Secret Cove

01.05.10 - 12:18 pm | Gary Hanauer |

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Rating: A

One of the "nudest" of the Tahoe nude beaches is also the one with the least sand this year.

Except for a ledge that visitors have built by scooping up buckets of wet sand from the lake's edge and dumping them onto the shore, Secret Cove "doesn't have any sand," reports North Swanson, of the Tahoe Area Naturists (TAN).

Known also as Secret Cove Beach, Paradise Cove, Paradise Rock, and Frankie Loves Dougie Beach, the beach has a long history of clothing-optional use. San Leandro's Dave Smith found 90 percent of the visitors were nude during a visit, while Steve Williams estimated a whopping 95 percent were naked.

Says Williams: "If you go nude, nobody hassles you, whether you're with a group of people or all alone." The site attracts a loyal crowd of up to 70 people who begin arriving as early as 9 a.m. Rock climbing's a popular pastime. "There may be up to 15 people on the rocks," says Williams.

Legal status:

Part of Toiyabe National Forest.

How to find it:

From the California-Nevada border, go north on Highway 50 to Highway 28. Head north on 28 about six miles until you see a parking lot on the west (lake) side of the highway. Park there. Walk south on the fire road that starts there until you come to two Port-a-Potties and some trash cans. Follow the trail that starts here down to the beach. It should take you 10 to 15 minutes to arrive on the sand. If the lot is full, you can park on the shoulder of 28, south of the last "no parking" sign (cars on the asphalt itself will be cited). On the west side of the road, follow signs that say "trail" to the beach path.

The beach:

A rocky shoreline, with some sandy nooks, next to some great water. "It's a beautiful place," says Swanson.

The crowd:

In past visits, Smith found 30 people on the beach, while Swanson counted about 10.

Problems:

Less sand this year; rocks; limited parking; erosion often caused by visitors trying to make their own trails to the beach; in the past, the water has smelled like algae, according to Smith.