Tahoe East Shore Trail: Parking, Shuttle, Dogs and E-Bikes

The Tahoe East Shore Trail is a paved path of just under three miles that runs along the lake from the south edge of Incline Village to Sand Harbor, so about six miles there and back. It is 10 feet wide, built to ADA standards, and open to walkers, runners, strollers, wheelchairs, bikes and pedal-assist e-bikes. The catch is parking: the main lot at the Incline Village end has 90 paid spaces, you pay when you arrive, and there is no parking on the highway shoulder. Get there early, take the summer shuttle, or stay close enough to ride or walk to the trailhead.

This guide covers where the trail starts and ends, which end to start from, how parking and the East Shore Express shuttle work, the trail rules for bikes, e-bikes and dogs, the beach stops along the way, what changes in winter, and what is being built next.

Tahoe East Shore Trail: quick facts

Sources for each line are linked in the sections below. Anything that changes from year to year, such as shuttle dates and parking prices, is stated as of 2026. Check the source before you go.

Where the trail starts and ends

The trail runs between the lake and State Route 28 on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. The north end is at the south edge of Incline Village, at the Ponderosa parking lot, 1102 Tahoe Blvd. The south end is Sand Harbor, part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

According to the Tahoe Fund, which raised money for it, the trail is a three-mile paved path, 10 feet wide and ADA accessible. It was paid for with a $12.5 million federal grant and more than $1 million in private donations. Vista Trail Bikes gives the length as just under 3 miles one way and says the trail is open sunrise to sunset.

Along the way there are six bridges, according to Lake Tahoe Travel. The longest is 810 feet. Because it is built for strollers and wheelchairs, most people won't find it hard.

Which end to start from

For most visitors the Incline Village end is the better start. That is where the trail's own parking lot is, and in summer it is where the shuttle picks up. Walk or ride south to Sand Harbor, spend some time on the beach, and come back the same way. That makes about six miles in total, and you can turn around wherever you like.

Starting at Sand Harbor means paying the state park's entry fee to park. As of 2026, Nevada State Parks lists $10 for Nevada vehicles and $15 for non-Nevada vehicles, and the park is open 8 a.m. to one hour after sunset. That works if Sand Harbor is your main stop and the trail is an extra. If you want the trail itself, start in Incline.

You can also skip the car. If you're staying in Incline Village or Crystal Bay, you might ride a bike or walk to the Ponderosa lot, depending on the home and how comfortable you are near traffic. Check the home's location against the trailhead before you book. Our homes include 20 in Incline Village and one in Crystal Bay, Livin' on the Edge. Book on our own site rather than Airbnb and you pay less for the same house: our Airbnb prices are set 28% higher than our own site, and each home page shows how much you save for your dates.

Parking for the East Shore Trail

Parking is where most East Shore Trail plans go wrong. The rules below come from Tahoe Transportation District, which runs the paid lots.

The Ponderosa lot (Incline Village end)

• Address: 1102 Tahoe Blvd, Incline Village.
• Size: 90 spaces.
• Payment: due when you arrive. Text "ParkTahoe" to 727563, or pay at a kiosk. The kiosks take Visa, Mastercard and Amex, not cash.
• Winter: the lots may be inaccessible in heavy snowpack.

How the pricing works

Prices change through the day. Mornings and evenings cost less than the middle of the day. The program's own slogan is "come early, come late, pay a lower rate." Tahoe Transportation District sets the rates, and they have changed over the years, so check its site for current prices.

As an example of how the pricing is shaped (not current prices), here are the 2022 rates the Sierra Sun reported: $1 an hour from 7 to 9 a.m., $4 an hour Monday to Thursday and $5 an hour Friday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and free from 5 to 7 p.m. That is the pattern to plan around: arrive early for a cheaper, easier spot, or go late for the evening light.

Fines

If you park without paying, the Park Tahoe citation is $30 plus a $4 processing fee if you pay it within 1 to 30 days. It goes up to $60 and then $100 the longer it goes unpaid. Paying on entry is cheaper.

More spaces are coming

The SR 28 North Parking Project started construction in May 2026. According to the Tahoe Fund, it adds 38 paid spaces just north of the existing 90-space lot, plus a transit shelter. Expect some construction around the trailhead until it opens.

Other East Shore lots

Further south along the East Shore, past Sand Harbor, Tahoe Transportation District also lists paid lots at Chimney Beach (about 130 spaces) and Secret Cove (31 spaces). These serve those beaches, not the paved trail, so don't count on them as trail parking.

Don't park on the highway

Parking on the shoulder of State Route 28 is not allowed. Nevada State Parks says there is no parking or drop-off on Highway 28 anywhere along the park except at Memorial Point. If the lot is full, come back later, take the shuttle, or ride in.

The East Shore Express shuttle

In summer, the easiest way to skip the parking problem is the East Shore Express. For 2026, Tahoe Transportation District ran it:

• Free to ride.
• Daily from June 21 to September 12, 2026.
• From 10 AM to about 6:30 PM.
• Between Incline Village and Sand Harbor.
• With parking at the Tunnel Creek lot (1102 Tahoe Blvd) and at the East Shore Trailhead.

The 2026 season has ended. Dates, hours and stops are set each year, so check Tahoe Transportation District in spring for the 2027 schedule.

A good way to use it: ride the shuttle to Sand Harbor, spend the day there, and walk the trail back to Incline in the late afternoon. You only walk one way, and you don't have to watch a parking clock.

Trail rules: bikes, e-bikes, scooters and dogs

The trail is shared, and on a summer weekend it's busy. The Tahoe Fund's guide for visitors (August 2019) sets out the basics.

Bikes and e-bikes

• Bikes are welcome.
• Pedal-assist e-bikes are welcome.
• Motorized scooters are not. Leave them at home.
• Cyclists yield to people on foot.

It's a relaxed ride, not a training route. Slow down around families and at the viewpoints, where people stop without warning.

Passing and spacing

• Stay right, pass on the left.
• Don't walk four across. Leave room for people coming the other way.

Dogs

Leashed dogs are allowed on the trail. The Tahoe Fund advises against bringing them on hot days: there is little shade, and the pavement heats up in the afternoon sun. If you bring a dog, go early or late, carry water, and check the pavement with your hand.

Sand Harbor has its own rule. Nevada State Parks only allows pets there from October 15 to April 15. In summer, walking a dog to the Sand Harbor end means turning around before you reach the park.

Beach access and stops along the way

The trail has 11 beach access points, according to the Tahoe Fund, so you can stop at a cove, have a swim and carry on.

Hidden Beach is one of the better-known coves on this stretch. The 810-foot bridge is the longest of the six. At the far end is Sand Harbor, with its beaches and visitor center. If you ride in on a bike, Nevada State Parks charges a bike-in fee ($2 as of 2026).

A few tips for the stops:

• Bring what you need for the day. There are no shops on the trail.
• The trail closes at sunset. Plan to be back at the lot before dark.
• For swimming and sand, our Sand Harbor guide covers the park, and Incline Village beaches for renters covers which town beaches you can and can't use as a visitor.

Best time to go

Early morning is the best time for the trail. Parking is easier and cheaper, the path is quieter, the light on the water is good, and the pavement is still cool for dogs. Late afternoon to sunset is second best: the lot clears out, and under the 2022 pricing the evening was the cheapest time to park.

Weekdays are calmer than weekends. The shuttle season, which ran late June to mid-September in 2026, is the busiest time on the trail and also the easiest time to leave the car. Late September and October are quieter, and the lake is still very clear. For a wider look at the seasons, see the best time to visit Lake Tahoe and our guide to Incline Village in summer.

The East Shore Trail in winter

The trail doesn't close in winter, but it isn't a winter path either. In February 2026, the Tahoe Daily Tribune reported that Travel North Tahoe Nevada was paying for snow removal at East Shore Trail parking lot #1. The same report says Nevada State Parks may not clear the trail itself in winter.

What that means for a winter visit:

• The lot may be usable, but Tahoe Transportation District says the lots may be inaccessible in heavy snowpack. Check before you drive.
• Expect snow and ice on the path after storms. Traction on your boots helps.
• Don't park on the highway shoulder to reach it. The same rule applies year-round.
• From October 15 to April 15, dogs are allowed at Sand Harbor, which makes the winter months the season to walk a dog all the way there.

On a clear winter day, with snow on the shore and nobody at the coves, the trail is at its best. If you're coming for skiing, see Incline Village in winter and our Lake Tahoe winter guide. After a cold morning on the lake, a home with a private hot tub is the way to warm up. Pick your dates on our site to see the direct price, which is lower than the same home on Airbnb or Vrbo.

What's next: the East Shore Trail extension

The three miles from Incline Village to Sand Harbor are the first stretch of a longer planned trail.

• Sand Harbor to Thunderbird Cove. In June 2024, the Lake Tahoe region was awarded a $24 million federal RAISE grant for East Shore transportation and trail work. According to the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, the grant includes a 1.75-mile extension south from Sand Harbor toward Thunderbird Cove.
• Toward Spooner Summit. The long-term plan is about eight more miles of trail toward Spooner, according to the Tahoe Fund, and the trail's project page lists an extension to Spooner Summit as planned.
• More parking at the Incline end. The 38-space SR 28 North Parking Project, with a transit shelter, began construction in May 2026.

None of the extension is open yet. Until it is, the paved trail ends at Sand Harbor, and the beaches further south, such as Chimney Beach and Secret Cove, are reached by car.

Where to stay for the East Shore Trail

The closest place to stay is Incline Village. It is where the trailhead and shuttle stops are, and it has the most of our homes: 20 of our 41. Next door, Crystal Bay is a short drive further, and our one home there is Livin' on the Edge. Our other homes are on the California side of the North Shore, in Kings Beach, Tahoe Vista, Carnelian Bay, Tahoe City, Homewood and Tahoma. From there, the East Shore is a drive, not a walk.

A few things to know before you book:

• Staying close is the easiest way to deal with parking. Depending on the home, you may be able to ride to the trailhead, and in summer the shuttle runs from town.
• Our homes don't take pets. The dog rules above are for local visitors and day trips. If you're traveling with a dog, you'll need a different place to stay.
• Steep driveways. Several of our homes have steep driveways. Each home page says when you'll need 4WD, which matters from November to April.
• Lakefront. Our one lakefront home is Lakeside Luxe Retreat in Kings Beach, on the California side, not the East Shore. See our lakefront rentals page.

Book direct and pay less. The same homes are listed on Airbnb and Vrbo, but our Airbnb prices are set 28% above our own site and our Vrbo prices 17% above. Each home page shows the dollar saving for your dates. Our guide to booking direct vs. Airbnb explains why. Start with our Incline Village homes, or search all homes by date to see what's open.

If you're flying in, flying into Reno for North Lake Tahoe covers getting from the airport to the North Shore. For the wider area, see our North Lake Tahoe guide.