Paddling on Lake Tahoe can take some patience

By Kathryn Reed

It’s not the Boundary Waters, but canoeing on Lake Tahoe can be fun – even if it means taking deep breaths while some guy on a Jet Ski spins in circles close to our canoe. Unfortunately, the choppy water and deafening noise made me briefly forget I was in one of the most magical outdoor playgrounds.

Only during this episode did I long to be on the lakes of Minnesota where motorized watercraft are not allowed. Maybe it’s time to plan a visit to see my sister and paddle a few days with her. Or maybe it’s time for law enforcement in Tahoe to crackdown on violators like this.

Sue Wood cruises along Lake Tahoe. Photos/Kathryn Reed

The speed limit on Lake Tahoe for all vessels is 5mph 600 feet or closer to the shore.

With Tahoe’s push to be welcoming to paddlers, encounters like the one Sue and I experienced would deter a lot of people from returning.

Gliding across Lake Tahoe one stroke at a time, it was part scenic tour, part architectural tour as our 17-foot canoe took us from Timber Cove Pier to Tahoe Shores to Edgewood Tahoe back to our starting point.

It was another tough Sunday living and playing in Lake Tahoe.

Meandering along it was the echoes of people having fun that resonates most – not that yahoo on his personal watercraft. Many are on shore, but more are out in the water. Several wave as they paddle by in kayaks. Some are too wobbly on paddleboards let go long enough to wave. One person is swimming, oblivious to those who are dry.

It was a bit disconcerting that no one stopped us at Timber Cove to ask what body of water our canoe was last in. (It was the Upper Truckee River in case anyone wants to know.) The concern is because of possibly transporting aquatic invasive species into Lake Tahoe. Signs are posted at other non-motorized launches about what paddlers should do – but not here.

Paddling toward Nevada, one gets an architectural tour to start with. Some lovely houses sit back not far from the shore.

Various lodging resorts dot the shore. With the snow-capped mountains all around, it’s a reminder this really is a year-round destination.

Photographers are busy snapping pictures of wedding parties at Edgewood and Timber Cove.

The farther we paddle, the quieter and less congested it gets. That won’t necessarily be the case this week as Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course hosts the annual celebrity golf tournament.

After turning around near Tahoe Shores, we paddled back the short distance to Edgewood. It was a fitting place to get a cocktail and appetizer before heading for Timber Cove Pier. We didn’t care we were the only ones dressed in lifejackets at Brooks Sports Bar.

Something to remember is California and Nevada have different rules for accessing private land. In the Golden State, the public has access to land that is below the high water mark – so that’s quite a bit right now. In the Silver State, landing on a private beach is equivalent to trespassing.

The Lake Tahoe Water Trail is a great resource for paddling at Tahoe.  The website has information about memberships and trail maps.

ngg_shortcode_0_placeholder (Click on photo to enlarge.)