Skunk Harbor
Photos Maps Summary: If you're looking for an absolutely beautiful Lake Tahoe beach with drastically fewer people and don't mind walking a little ways to get there, then Skunk Harbor is the place for you. This simple walk down from NV-28 won't disappoint. Sparkling clear waters and white sand beaches beckon swimmers and sunbathers. In addition, the Newhall Mansion sits just off of the beach for a historic look at Lake Tahoe. The mansion's dock pilings are still visible and mark the place where well-to-do folk arrived in the early 1900s.Distance: 3.1 miles round-tripElevation Gain/Loss: 595' totalSeason: April to NovemberFees & Permits: None for dayhikersFinding the Trailhead: 39.12863 N, 119.93134 W (Gated Road). From the US-50/NV-28 intersection just east of Lake Tahoe, follow NV-28 northwest for 2.4 miles and park in the small parking area off the western side of the highway (should approach from the north). If this parking area is full proceed north a further ~0.2 miles to a slightly larger parking area off the western side of the highway. The trailhead is located at the southern end of the southern parking area at the gate across the road.
The Hike: Follow the gated road down from the trailhead as it skirts the northern end of Slaughterhouse Canyon. There are some decent views here over the meadow below and to Lake Tahoe. At ~0.45 miles the road intersects with another road coming in from below (left). Continue straight and at ~0.7 miles the road turns sharply to the north (right). Along this section are some decent views of Lake Tahoe. At ~1.4 miles the road intersects with a trail that leads to the Newhall Mansion (left). Continue straight and then follow a trail to the left which leads to the beach (~1.5 miles). From here, you can follow the shore southwest towards the Newhall Mansion or you can explore further northeast, where there is a second smaller beach and beyond a few peninsulas with lots of granite boulders to hop on. If you follow the southwest trail to the Newhall Mansion, you can pick up the trail back to the road for a total of ~0.2 miles from the beach. From there you can retrace your steps back up the road to the trailhead.
