How to Plan a Kayaking or SUP Sunset Tour on Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is beautiful at any time of the day, from the stillness in the early morning to the sparkling waters in the afternoon. But one of the best times to enjoy the lake is at sunset when the sun starts to sink below the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the west, casting the sky in brilliant colors that reflect off the lake’s mirror-like surface.
The best way to witness the sunset is from the water itself by paddling out on a kayak or stand up paddleboard where you will be completely surrounded by water and sky.
You can join one of the local sunset kayaking tours, but you can also arrange your own where you will enjoy greater peace and solitude. All you need is to rent a kayak in South Lake Tahoe or stand up paddleboard. SUP Tahoe offers the best kayak rental Tahoe with an affordable evening price so you can pick your kayak up at 4pm and keep it until 9am the next morning. This will give the opportunity to relax and enjoy the entire sunset.
You also have the option for a Tahoe multi day kayak rental, during which we always suggest that you take at least one night to enjoy Lake Tahoe by sunset.
Where to Watch a Lake Tahoe Sunset by Kayak
There are a number of places from which you can launch your kayak before heading out to enjoy the sunset, and the majority of locations are almost guaranteed to provide beautiful views. But if you are looking for the best possible options from which to enjoy the sunset, these are some special favorites:
Pope Beach - The sandy shore of Pope Beach is an easy place to put in your kayak. From there, you can paddle directly away from shore towards the middle of the lake for sunset views.
Keys Beach - In addition to a sandy spot to put in your kayak, Keys Beach also has wetlands that you can navigate through with the potential for spotting turtles, fish, birds, and other wildlife while you are also enjoying the sunset.
El Dorado Beach - Another beach in South Lake Tahoe, El Dorado Beach is already a favorite beach to watch the sunset from. When you get a little further into the lake, you will enjoy even greater solitude with the same incredible views.
Heading east around the lake over to the Nevada side is one of the best ways to get spectacular sunset views since the sun will be setting directly opposite of your location. But having a kayak or stand up paddleboard will especially benefit you here since many of these locations can get busy around sunset and you will be able to escape the crowds by paddling out to the lake.
Zephyr Cove is one of the best beaches to launch from. If you travel out from the beach in the evening, you will be going into the sunset which can provide fantastic views. You can also go out to explore the rock formations and islands at the south end of the beach and watch the sunset from there.
All of these beaches are ideal spots to launch from, but they also provide access to a variety of other locations around the lake. Some will require more effort to get to and offer greater tranquility when you reach them if you are searching for a kayak sunset trip without crowds.
Planning Your SUP or Kayaking Sunset Tour
You will need to leave early enough to launch your kayak and get out to your chosen destination before the sunset. This does depend on how far out you would like to go. If you are less experienced with kayaking and want a quicker trip, you may only go a little ways off the beach. If you are planning to get out to a location where no one else is around, give it a little extra time.
In general, you should aim to depart the beach 2 hours prior. This will give you enough time to leisurely paddle around and scope out the spot you want to view the sunset from. It also means you will not miss a moment of the sunset as colors start changing when the sun begins its descent. For anyone who enjoys SUP yoga, 2 hours will also give you time for your routine.
Staying a few moments after the sunset will also offer the chance to watch the stars emerge or the moon rise before you head back to shore on the dark, peaceful lake. Because you will be traveling and disembarking in the dark, it is recommended to have a headlamp or at least a flashlight to help you navigate.
Watching a sunset from a kayak or SUP on the waters of Lake Tahoe is an unforgettable experience and one anyone who enjoys kayaking or SUP should experience it at some point. SUP rental or kayak rental from SUP Tahoe is the best way to do this by renting either a stand up paddleboard, single or double kayak.
Book a South Lake Tahoe evening kayak rental on our website today for a mesmerizing Lake Tahoe experience.
