VISIT OUR PARKS
Our commitment to creating welcoming experiences
When visiting new places, Visitor Centers can be such valuable resources. Get first-hand information from our knowledgeable staff to help plan your experience and fuel up with snacks and discover our collection of souvenirs!
Park Visitor Centers are located at Donner Memorial, Sugar Pine Point, D.L. Bliss, and Emerald Bay State Park.
VISIT THE PARKS WE SUPPORT
Kings Beach State Recreation Area
Arguably one of the most accessible beaches in Tahoe, enjoy 18 picnic tables, restrooms, a playground, a half court for basketball, and water sports activities. The family-friendly beach features 979 feet of beautiful frontage property and has a large sandy beach, shaded by Jeffery pines.
Donner Memorial Visitor Center
The Donner Memorial Visitor Center explores the experiences of crossing the Sierra from the earliest times to the present. The six exhibit areas impart a strong sense of place for these groups that are a part of the Donner region’s heritage: The Washoe Tribe, the Emigrant Trail, and the story of the ill-fated Donner Party stranding in 1846-47, the westward expansion of the railroad, the Chinese workers who built the railroads and changed the west, the influence of the interstate highway system through the Sierra and the erection of the Pioneer Monument and creation of Donner Memorial State Park. The Gift Shop features a notable collection of books on the Donner Party and other topics featured in the exhibits. For school field trips and large group reservations, please visit the park website.
Burton Creek State Park
This park features six miles of unpaved roadway perfect for hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and watching wildlife and birds. This is a bare park with no water, restrooms, or other services. Plan accordingly.
Tahoe State Recreation Area
Easy convenient camping right along the shore, this park has 23 campsites with picnic tables, showers, and restrooms. Enjoy an adjacent trail that goes along Tahoe City and the shoreline of Lake Tahoe.
Sugar Pine Nature Center
The Sugar Pine Point State Park Visitor Center, located inside the Nature Center, is your one-stop shop for maps, books, and gifts. We also offer small treats, water, and ice cream. Tour tickets can be purchased here on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is an excellent bird display, where visitors can view several species of birdlife that occur in the Tahoe Basin. In addition to birds, visitors can see most of the mammals and the four major game fish that occur here. Other exhibits include Biology, Lake Ecology, Wildflowers, Trees, and a “Touchy-feely” table for the kids (adults also)!
DL Bliss Visitor Center
The D.L. Bliss Visitor Center contains a wonderful natural history collection of the plants and animals found on the western slope of Lake Tahoe. Open seasonally from the end of May to the end of September, the friendly staff will answer your questions and help you plan a perfect day in the park. The Visitor Center also serves as the park store where you will find a variety of books, maps, and gifts as well as snacks, water, and ice cream to enhance your park experience.
NOTE: DL Bliss campground and day area are closed for the season.
A large-scale water infrastructure construction project is planned for DL Bliss State Park the summer 2023.
Emerald Bay State Park
The Vikingsholm Visitor Center, located at the bottom of the Vikingsholm trail, contains a wonderful history collection of all things Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm. Open seasonally, the friendly staff will answer your questions and help you plan a perfect day in the park. The Visitor Center also serves as the park store where you will find a variety of books, maps and gifts as well as snacks, water, and ice cream to enhance your park experience. Tickets for the Vikingsholm Tour can be purchased here on a first come, first serve basis.
Washoe Meadows State Park
Looking for stillness and no crowds? Washoe Meadows is the place for you. It is completely undeveloped but rich in natural resources. The Upper Truckee River runs through the park and is home to a wide variety of fish and birds, and wildflowers when in season.