables available. Wheelchair Accessible.
Camping Allowed: Yes! This is a historic campground with small roads, small campsites and small parking pads. This campground does not have hook-ups, however, there are showers and a dump station available for registered campers.Book at Reserve California. For a full list of camping information, visit CA State Parks - DL Bliss State Park.
Hikes: The Rubicon Trail, Rubicon Point Lighthouse Trail, Balancing Rock Nature Trail. More information about these trails can be found at AllTrails.
Dogs Allowed? Sort of! Dogs are NOT allowed on the beaches, trails, or off-trail (including the bouldering areas). Dogs are not allowed on the Rubicon Trail. Dogs on a 6' leash ARE ALLOWED in the campground and picnic areas, as well as on paved roads. Dogs may not be left unattended.
Activities: Hiking, fishing, interpretive exhibits, water play, tours.
Washoe Meadows State Park
Operating Dates & Hours: Open for Day Use 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset.
Parking: Limited parking available.
Facilities: No facilities at Washoe Meadows.
Camping Allowed: No! No camping at Washoe Meadows.
Hikes: The Washoe Meadow Trail. More information about this trail can be found at AllTrails.
Dogs Allowed? Yes! Dogs allowed in developed areas only which includes paved roads and paths, dirt fire roads, and paved parking areas. Dogs allowed in developed picnic areas and day-use areas. Dogs not allowed on beaches or dirt trails.
Activities: Hiking, fishing.