Meeks Bay — SUP Launch
- Best west shore flat-water SUP
- Calm & protected
- Rentals on-site
ActivitiesPaddleboarding
Paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe
Glassy morning water and visibility past 70 feet: standing on a board you can watch the bottom drop away beneath you. Rentals are right on the beach at most launches.
Conditions today
- Right now
- 72°F, Sunny
- Today
- High 72°, low 48°
- Wind
- 8 mph
- Water temperature
- 65°F
- TomorrowPartly Cloudy, 10% chance of rain68° 45°
- ThuMostly Clear, 5% chance of rain74° 50°
- FriPM Storms, 75% chance of rain61° 44°
Best months
- Jan: out of season
- Feb: out of season
- Mar: out of season
- Apr: out of season
- May: possible
- Jun: best
- Jul: best
- Aug: best
- Sep: best
- Oct: possible (this month)
- Nov: out of season
- Dec: out of season
June to September. Go in the morning: the lake is flattest before the wind arrives around midday.
Know before you go
- Wind
- Wind is the main hazard on a board. If it picks up, kneel, stay near shore and paddle back into it rather than drifting out.
- Cold water
- A fall into 60°F water is a shock. Wear a leash and carry a life jacket; children should wear theirs.
- Clean, Drain, Dry
- Clean, drain and dry your board after every use, especially if it has been in another lake. Inspectors check at popular launches.
- Quiet water
- Fallen Leaf Lake has no motorized boats and stays flat all day, which makes it the easiest place to learn.
Shore by shore
North Shore
Kings Beach is the most social north shore SUP spot. Flat water most mornings before noon. Multiple rental outfitters right on the beach.
East Shore
Sand Harbor has 70+ ft of visibility — standing on a SUP board you can watch the bottom in open water. No motors in the swimming area means calm conditions all day.
South Shore
Fallen Leaf Lake is mirror-flat with no motorized boats — the best SUP experience in the basin. Pope Beach has easy launch access on the south shore.
West Shore
Meeks Bay is the best SUP spot on the west shore — calm, protected, flat water. D.L. Bliss is glassy in the morning before the wind picks up.
7 places for paddleboarding
Open the paddleboard mapFallen Leaf Lake SUP
- Mirror-flat
- No motorized boats
- Best flat-water in the area
Sand Harbor SUP
- 70ft+ visibility
- No motors in swim area
- Calm daily
- Fee
- $10 park fee
Kings Beach SUP Rentals
- Most social north shore launch
- Flat mornings before noon
- Rentals
Tahoe Paddle & Oar — Kings Beach
- SUP
- Kayak
- Pontoon rentals
- North shore hub
Pope Beach — SUP Launch
- Wide sandy launch
- Minimal boat traffic
- Easy entry
All 7 paddleboarding places, A to Z
Gear and rentals nearby
Open the amenities map- Tahoe Paddle & OarRentals, Kings Beach, CAKayak, SUP, pontoon & pedal boat
- Emerald Bay Water SportsRentals, South Lake Tahoe, CAGuided kayak tours, Emerald Bay access
- Zephyr Cove Boat RentalsRentals, Zephyr Cove, NVPowerboats, pontoons, jet ski, parasailing
- Tahoe City KayakRentals, Tahoe City, CAKayak & SUP rentals, Lake access
- Sand Harbor Clear Kayak ToursRentals, Sand Harbor, NVClear kayak tours, Stunning east shore water
- Camp Richardson WatersportsRentals, South Lake Tahoe, CAKayak, SUP, paddleboats, South shore
Guides and official sites
These open on other websites.
- Lake Tahoe Water Trail (opens in a new tab)laketahoewatertrail.org