Open 10am – 5pm daily, weather permitting. We do not accept reservations. First come, first served. Customers need to be on-site by 3.45pm at the latest to get last rentals.
This is a National Forest Service beach with similar amenities to Pope Beach, although lacking BBQ facilities and shade near the water. However, Baldwin Beach has the distinction of being the closest public launch site for kayakers and SUP paddleboarders heading into Emerald Bay, which lies 2 miles to the north along a rugged, curving shoreline. Emerald Bay features world class scenery and paddling and the Emerald Bay Boat Camp is a highly sought-after destination for adventurous paddlers wishing to camp overnight. We provide sit-on-top kayaks suitable for making this journey, which typically requires a full-day rental to have enough time to land on Fannette Island, tour the Vikingsholm, and hike up the short trail to Eagle Falls. A 10:00 AM start is recommended, as there is usually less wind and fewer power boats in the morning. Expect to have a 15-minute safety and paddle skills briefing before leaving the beach. Paddlers doing this trip should be in reasonably good condition and prepared for potential weather changes. We suggest that you bring food and water, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, windbreaker/rain shell, and money ($12 p/p) to tour the Vikingsholm. For those of you who don’t feel up to the 8-mile round trip, kayakers and SUP paddleboarders can leisurely explore nearby Taylor Creek or just cruise along the beautiful shoreline. Please note, this is a first-come first-served rental operation. Reservations are limited to multi-day rentals only. For payment we accept cash or credit card, please remember to bring a photo ID with you.
Address: Baldwin Beach Rd, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150.
After driving through the Kiosk, bear right through the round about and follow the trail to the beach, Kayak Tahoe is located to your left.