Sugar Pine Point State Park

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

                                                                             

2010 WINTER INTERPRETIVE ACTIVITIES

 

FULL MOON SNOWSHOE TOUR

Saturdays:  January 2, January 30, February 27, March 27

Tour:  7pm.  Pre-tour beginners’ clinic:  6:30pm.

$12 per person (includes snowshoe rental).  Kids under 12 FREE.

 

Sugar Pine Point State Park and West Shore Sports welcome you to join us on our full moon snowshoe tours! Park Rangers will lead moonlight adventures around the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion and along Lake Tahoe’s magical West Shore. For those new to snowshoeing, there will be a beginners’ clinic at 6:30pm.  All proceeds from these tours support Sierra State Parks Foundation.  Wear winter boots and dress accordingly.  Reservations required at 530-525-9920. Space is limited. Meet in the day use area parking lot (east side of Highway 89). 1½ hours.  Weather conditions may cancel.

 

 

 

SNOWSHOE THROUGH HISTORY HIKE

Saturday Feb 13^th, 11am

Join our park historian for an easy and fun snowshoe hike around the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion.  Learn about the natural history that attracted Tahoe’s earliest settlers and explore the fascinating cultural history of a Tahoe landmark.  Bring your own snowshoes.  West Shore Sports (530-525-9920) will rent snowshoes at ½ price to program participants.  1½ hours.  No charge for hike.  Parking, $8 per car. 

BE SURE TO ENJOY THE 11 MILES OF MARKED SNOW TRAILS FOR USE BY SNOWSHOERS AND SKIERS

FREE TRAIL MAPS AVAILABE UPON REQUEST     

                                              

 

2009 Olympic Heritage Celebration!

Did you know that Sugar Pine Point State Park is the site of the first-ever Olympic Biathlon event? It was held at the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, and each winter the trail is groomed for visitors to ski through history!

The Olympic Heritage Celebration takes place this year from January 8 - January 17th, with many events at Sugar Pine Point State Park, including a re-enactment of the 1960 Biathlon event, and a do-it-yourself Biathlon where participants compete against the clock. Join us for this one-of-a-kind celebration and opportunity! Events include:

Friday, January 8

Commemorative torch relay from Sugar Pine Point State Park (site of 1960 Biathlon) to Squaw Valley

Saturday, January 9

1960 Biathlon Re-enactment

 

Sunday, January 10

Nordic Ski Expo and Demo

 

 Wednesday, January 13

Elementary & Middle School Nordic Skiing

 Friday, January 15

Scholastic Nordic Race

 

 Saturday, January 16

“Citizens Against the Clock” do-it-yourself Biathlon

 

 For more information go to www.squawvalley1960celebration.com or call (530) 581-8701

 

 

 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. The newly re-established Olympic Biathlon Trail allows visitors to ski the historic trail from the 1960 Olympics! Interpretive presentations on a variety of winter related subjects are presented most weekends, from January through March.

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.

Sugar Pine Point 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 lays 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.

Food Storage Locker Information
Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers. The inside dimensions of the food lockers 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high. Violators will be cited.
Special Events

The beautiful grounds of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion are available for special events such as weddings, school or family reunions, and corporate dinners.  The grounds have spectacular views of Lake Tahoe with the 12,000 square foot mansion serving as an elegant backdrop.  Click here to download a Special Events brochure.  Click here to download a wedding application.  Call or email our Special Events Office for more information:  530-525-5060 or lssec@parks.ca.gov.

Wi-Fi Service
Ed Z'berg - Sugar Pine Point State Park now offers AT&T Wi-Fi Service!
This service enables park visitors with wireless enabled laptop computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) to access the Internet. Park visitors will be able to gain Wi-Fi access when they use a wireless device within about 150 to 200 feet of the Carriage House located in the park.

Hellman-Ehrman Mansion
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, and later by his daughter Florence Hellman Ehrman. The mansion provides an interesting view into the lifestyles of the wealthy on Lake Tahoe.