Whale Beach is a small, more remote beach on Lake Tahoe’s east shore, located just south of Secret Cove along Highway 50 in Nevada. It’s a local favorite known for its unique granite rock formations, including one large rock near the shoreline that looks like a whale, which is where the beach gets its name.

You do have to hike down to the water to reach Whale Beach, which helps keep it a bit more under the radar. That said, it can still get very busy on summer weekends, especially in the middle of the day. The water here is that clear, turquoise color the east shore is known for, and it’s a popular spot for paddleboarding and kayaking if you’re able to carry your gear down the trail.

In the winter, if there’s snow on the trail, you can snowshoe down to the lake, which makes for a really nice short snowshoe with rewarding lake views at the bottom. Overall, Whale Beach is a great option if you’re looking for a quieter, more rugged beach experience and don’t mind a short hike to get there.