Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Due to the current state wildfire crisis, the closure of neighboring USFS lands, COVID-19 and its impacts on Parks personnel to support basic operations, the Sierra District will not be allowing walk-ins at any campgrounds for the remainder of the season. All existing camping reservations made prior to today (September 10) will be honored through October 3, but no new reservations are being accepted at this time. Day use areas and trails remain open. The previous district-wide ban on campfires and charcoal bbqs remains in place. The District will continue to monitor conditions and may impose further restrictions and closures as necessary.
EFFECTIVE (Sept. 18, 2020) - Thank you for your patience and continued support of California State Parks as we work to limit your risk for exposure to COVID-19 in the outdoors. Campgrounds at the park will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting Oct. 4, 2020.

As a reminder, Californians are encouraged to avoid road trips and stay close to home, maintain physical distancing, wear a face covering when a physical distance of six feet from others who are not from the immediate household members cannot be maintained, and avoid congregating. Everyone has the responsibility to slow down the spread of COVID-19.

Here are some additional guidelines for locals visiting Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park:

What is open now?
  • The park is open from sunrise to sunset with restrictions in place to encourage social distancing.
  • Day-use parking is now available to the public. Parking is $10.
  • All trail systems are available and active recreation will be permitted.
  • Outdoor restrooms will be available.
  • Very limited parking is now available to the public.
  • Campgrounds at the park will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis starting Oct. 4, 2020. To make a reservation, visit www.ReserveCalifornia.com or call 800-444-7275. For more information about camping visit www.parks.ca.gov/COVID19Camping.  We do not allow early registration prior to 2 p.m.
  • Visitor Center during business hours for fee collection, information, restrooms, and gift shop. Limited visitor access to exhibits inside building. Masks are required in public buildings and spaces where physical distancing is not easily maintained. The visitor center closes Sept. 30, 2020.

What is currently closed?
  • Visitor center and tours.

Are there any new visitor guidelines?
Yes, please see below:
  • Stay Safer at 6 Feet: Maintain a physical distance of 6 feet or more. Gatherings, picnics and parties are not allowed. Visitors will be asked to leave if there are too many people at the park to allow for the required physical distance.
  • Stay Clean: Be prepared. Bring soap/sanitizer and pack out all trash. Restrooms will be temporarily closed in order to keep up with cleaning schedules.
  • Stay Covered: The state now requires you to wear a face covering in most indoor settings and public outdoor spaces when you cannot maintain physical distancing of six feet or more from people outside of your immediate household. For details, please visit CDPH’s guidance here. Visitors should also abide by their local county health orders.

Statewide, California State Parks continues to work with locals on a phased and regionally-driven approach to increase access to state park units where compliance with state and local public health ordinances can be achieved. Even though the department has increased access across the State Park System, the need for Californians to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the outdoors remains critical.

For information on statewide current closures and available services, please visit parks.ca.gov/FlattenTheCurve.

Phone Number

(530) 525-7982

Max. Trailer Lengths

Trailer: 26 Feet
Camper/Motorhome: 32 Feet

Park Hours

Call for park hours

Dogs Allowed?

Yes
Dogs allowed in developed areas only, which include campsites, paved roads and paths, dirt fire roads, and paved parking areas. Dogs allowed in developed picnic areas and day-use areas. Dogs not allowed on beaches or dirt trails. To protect the integrity of the groomed Nordic ski courses, dogs not allowed on designated ski trails within the Sierra District, from Nov. 1 to May 1 annually, when snow is present.

Driving Directions to Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point SP

The park is located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, 10 miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89.

View on Map

Camping and Lodging

Visitors will be able to reserve campsites and lodging six months in advance from the current date. Bookings may extend from the arrival date to the desired departure date – based on availability and the park’s maximum stay rules.

Online Reservations

Upcoming Park Events

No events scheduled at this moment.

BOATING
Boating
Boat Rentals
OVERNIGHT FACILITIES
En route Campsites
Family Campsites
Group Campsites
RV Dump Station
RV Access
TRAIL USE
Bike Trails
Hiking Trails
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Env. Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Fishing
Guided Tours
Interpretive Exhibits
Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
Beach Area
Swimming
Nature & Wildlife Viewing
Museums
Family Programs
Geocaching
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Restrooms
Drinking Water Available

NO CAMPFIRES OR CHARCOAL GRILLS

Camping - Please continue to check Ca State Park websites for updates and call ReserveCalifornia 800-444-7275 with questions regarding reservations. All camping must have a reservation. We are honoring all existing reservations - No walk-ins or new reservations for the 2020 Season. 9/18/2020 
Due to several nearby wildfires using all fire resources, poor air quality and extreme fire danger, wood and charcoal fires are prohibited until further notice in all Sierra District Parks. 
Fireworks are illegal and prohibited in all counties surrounding the beautifully forested Lake Tahoe area.  Please help keep our lake and beaches clean and our forests protected.
Our parks are highly impacted at this time - please lend a hand and help make your parks cleaner than you found them. Thank you.
Smoke at Sugar Pine Point






Dogs

Dogs on a 6' leash are allowed on paved areas, in the campground, and in the historic zone of the day use area. Dogs are not allowed on beaches, unpaved trails, or in undeveloped areas.  Leashed dogs are allowed on the General Creek Fire Road during the summer.  Dogs are not allowed on ski trails in the winter. Dog regulations are enforced YEAR-ROUND.

Summer Camping

Summer 2020: Tree work will be in progress throughout the campground in order to improve wildfire safety and forest conditions. There may be work crews and loud noise from machinery between the hours of 10:30 AM – 3:00 PM Monday through Friday. Thank you for your understanding.

The campground (Sugar Pine Point SP) is currently on reservation-only camping.  For information on SUMMER camping reservations, call Reserve California at 1-800-444-PARK (7275) or visit www.reservecalifornia.com. Reservations can be made 6 months in advance of the date you would like to arrive. The Lake Tahoe area is a popular destination and reservations are required at this time. The last night for reservations is October 3rd, 2020. One loop will then return to winter camping use.

During this 2020 season there will only be family camping, no group campsites.  Fees for camping are $35 per night.  Fees include one vehicle. The campground does not have hook-ups, but there are showers and a dump station for registered campers.  

Check In      2 pm                                                                    Generator Hours  10am - 8pm
Check Out    Noon                                                                 Quiet Hours         10pm - 6am       
2 Vehicles allowed per campsite                                          Children must have helmets for bicycles/scooters/skateboards
8 people allowed per campsite                                            Dogs must be leashed and never unattended
Vehicles must be parked on pavement                               Amplified music is only allowed with a permit
Food must be stored DAY and NIGHT                                  All CA vehicle regulations apply - no passengers in truckbed

Food Storage Locker Information - Important and required.

All food, beverages, toiletries, and trash containing food/smells are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers except when food is being prepared or eaten. Black bears are currently very active at Sugar Pine as they are just waking from a long winter and are very interested in ALL items that smell like food.  Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite.  Ice chests may NOT be stored in vehicles and shall be stored in the food storage locker. The inside dimensions of the food lockers 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high.  Violations will be cited.

Attention: Bear-Proof Cooler Owners  Bear-Proof Cooler imageBEAR-PROOF COOLERS (Yeti, Pelican, Yukon etc.) MUST be secured with locks per manufacturer instructions in order to meet Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) standards. Failure to do so may result in a Food Storage Citation and up to a $1000 Fine Title XIV CCR 4323(b).  It is recommended that a cable lock is also used to attach the bear cooler to a non moveable item. Bears are known to take off with and/or toss coolers around to try to open them.  

 

Day Use

Sugar Pine Point Day Use Area - Hellman-Ehrman Estate

Day Use facilities, including the historic Hellman-Ehrman Estate, picnic area, beach and pier are 3/4 mile south from the campground. Day Use parking is $10 per vehicle during the peak season, $5 per vehicle in the winter, or free if you are camping at Sugar Pine Point. Fees are required year round and due by self-payment when the kiosk is unstaffed. There is a separate fee for historic tours of the Hellman-Ehrman Estate.  Please contact the Sierra State Parks Foundation for tour schedule information.

About the Park

Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park contains one of the finest remaining natural areas on Lake Tahoe. With nearly two miles of lake frontage, the park has dense forests of pine, fir, aspen and juniper.

Another attraction is the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (also known as Pine Lodge), a summer home built in 1903 in a grove of pine and cedar. From the turn of the century until 1965, the lands of what is now Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park were owned by financier Isaias W. Hellman, and later by his daughter Florence Hellman Ehrman. The mansion provides an interesting view into the lifestyles of the wealthy on Lake Tahoe.

Location/Directions
The park is located on the west shore of Lake Tahoe, ten miles south of Tahoe City on Highway 89.

Seasons/Climate/Recommended clothing
Summer temperatures range from about 75-80 degrees during the day to the low 40s at night, and winter temperatures average from a high of 40 to lows in the teens or 20s. Winter temperatures may drop below 0. High Sierra weather is varied and can change abruptly. It is recommended to bring layered clothing and check weather updates.  The weather forecast is available from NOAA.gov. 
Chains and/ or 4 wheel drive are frequently required during the winter season.  For up to date road conditions, call the Caltrans road hotline at 1800-427-ROAD, or visit the Caltrans website.  

Facilities - Activities
Hiking & Swimming
Many miles of hiking trails within the park and a swimming beach provide visitors with a variety of relaxing summer activities.

Fishing
Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park is comprised of conifer forests in the General Creek drainage. The waters of General Creek are among the clearest waters flowing into Lake Tahoe and the stream is open to fishing from mid July to mid September.A fishing license is required.

Cross-Country Skiing
Winter visitors to the park will find over 20 kilometers of marked cross country ski trails and a heated restroom in the General Creek campground. Interpretive presentations on a variety of winter related subjects are presented most weekends, from January through March.

Nature Center
When you're at Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park, be sure to stop at the Nature Center located in the day use area by the Ehrman Mansion. We now have a bird display, where visitors can view several species of bird life that occur in the Tahoe Basin. In addition to birds, visitors can see most of the mammals and the four major game fish that occur here. Other exhibits include: Biology, Lake Ecology, Wildflowers, Trees, and a "Touchy-feely" table for the kids (adults also!).

About the area...
Lake Tahoe lay at the heart of the Washoe Indian territory, and Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park was the summer home for generations of Washoe Indians who came to these peaceful shores to hunt and fish. Evidence of their occupation can still be seen today in the form of bedrock mortars or grinding rocks just offshore from the Ehrman Mansion.

In 1860, the first permanent settler of record on Lake Tahoe's west shore built a cabin at the mouth of General Creek. This was the trapper and fisherman William "General" Phipps, and his cabin can still be seen today just north of the Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park pier. In 1884, a resort called Bellevue Hotel was constructed just north of what is now the South Boathouse, and remained a popular summer destination for Lake Tahoe visitors for nine years.

Sugar Pine Point Information Video
Sugar Pine Point Information Video

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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