Hidden Beach

01.05.10 - 12:17 pm | Gary Hanauer |

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Rating: B

Hidden Beach, near Sand Harbor, is the first in a string of clothing-optional shorelines on Lake Tahoe in an area just south of Incline Village. The little cove is located around a half mile south of Incline.

Drenched by huge amounts of rain and snow in the winter and spring, and even two snowfalls in June, the lake's water level was still rising in early summer, resulting in smaller beaches than usual.

"Even in mid-June, the water was coming up a half inch a day," says North Swanson, leader of the Tahoe Area Naturists (TAN). "And that's a lot of water. There's much less sand."

The Tahoe Daily Tribune reported the lake level was measured July 7 at 6,228 feet above sea level, just five feet above the lake's natural rim and was still rising (it rose another .05 feet between July 6 and 7). Chad Blanchard, of the U.S. District Water Master's Office, told the newspaper it could be late July before the lake's level peaks this year -- or about a month later than usual. In early July, the water content of the remaining snow pack at Independence Lake, near Truckee, was still 580 percent above average, according to Blanchard. Over 61 feet of snow fell in the Sierra Nevada this season, nearly breaking the all-time record of 65 feet that was set in 1950-51.

Smaller beaches isn't the only concern this season. Finding parking at the local nude beaches can be difficult on the hottest days. The lot at Hidden, which serves most of the clothing-optional beaches that adorn Lake Tahoe, has enough space for just 30 cars, so if you're driving, try to come early. Or, suggests visitor Steve Williams: "A half mile south of the lot, you can find parking on the lake side of Highway 28." Another option: walk one quarter mile north of the first lot to another 30-car lot, which mainly serves Chimney Beach.

Here's another tip: don't wear sandals or flip-flops on the trails to any of the local beaches, including Hidden. Closed-toe shoes will prevent you from suffering from "needle stab," a common local pet peeve caused by scratchy pine needles and pine tar entering shoes with large openings.

Legal status:

Nevada Division Of Parks property.

How to find it:

From the North Shore, take Highway 28 south to the Memorial Point Visitors Center parking lot, about a half mile north of Sand Harbor. Park there only if you want to take a short, 20-minute dip, or, if they're available, in one of the hard-to-find parking spaces along Highway 28. Hidden Beach is located next to the highway, about a half-mile south of its intersection with Lakeshore Drive. From the lot, walk along the highway until you see the nude beach, which will be clearly visible from a guardrail between Highway 28 and the sand.

The beach:

True to its name, Hidden's beautiful sandy beach is so hidden from view that even though the beach is located between the lake and the nearby highway, it can only be seen from the road by peering over a guardrail.

The crowd:

Mostly clothing-optional users, who are usually tolerated by state rangers.

Problems:

Less sand this year; hard to find; tight parking in lots on hot days; can be seen from road by pedestrians who peer over; needs better directions.