Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park RV & Campground Guide
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California’s Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is situated along two miles of the western shore of Lake Tahoe and set against nearly 2,500 acres of coniferous forest in the high Sierra Nevada mountains. The park is densely populated with tree species, including sugar pine, Jeffrey pine, white fir, quaking aspen, black cottonwood, and many more. General Creek, which runs into Lake Tahoe from the Desolation Wilderness, divides the park in half. The surrounding land is home to several small lakes, wildflower meadows, and two moraines left behind by ancient glaciers. Summer activities include swimming, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, and hiking. You may also enjoy visiting the Sugar Pine Point Nature Center and the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, which was built in 1903 as a summer estate.
Nearby Cities:
Reno, NV
Truckee, CA
Tahoe City, CA
Tahoma, CA
Spring 31-58 F
Summer 48-77 F
Fall 34-70 F
Winter 29-42 F
RV Resorts & Campsites in Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Campground Accommodations
General Creek Campground
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes
Max RV length: 32 feet
Other amenities: ADA access, picnic tables, trash receptacles, fire rings, firewood available, potable water, showers, toilets, dump station
General Creek Campground
Year-round camping is available at this campground on a first-come basis with rates starting at $30 per night. While camping under ponderosa pine trees, you will love being close to all there is to do in Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, including visiting the nature center.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, on a leash and always attended
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring, grate and food storage locker
Meeks Bay Campground
This national forest campground, where rates start at $30 a month, is open from mid-May through mid-October. It's located about halfway between Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park and D.L. Bliss State Park, and it offers easy access to hiking areas.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, on a leash and always attended
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring, grate and food storage locker
William Kent Campground
This national forest campground is also open from mid-May through mid-October. It sits in a residential neighborhood and is easy to get to because it is located just off a major highway. This campground, where rates start at $31 a night, also offers yurts.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, on a leash and always attended
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring, grate and food storage locker
Kaspian Campground
From mid-May to mid-October, campers can stay at Kaspian Campground. Bike paths around the west side of Lake Tahoe begin near this campground, where rates start at $22 per night.
Water hookup: No
Electrical hookup: No
Sewer hookup: No
Wi-Fi: No
Pet-friendly: Yes, on a leash and always attended
Other amenities: Picnic tables, fire ring, grate and food storage locker
What to Do at
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is a beautiful destination that will please anyone who loves spending time outdoors or enjoying the historic sites around Lake Tahoe. In the summertime, you can tour the Ehrman Mansion, one of the lake’s most historic summer homes. If you’re visiting in wintertime, 11 miles of snowshoeing and skiing trails, some of which were used during the 1960 Winter Olympics, are open for public use, and park rangers sometimes lead moonlit snowshoeing tours.
Inside Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
There is a lot to do when you camp at this state park located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe. Almost 2 miles of lakeshore access is available for fishing, sunbathing and other beachfront activities. You can visit the nature center to learn about different bird species that call this area home. In the winter, this park is a favorite among cross-country skiers. Don't forget to tour the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, which was constructed in 1903.
Fishing
From mid-July to mid-September, the clear, cool waters of General Creek and Lake Tahoe are open for fishing. Deep-line anglers can fish for Kokanee salmon and brown, Mackinaw, and rainbow trout. You can take up to five fish from the lake at a time, which includes up to two Mackinaw. Fishing licenses are required.
Geocaching
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park has historically been home to a two-part multicache. Scavenger hunters can look for a standard cache of small treasures hidden in a picnic area, then hike to a lightning-damaged tree. If you have a hand-held GPS or a smartphone with the Geocaching app installed, you may be able to find the cache, take a prize, and leave a souvenir for the next adventurer.
Stargazing
The park is one of the most beautiful remaining natural settings on Lake Tahoe. Campers can enjoy stargazing along the lake and at their campsite year-round, wherever they have a clear view of the sky.
Flora and Fauna
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is famed for its thickly forested areas filled with sugar pine, white and red fir, quaking aspen, and cedar trees. Mountain alders and black cottonwood grow along General Creek, and the park is filled with wildflowers like columbine, lupine, and Indian paintbrush. This bountiful natural setting is a welcoming habitat for wildlife, including porcupines, California black bears, chipmunks, raccoons, beavers, bobcats, deer, coyotes, and more. Birds are also plentiful in the trees and near the water. If you like birding, you'll have plenty of opportunities to spot kingfishers, mallards, Canada geese, and mergansers, along with juncos, Steller’s jays, mountain chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and tanagers. You may even be lucky enough to see a bald eagle in the wintertime.
Hiking
The best hiking is inland, along General Creek. The park’s Lily Pond Trail provides access to the Desolation Wilderness, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the High Sierra backcountry west of Lake Tahoe. The Dolder Nature Trail is a 1.5-mile loop trail that leads through a mixed forest and gives excellent views of the lake, while the General Creek Trail is a 6.5-mile dirt loop that follows the General Creek watershed. Short, paved trails for casual hikers include the flat, easygoing Lakefront Interpretive Trail and the forested Rod Beaudry Trail.
Boating
The park’s waters are open to boating, and you may enjoy taking a paddle boat or kayak out on the water. The beaches are accessible by watercraft, and you may make brief stops at the pier for loading and unloading.
Swimming
Sugar Pine Point State Park’s sandy beach is an excellent place to take a dip in the water. It is located near the popular Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, flanking the northern and southern sides of General Creek.
Biking
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point Park has designated hike-and-bike trails, including the General Creek Trail, the Lily Pond Trail, and the Sugar Pine Campground Trail. Mountain bikers can get a trail map at the Nature Center.
How to Get to
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park is accessible off Highway 89 and 10 miles south of Tahoe City. You can drive along Lake Tahoe before exiting the western side of the highway to enter the campground.
By Car
Entering Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
There is parking available near the entrance and the beach. The daily parking fee is $10 per vehicle during spring, summer, and fall and $5 per vehicle during the winter season.
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park (Spring, Summer and Fall) : $10.0
Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park (Winter) : $5.0
Sugar Pine Point State Park is a gorgeous and popular historical destination that offers lovely views of the water, relaxing walks through the trees, and an abundance of outdoor activities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Summertime may be the best time of year to visit, but the area is beautiful all year. Warm, sunny days are perfect for swimming and visiting the beach, and the trees turn lovely shades of gold and orange in the fall. If you love winter excellent snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are available.
The park hosts a wonderful array of wildlife that includes bears, deer, squirrels, raccoons, and bobcats. Birders may be able to add several species of ducks, geese, and songbirds to their journals.
RV family camping and group campsites are available at the park. Some campsites are shaded by large trees, while others are in more open areas.
Reservations for camping spots are recommended during peak season, and they can be made up to six months in advance. Fees are $35 per night. Camping during the winter season is first come, first served, and fees are $25 per night. The dump station and showers are closed in wintertime, but a centrally located restroom and potable water are available.
Sugar Pine Point State Park allows pets in the campground, in the historic zone of the day-use area, and on most trails. Dogs must be kept on a six-foot leash and you are expected to clean up after them.