At 6,200 feet, with thin, dry air and large stretches of undeveloped shoreline, Lake Tahoe delivers night skies most city dwellers never see. On a clear, moonless night the Milky Way arcs right over the water, and the lake mirrors the stars back at you.
You don't need any gear —” just darkness, a clear sky and a little patience for your eyes to adjust. Time your visit around the new moon, get away from the resort towns' lights, and look up.
The darkest, most open skies cluster on the quiet East Shore and along the high meadows above the lake. Tap any spot for directions.
Open water to the west and little development behind you make the East Shore beaches around Sand Harbor a prime spot —” check access hours after dark.
A wide-open high meadow at nearly 8,700 ft on the Mt. Rose Highway —” big sky in every direction and easy roadside parking.
High, away from town glow and easy to reach where US-50 meets NV-28 —” a reliable dark pull-off on the quiet east side of the basin.