Baldwin Beach

Located on the shores of South Tahoe Lake, Baldwin Beach is a small beige sand beach with many pebbles.  Baldwin Beach offers incredible views of Lake Tahoe, Mount Tallac, and the Sierra Nevada Mountains.  It is a National Forest beach operated by a private concessionaire, Tahoe Recreation, a division of Vista Recreation.  The beach does not have lifeguards but several other amenities including picnic tables, restrooms, and trash cans. 

Baldwin Beach offers many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, swimming, and picnicking.  If you are planning to go into the water near the beach, we recommend being extremely careful as the water here is known to have extremely cold temperatures and unpredictable rip currents.  The beach is also a popular launching point for kayakers heading to Emerald Bay.  Kayak rentals are also available on-site.  Hikers can explore the nearby Watertrail Trailhead, which provides vibrant insights into the local biodiversity.  If you want to relax and unwind, Baldwin Beach is a perfect place for picnicking. 

In addition, if you enjoy fishing, you may catch many species of trout including rainbow trout, brown trout, eastern brook trout, golden trout, cutthroat trout, lake trout, and Largemouth bass, but please make sure that you are in compliance with the local fishing regulations.  Baldwin Beach is perfect for visitors seeking a quieter experience as this beach sees fewer visitors than other nearby beaches.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and it is open from sunrise until sunset.  Getting to Baldwin Beach is easy - the beach has a paid parking lot located near Baldwin Beach Road, which is easily accessible by Emerald Highway 89 and provides easy access to the beach.

There are many attractions near Baldwin Beach.  Tallac Historic Site features two historic homes that are only open in the summer for self-guided tours, and it also has a gallery displaying intriguing artifacts and exhibits on the cultural history that preserves a unique era of Tahoe history.  It offers many amenities, including hiking trails, community gardens, picnic areas, restrooms, parking, drinking water, and an access path for people with disabilities.  In 1987, it was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places.  Eagle Falls Trail is a mile-long trail located within Emerald Bay State Park.  It offers hikers Instagram-worthy views of waterfalls, creeks, lakes, granite peaks, lush green mountains, and pine trees.  This moderately challenging trail does not have any amenities, so plan your trip accordingly.  Dogs are permitted but must be leashed.  If you are looking for another attraction near Baldwin Beach, Fallen Leaf Lake is a deep, oval-shaped, three-mile-long lake created by glaciers that traveled northward down the Glen Alpine Valley.  The lake is a popular spot for fishing, boating, sailing, kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddle boarding, and camping. Visitors may catch brown trout, rainbow trout, lake trout, and Lahontan cutthroat trout.  In addition, there are many nearby hiking trails that offer unique insights into local biodiversity.  The beach is also a popular launching point for kayakers heading to Emerald Bay.  Kayak rentals are available on-site.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Baldwin Beach.   Evan's American Gourmet Café is an upscale restaurant that offers amazing salads, soups, pizza, pasta, seafood, beef, pork, poultry dishes, and desserts.  Beacon Bar & Grill offers outdoor seating with incredible views of Lake Tahoe and serves delicious soups, salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, barbecued ribs, seafood, pork, and poultry dishes.  Verde Mexican Rotisserie is a Mexican restaurant that serves delectable salads, burritos, quesadillas, tacos, tortas, enchiladas, seafood, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Baldwin Beach, Jade Garden is a Chinese restaurant that serves delicious fried rice, noodles, pork, beef, shrimp, and poultry dishes.

If you are looking for a hotel near Baldwin Beach, there are many great nearby options.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 5-Star The Landing Tahoe Resort & Spa is 23 minutes away by car.  This lake-view hotel offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a spa, a Greek restaurant, a lakeside patio with fire pits, a rooftop deck with a fireplace, and freebies including a complimentary area shuttle.   A more affordable hotel is the 4-Star Marriott Grand Residence Club, Lake Tahoe which offers many amenities including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a spa, a sauna, a restaurant, and an activity room.  Another moderately priced option is the oceanfront 3-Star Tahoe Beach & Ski Club which offers many amenities including a heated outdoor pool, two hot tubs, gas and charcoal grills, a fitness center, a restaurant, a volleyball court, a tennis court, horseshoes, and a games room with a foosball table and a pool table.  If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Baldwin Beach the oceanfront 2-Star Big Pines Mountain House of Tahoe offers several amenities including a seasonal outdoor pool, a restaurant, and complimentary breakfast.