Tahoe City hub of activity

The quaint village of Tahoe City is a central area for many specialty businesses, a variety of restaurants and cafes, shopping and other activities for locals and visitors. For the boater, Tahoe City is the ideal spot to take a respite from the water, to stock up on supplies or to enjoy a leisurely meal.

To the west of the Tahoe City dam, where the lake’s waters flow into the Truckee River, you’ll pass Tahoe Marina Lodge’s condominiums before seeing a nice stretch of public beach – Commons Beach. The beach is a good place for a picnic, to let the kids out to play or to just relax for a bit. The area is rocky and hazardous, so the best way to visit is to dock at the public pier on the east side of the beach, just below Christy Hill restaurant.

The pier is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. for public use and overnight mooring is strictly prohibited. Follow the path to the left over to Commons Beach.

There’s also a public pier (open dawn to dusk) on the west side of town near the outlet for the Truckee River. The pier is in a state of disrepair and with the low water, I would not recommend using it. If you do, follow the path to the left at the end of the pier until you reach Mackinaw Road, where you can access Tahoe City. All other property is private.

Navigation aide: The lights of Tahoe City are bright against the night sky, and the town is relatively easy to find. The streetlights along North Lake Boulevard form a line of lights. Tahoe City Marina is on the east side of town; look for the red and green markers for the entrance to the marina.

Commons Beach has a large picnic area, public restrooms, playground and you’ll find free movies every Wednesday and free concerts every Sunday on the beach.

Above the beach, visitors will find a thriving town with sightseeing activities, shopping and eating. From Commons Beach, take the stairs to street level – North Lake Boulevard. Head to the left and the first building along the boardwalk is the Tahoe City Community Center, housing the Visitor’s Center and the North Tahoe Art Center.

From the Visitor’s Center you can plan out the rest of your trip. If you continue to your left (west), you’ll come to the wye connecting the North and West Shores along with the Gatekeeper’s Museum and Fanny Bridge.

Along North Lake Boulevard, you’ll find a large selection of boutiques and restaurants stretching from one end of Tahoe City to the other. To the right of Commons Beach (heading east), you’ll come to Watson’s Cabin, home of Tahoe City’s first constable, and now a museum. Overlooking the lake, Watson Cabin offers visitors a glimpse back into the early days of Tahoe City.

The Tahoe City Marina, the only marina in Tahoe City, is located on the east end of town. From the pier below Christy Hill, follow the path to the right to reach Tahoe City Marina, with many on-site services. The marina offers powerboat rentals, full dock services, slip and buoy rental and storage. A& M Marine offers full marine services, with Tahoe City Marine Supply offering accessories and rentals for wakeboards, tubes and water skis. You also can book a parasailing flight with Lake Tahoe Parasailing or a cruise with Tahoe Sailing Charters. Tahoe City Kayak also launches its rentals and guided tours from the marina, just visit the shop in the center of town to sign-up.

Tahoe City Marina offers guest buoys on a first-come, first-served basis if you want to enjoy lunch at Jake’s On the Lake or do some shopping at Sports Tahoe or Rubicon Collection at the Tahoe Marina Mall or at the many shops at the Boatworks Mall.

The marina offers boat rentals daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the gas dock and boat valet open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through June, and from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. in July and August. To use a guest buoy, pull up to the dock and speak to one of the dock attendants. For details on all of the marina’s services, call (530) 583-1039.

At the marina, you’ll also find the Tahoe Yacht Club, a favorite among local sailors and second-homeowners who return every summer to spend the season sailing. The yacht club is an excellent place to meet and socialize with other boaters, and the club offers a variety of activities each summer. For membership information, call (530) 581-4700. They are even offering a great membership discount through July.

In Tahoe City, you’ll find a myriad of local restaurants – River Grill, Evergreen, Fat Cat Café, Fiamma, Sawtooth Ridge, Jake’s On the Lake, Lakeside, Blue Agave, Bridgetender, Christy Hill and Wolfdale’s to name a few – and coffee shops – Gear & Grind, Java Juice, Syd’s, Coffee Connexion, Dam Café and others.

On the far end of town, you’ll see the Tahoe Gal, offering lake cruises. This is a private dock with no public mooring. Continuing east past the state campground, you’ll see a T-shaped public pier available for use from dawn to dusk. Follow the short path to the bike path, and you’re a short walk from Tahoe City.

"Whiskey" unveiled at museum

Tahoe Maritime Museum unveils the 1935 Gar Wood “Whiskey” on June 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. "Whiskey" is the oldest surviving Gar Wood utility boat on display at the museum.

Enjoy an engaging presentation with classic boat historian Brian Robinson, award-winning restorer Tony Brown of Western Runabouts and previous owners Nancy Cunningham and George and Clare Schmitt.

Refreshments will be served. $15, $12 museum members. (530) 525-9523.

Hamlets of the North Shore

The undulating shores of the Lake’s North Shore begins at the dam in Tahoe City and continue east, weaving in and out of the coves making up the hamlets of Tahoe Vista, Agate Bay and Kings Beach, before crossing from California into Nevada to the thriving community of Incline Village.

With the Concours d’Elegance from June 19 to 21 in Carnelian Bay, I decided to talk about some of the communities of the North Shore. For this column, I start outside Tahoe City and end in Tahoe Vista. I’ll cover Tahoe City, Kings Beach and Incline Village in later columns.

There are few spots to stock up on supplies, but boaters will find several public docks and ramps for their use, along with several exceptional restaurants accessible by boat.

One often overlooked pier that is open to public use lies just outside Tahoe City. The weathered “T” shaped pier offers no indication that it was built for the public, but it stands there rarely used.

As boaters leave Tahoe City, passing the Tahoe State Recreation Area campground, there’s a small stretch of wooded lakefront property with few homes. Sandwiched between Rocky Ridge Beach Club’s pier – a private club – and a homeowner’s pier, is the pier (it doesn’t have a gate). Boaters can dock here and enjoy the small public beach where the pier meets land. A small trail from the beach leads back to Highway 28.

Lake Forest

Perhaps the most heavily used public boat ramp on the North Shore lies outside Tahoe City in the Lake Forest community. The Lake Forest Boat ramp is a heavy traffic area and boaters should use extra caution in the area. The channel leading into the ramp area is shallow and marked by some rather large boulders – be sure to stay within the channel. There are no services at Lake Forest, but there are two campgrounds to the east and west of the ramp, along with a park, a picnic area with barbecues and restrooms.

Next to the boat ramp is the U.S. Coast Guard Station, who are there to help boaters on the lake. While it may be tempting to want to check out their station, it is a military facility, so steer clear.

A long, sandy stretch of public beach – Lake Forest Beach – lies beyond the Coast Guard station. The beach and public pier sit below a high, sandy cliff where one of the campgrounds is located. Boaters can stop here for a respite from the water, but, as always, be careful of underwater rocks and low water levels. There’s also a public pier for docking, but no services (there are restrooms in the campground above the beach).

Carnelian Bay

As you round Dollar Point into Carnelian Bay, you may catch a glimpse of anglers along the thick brush and rocks on the point. Dollar Point is known to be a premier fishing spot with locals. Stay clear of the point, however, as the underwater boulders are extremely dangerous to boaters and the water level can be deceptive.

Gar Woods Grill & Pier offers indoor and outdoor dining, and it’s not uncommon to see a wedding at the beach in front of the restaurant. The pier at the restaurant is public, as are the beaches to either side of the pier. Boaters can tie up at the pier, which is handicap accessible, or the restaurant has a boat valet available until dusk for its customers.

Navigation Aide: The large wooden and glass exterior of Gar Woods can easily be mistaken for another lakefront home. Look for the mammoth, rectangular buildings making up the facilities at Sierra Boat Company; Gar Woods is across the expanse of rocky beach to its left.

Sierra Boat Company, to the right of Gar Woods, offers a full-service chandlery, slip rentals, and specializes in the restoration and sales of wooden boats.

Situated between Gar Woods and Sierra Boat is Carnelian Bay Beach, a rocky public beach maintained by the California Tahoe Conservancy with picnic facilities and restrooms.

If you need to stock up on supplies, you’ll find a convenience store across the street along with CB’s Bar & Grill with some of the best pizza around.

On the west side of Sierra Boat Company is Patton Beach. This rocky picnic and beach area is dog friendly with public restrooms. A short walk to the west of the beach is the Old Post Office, open for breakfast and lunch.

On the far side of Sierra Boat Company is the largest mural on the lake, painted in 2000 by local artist Susie Alexander-Georgeson.

Agate Bay

Entering Agate Bay, the last bay on California’s side of the North Shore, you’re treated to more of the beautiful lakefront homes.

There are several public beaches on the east side of Agate Bay, along with a few private club beaches. As well, there’s a public ramp in Tahoe Vista, but due to low water levels, it will be closed for the summer.

Continuing along the shoreline, you’ll see North Tahoe Marina to the west, with a full chandlery and services. There is no public use of the pier, however.

Shortly before the marina is Moon Dunes Beach, a popular spot for sunbathing and swimming. The beach has a picnic area and restrooms.

Protecting Tahoe from invasive species

Quagga and zebra mussels, invasive species that are miniscule in size, are at the center of the latest battle to protect Lake Tahoe.

These mussels, which are hitching rides on boats and trailers and in ballast tanks, bladders and live wells, are spreading across the West. Quagga and zebra mussels will spread rapidly once they are introduced to a lake and will gorge on the food supply, kill fish and pollute the clarity of the lake. They also will clog cooling system water intakes, causing motors to overheat. As well, they have been found in pipes in municipal water systems.

The mussels can also be found on kayaks, water toys, wetsuits and any equipment exposed to infected waters.

Young quagga mussels will feel like sandpaper to the touch, while adults usually have dark concentric rings on the shell. The mussels can grow up to 1.6”, making the young mussels hard to spot. Full grown mussels are usually smaller than a quarter.

In its latest battle to protect the lake, TRPA (Tahoe Regional Planning Agency) has instituted a mandatory inspection of all boats launched in Lake Tahoe. The inspections were offered free until a fee system went into effect on June 1. TRPA says the fees will cover their costs formerly paid for through a grant that has run out of funds.

Infected waters

Quagga mussels were discovered in Lake Mead in January 2007, and since then have been confirmed at lakes south of Lake Tahoe. Quagga and zebra mussels have been confirmed in waters of the Colorado River Drainage, Lake Mohave, Lake Havasu in California and Arizona, and the San Justo Reservoir in San Benito County.

Inspectors decontaminated six vessels in the Lake Tahoe area over Memorial Day weekend. One vessel was found to have quagga mussels, while the other five came from waters where mussels have been discovered.

Vessel fees

TRPA is charging inspection fees for all motorized vessels at public launches and area marinas. These fees are in addition to any launch fees levied at ramps and marinas.

Vessels that have an inspection fee intact when launched the next time will not have to pay a fee. The fees are:

·      Non-motorized vessels & vessels with intact inspection seal – No charge

·      Vessels up to 16’ - $10

·      Vessels over 16’ & up to 25’ - $30

·      Vessels over 25’ & up to 39’ - $40

·      Vessels over 39’ - $60

·      Vessels with ballast tanks, bladders & live wells - $10 additional

A 10-inspection discount card is available for boats that frequently launch at lakes that do not offer inspections or decontamination. The 25 percent discount cards are only available at the TRPA office in Stateline, Nev.

Preventing infestation

To prevent vessels from being infested, TRPA recommends these steps:

·      Clean, drain and dry all equipment with every trip

·      Wash watercraft and trailers with a high pressure hose at 140 degrees

·      Learn how to inspect watercraft for mussels

·      Let boats dry out for 28 days prior to transporting to other waters

·      Wash fishing equipment, water toys, wetsuits and flotation devices in a diluted bleach solution prior to use in other waters

For more information, call the TRPA hotline at (888) 824-6267, visit www.protecttahoe.org, follow http://twitter.com/tahoeaquatic or text “Follow tahoeaquatic” to 40404.

 

Magical West Shore

The West Shore is perhaps the most alluring of Tahoe’s shores from the mouth of the Truckee River – Lake Tahoe’s only outlet – to the old Tahoe estates and sights along the shore to Homewood. 

The West Shore begins at the Tahoe City dam, which has regulated the flow of water from Lake Tahoe via the Truckee River since the first dam was built in the 1860s.

Heading south along the West Shore, the hamlet of Sunnyside is about 2.5 miles south of Tahoe City. (Caution: South of the first buoy field after leaving the Truckee River Outlet area, there is a large boat house at the site of the former Tahoe Tavern with many underwater hazards.)

As you reach the first bay, head to shore for a meal at one of the West Shore’s best restaurants, to stock up on supplies for your own picnic, or for marine services and gas. Sunnyside Resort is a popular spot for visitors and locals where you can grab a sandwich on the vast deck overlooking Lake Tahoe or dine in style inside the Chris Craft Room. Whatever your dining choice, be sure to ask for a slice of Hula Pie for dessert. The restaurant offers a complimentary water taxi and buoys for its patrons on a first-come, first-served basis.

Navigation aide: The lights from Sunnyside Resort can be used as an aide, along with the row of four lights from the private beach at Tahoe Park north of the resort. Heading north along the West Shore, you’ll see the row lights from Tahoe Park before Sunnyside comes into view.

Leaving Sunnyside and rounding the next point, you’ll enter Hurricane Bay with a more than 1.5-mile stretch of public beach. The rocky beach is a popular spot for sunbathers, and Hurricane Bay is an ideal spot of water skiing and boasts one of the best fishing spots on the lake. This also is one of Tahoe’s few public beaches where dogs are welcome.

Heading south, a small rocky outcropping hides a lagoon. The lagoon is the remnant of a failed attempt by two brothers in the 1980s to illegally build their own marina. As the story goes their construction project landed them in the slammer.

Continuing south, you’ll come upon Kaspian Picnic Area with public restrooms, picnic tables and barbecue grills (dogs also are welcome). This end of Hurricane Bay is generally less crowded and there’s a public access pier – it’s the only one without a gate. From the pier, head left on the bike trail to the restrooms and picnic area.

If you’re willing to walk a bit, head left from the pier along the bike trail to climb Eagle Rock, a volcanic outcropping towering above Lake Tahoe. This quick hike offers a panoramic view of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada; it’s about .2 miles from the beach.

McKinney Bay, home to the community of Homewood, lies south of Hurricane Bay. As you enter the bay, you’ll notice the majestic stone chalets of Fleur du lac built by Henry J. Kaiser in 1939 in only 29 days. The location for the winter home of Don Corleone in “The Godfather, Part II,” Fleur du lac is a private community featuring a rocked-in inland waterway, a red brownstone breakwater with a lighthouse, drive-in boat storage, a double swimming pool, amphibious plane landing and a water ski take off. Please respect the resident’s privacy and do not enter the marina.

Elegant, outdoor dining at West Shore Café is a great way to relax with tables arranged on its pier over Lake Tahoe and they offer complimentary water taxi and buoys for its guests.

Two marinas serve boaters at Homewood, with Homewood Marina on the north end and Obexer’s Marina to the south side. Both offer gas and pump services, along with a chandlery. If you want to stock up on supplies and grab a bite to eat, tie up at Obexer’s and visit Obexer’s Market featuring an espresso bar, deli and a upscale market, or cross Highway 89 to grab a bite at the Old Tahoe Café or Pisano’s Pizza.

Homewood is also the location for the Tahoe Maritime Museum, which pays tribute to Tahoe’s maritime history and houses Shanghai, a preserved launch from the 1860s that was resurrected from the bottom of the Lake and restored.

As you head out of the south side of McKinney Bay, you’ll come to one of Lake Tahoe’s most popular gathering spots – Chamber’s Landing. Located on the end of a pier, Chamber’s Landing Bar is said to the oldest bar on Lake Tahoe. It is famous for its Chamber’s Punch and is a popular viewing area for summer sunsets. Dogs also are welcome on the piers at Chamber’s Landing.

Navigation aide: The lighthouse at Fleur du lac marks the north end of McKinney Bay, with Chamber’s Landing rounding out the south end. In succession from north to south at night are the lights of Fleur du lac, Homewood Marina, West Shore Café, Obexer’s and Chamber’s. 

Continuing south are Sugar Pine Point State Park, Meek’s Bay, Rubicon Bay home of Tahoe’s Gold Coast, D.L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay. I’ll cover this section of the West Shore in a later column.