DogTrekker.com reader Jan N. alerted us to a secluded public dog-friendly beach that she and her dog Angel discovered on the way home from a camping trip to Lake Tahoe:
Dog heaven! Photo by Jan N.
“On the way home from camping at Lake Tahoe earlier this summer, I visited Donner Lake with my dog Angel. The State Park Aide told me dogs could access the portion of the lake that runs along the paved walking path on the South side.
While exploring that area, I met some people who told me about a secluded public dog park beach on the eastern end of the lake. Everyone I ran into knew about the dog park beach. You really can’t miss it. Just follow the dogs!
After a short wooded walk from S. Shore Drive (or Donner Pass Road if you don’t have a State Park Pass), we were in water dog heaven! This is a sandy beach with shallow water stretching out into the lake. People and their dogs were swimming, tossing and retrieving balls, and basking in the warm sun.
What a beautiful sight! This beach is now a must stop on my annual trip to Tahoe.”
Thank you, Jan, for sharing your adventures with us.
Donner Lake sits at about 5,900 feet elevation just west of Truckee, and the water warms up nicely by midsummer—perfect for dogs who love to swim and fetch. The sandy bottom at the eastern beach makes it especially easy for dogs to wade in at their own pace, which is great for pups who are still getting comfortable with deeper water. There’s usually a good crowd of friendly dogs and owners here on summer weekends, so it doubles as a social outing for both you and your dog.
If you’re making a day of it, the town of Truckee is just a few minutes away and has plenty of dog-friendly restaurants with outdoor patios where you can grab lunch after your swim. And if you want to extend the adventure, the paved path along the south shore of Donner Lake is a pleasant walk—flat, shaded in spots, and easy on the paws.
We love hearing trail-tested stories from our readers and want to share them with other DogTrekkers. Please join our growing group of official ‘Paw-Testers’ by writing in to tell us about your favorite dog-friendly places in California.
Share your favorite California dog experience, along with a photo or two, and we’ll post your trek in this section. Thanks and happy DogTrekking!
