Thinking of going to Sand Harbor for Fourth of July? Get there early. Or be prepared to take a bus.
As of June 16, walk-in visitation has been permanently suspended at Nevada State Park’s Sand Harbor, famed for its clear water, long sandy beaches, and stunning rock outcrops. Visitors can no longer park outside of Sand Harbor and walk into the park due to public safety concerns on Highway 28.
Visitors who are unable to park in the parking lot, which is usually full by 10:30 a.m. during the summer months, must now catch the East Shore Express shuttle from Incline Village. The shuttle operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily; pickup is at the old elementary school on the corner of Tahoe and Southwood Boulevards. The cost is $3 per person and the shuttle runs every 20 minutes to Sand Harbor. In addition, bicycle traffic will only be allowed into the park when the parking lots are not full.
“Our goal is to get people safely into the park” says Park Supervisor Jay Howard. “We are very concerned about families using the narrow shoulders of the highway to enter the park. With over 10,000 visitors per year walking into Sand Harbor, often from over a mile away, visitor safety is a critical issue.”
Drop-offs and parking are illegal along the highway at Sand Harbor. The no parking zone covers approximately three-quarters of a mile in both directions from the park’s main entrance. A multi-agency effort to increase enforcement of this no parking zone will be in place to prevent pedestrian injuries.
For further information on the shuttle system, contact the Tahoe Transportation District at (775) 589-5500 or tahoetransportation.org.
