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Kiva Beach

Kiva Beach is one of the harder to find beaches, just because of the lack of signs. It's located just north of Camp Richardson. Turn right at the Forest Service Visitor Center turnoff and follow the road past the Visitor's Center (this is also the parking for the stream profile chamber) to the beach parking lot. I'm not certain what the official Forest Service policy is regarding dogs here as it seems to flip flop from time to time, but there are many dogs here all the time. There is a short walk to the beach, but the parking is free. You can also park at the Visitor's Center and enjoy a longer walk (not quite a hike) along the meadow to Kiva Beach (no dogs on this trail though). The beach itself is a huge flat sandy plain that lies at the mouth of Taylor Creek. The water, however, is a bit rocky until you get a little ways out. You can go out a long way, though. There are fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, especially Mount Tallac. Mid summer you will find large blooms of Blue Pod Lupine among other wildflowers (note- I haven't seen these this year. It may be that the 'dogs to the right' rule has ended with these fields of flowers being trampled).

Kiva Beach Pictures

Fast Facts -
Directions - From South Lake Tahoe head North at the 'Y' onto Highway 89 about 3 miles to the entrance, turn right at the Fallen Leaf Lake Road.
Map - Click Here
Dogs - Yes (at the mend of the trail as you reach the beach, dogs are allowed to the right, but not to the left. This rule is followed loosely since few dogs know the difference between right and left, and even fewer can read the map)
BarBQ - No
Fee - None