West End Beach

Since January 2015 sadly showed no signs of snow, we headed here by recommendation of a friend. My son and husband loved it. You get a gorgeous view of the lake and mountains, and there is a beach and a generously-​sized playground for kids.
On a Saturday in January, there were very few people here and the bathrooms are closed for the season. However, we got to explore the quietness of it all. Currently water levels are very low and you can even see the buoy anchors lying on the beach. But the water is clear and clean.
If you are staying in Tahoe Donner/​Trukee, this will be a great stop for you!

What a great way to get away from the heat of Sacramento. The family and I decided to drive up the hill yet we didnt know where our end destination would be. Well we got super lucky to try out Donner Lake. I have driven by this lake a 100 times and FINALLY checked it out. What a great choice! This beach is great. Snack bar, nice sandy beach, picnic tables, small & big grills, two playgrounds for kids, volleyball nets, tennis courts, basketball court, decently clean bathrooms, boat rentals, buoyed off swim area, big shade trees, big group areas you can reserve and just an all aroud good family time. It was 105 in Sac, but here it was 83. PERFECT! $ 4 for adults and $ 3 for bigger kids. $ 11 for us was just fine. We brought snacks and listened to music. Will for sure come back and will even look into an extended stay for the future.

This is our third summer spending our family vacation at Donner Lake and West End Beach is an absolute MUST for families, especially those will smaller members.
The beach is not huge, but it’s nice. The sand is clean and fine, and there are trees in certain areas for those that prefer shade. There are picnic tables and grills, two playgrounds, one of which is heavily shaded, tennis courts, boat rentals, and even a snack bar. The best part is that the water stays very shallow and deepens at a slow grade, making it safe for kids. We have spent many days here without a care in the world or a single worry about our kids — and that is saying something for traveling with toddlers!
$ 5 per adult, less for young ones, open until sunset. This place is even worth a day trip from the Sacramento Valley for sure.

This place is beautiful. Just beautiful.
Be ready for the entrance fee, and no dogs allowed. Not super comfortable to lay on, but you can’t beat the scenery!

Though this place is a far cry from an actual «beach», West End Beach is still an amazing place to basque in the midday sun on any given day in Truckee.
For only $ 3, you can pack a lunchbox full of goodies (including beers, heyoooo!) and make a picnic on the sandy, yet gritty shores of Donner Lake. They even have a basketball court and volleyball court for your enjoyment, but be careful… I mention the «gritty» shores because I dove for a ball and nearly skinned my entire body on a patch of hidden gravel below the mask of finely ground sand. Ouch!
Besides that bummer of a discovery, it was an afternoon filled with good people, good vibes, and some seriously amazing scenery. Highly recommended if you find yourself in this neck of the woods (literally!).

This beach can meet everyone’s needs. Kids, you got swings, playground, and sand. Adults, you got bbq grills, boats, and an anything-​but-​glass policy. Even though the beach was crowded, it never felt overwhelming or overrun with children. In fact, it was quite tranquil, except for the occasional screeches when someone ran into the icy water.
$ 3 admission and full access to volleyball, basketball, and tennis. They also offer kayak and paddle boat rentals at reasonable hourly rates. A straight up, get er done type of establishment. I’d go back!

Came here and loved it. Beach and facilities are clean. Water is sparking clear. Beware though, lots of children and families… My friend and I were in the water for 10 minutes and then we saw a little girl throwing up in the lake because she had swallowed too much water… GROSS… other than that it’s beautiful. there was actually a family reunion going on in the picnic table area and they had hired a mariachi band to play for 4+ hours… pretty cool.

It used to really bother me that an admission fee was required to use this area on Donner Lake but, as time went on I realized the benefits of this cost more and more. This beach is immaculate. You will never find garbage all over the place. In fact, I can’t recall ever seeing an overflowing garbage can. There are lifeguards on duty. Even the public restroom at this place is clean. I have to believe that all of this because an admission is charged.
West End Beach is equipped with a playground for varied climbing and swinging abilities. The beach is an awesome place for sand castle building and trench digging. There are lots of shaded areas here for picnics. BBQ facilities are also available. There is even a snack bar if you don’t want to bother with making anything yourself. My kids give the snow cones here two thumbs way up!
Get more details about West End Beach at:

My favorite place to lie in the sun on Donner Lake. I’ve been to the state park several times and also to the private Tahoe Donner beach, but this place is far and away my favorite. Every time I go to the other two locations, I freeze. And I’m talking July here people, not March. The wind whips over the pass and really hits the part of the lake where the other two beaches are located. The West End Beach is more protected. It also has fabulous views.
You pay a small admission fee here. $ 3.00 adults 18+ and $ 2.00 Children 2 — 17. They have a lot of facilities as well: BBQs, family picnic areas, basketball court, tennis court, sand and grass volleyball, two playgrounds, horseshoe pits, kayak and paddleboat rentals, swimming area with certified lifeguards, boat parking and fishing area. So many of the other beaches at Tahoe are rocky, so I enjoy spending time on a nice sandy beach with a mild slope into the lake (no big drop offs).
I’ve rented paddleboats and kayaks here which was fun. We’ve also done some fishing (without too much success). It is a killer getting that out-​of-​state fishing license for a week’s vacation. Oh well, I have a kid obsessed with fishing, what can I do?
This beach is also the location of the 4^th of July fireworks, which I believe is reserved for locals only (you need to get tickets in advance). We’ve just watched them from the old highway above the lake.