Sand Harbor is the postcard of Lake Tahoe's Nevada shore: smooth granite boulders scattered into turquoise water, a sandy beach and a forest of Jeffrey pine behind. It sits just south of Incline Village, a well-heeled resort town on the northeast shore, and the stretch of Nevada State Route 28 that runs past it is one of the most beautiful lakeside roads in the West.
The road clings to the hillside above the water, winding through pine forest with frequent glimpses of the lake below. There are few places to stop, and parking is limited, so on summer weekends the pull-outs fill quickly and cars are parked along the road. The curves are gentle and the speed limits low, but the scenery more than makes up for it. Watch for cyclists on the shoulder and pedestrians crossing to reach the beaches. A paved bike path now runs along part of the shore, and the coves below it are some of the most beautiful swimming spots on the lake, though the water is very cold even in August.
Incline Village was developed in the 1960s, and it takes its name from a steep tramway, the Great Incline, that hauled timber up the mountain in the nineteenth century to feed the silver mines of the Comstock Lode in Virginia City. Much of the Tahoe Basin was clear-cut to provide timber for the mines, and the forests you see today are mostly second growth.
From Incline, the Mount Rose Highway, Nevada State Route 431, climbs steeply over the Carson Range to Reno. At its summit, at around 2,700 metres, it is the highest Sierra pass kept open all year round. The road is a favourite with riders, with long sweeping curves, steep gradients and spectacular views back over the lake. In winter it is often snowy and icy, and chains may be required.
Incline Village has fuel, food, supermarkets and lodging, as do Kings Beach and Tahoe Vista just over the state line in California. Sand Harbor is a Nevada state park with an entrance fee and limited parking, which often fills up by mid-morning in summer. If you want to visit, come early or late in the day, or in spring and autumn when it is quieter.