Taking highway 89 south, from the “Y” in Tahoe City leads you down the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. From the moment you cross the Truckee River at Fannie Bridge, life seems to slow down just a little. The mountains loom ever closer to the emerald waters of Lake Tahoe until you reach magical Emerald Bay where the mountains and the lake become one. Many of Tahoe’s largest tributaries enter the lake from the West Shore. The Pacific Crest Trail can be accessed by many trailheads on the West Shore. Tahoe’s finest water skiing is found here among the lake’s glassiest water. Winter brings superb downhill skiing via Alpine Meadows’ Sherwood Bowl; or feel like you will ski right into the lake while schussing at Homewood Mountain Resort. Excellent cross-country skiing can be found at Sugar Pine Point State Park and Blackwood Canyon.
The West Shore housing is equally as varied. Condominiums offer choices from beautiful lakefront developments like the historic Tahoe Tavern Properties to simple turn-key units at Granlibakken Resort (featuring full modern conference facilities). All have excellent amenities including pool, tennis courts and excellent rental programs.
West Shore housing is found throughout many small developments or subdivisions. Some have amenities, some do not. Tahoe Park homeowners jointly own private access to acreage on the lake featuring beach, 2 piers, buoys, and beautifully manicured picnic grounds. Other small subdivisions may simply own a pier, buoys, and strip of private lakefront access. Some have none.
There is a reason many longtime locals refer to this area as: “The West Shore is the best shore!”.
