Bonsai Rock
Incline Village, NV
Bonsai Rock is a granite boulder just offshore on Lake Tahoe's East Shore, about a mile south of Sand Harbor, with a few small trees growing out of its top. The small rocky beach and slabs around it are a favorite for photographers, especially at sunrise. It's a quick scramble down from the highway.
An iconic Tahoe view, but it's more a photo stop than a beach and the roadside parking is sketchy.
How we score beachesSunrise is the classic shot, with the rock lit up and the lake glassy. Wear shoes with grip for the granite.
No lot; cars pull onto the narrow shoulder of Highway 28, so park carefully and fully off the road.
A short but steep footpath leads from the shoulder to the rocks; not suited to strollers or wheelchairs.
Year round for photos, but summer is when you can actually wade out to the rock. Winter shoulder parking can be snowed in.
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