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Can you swim in Lake Tahoe in the summer?

Go for a swim in the lake Be warned, though: the lake remains quite cold, even in the summer months. You'll find it a little warmer near the shoreline (pee jokes end here), so stick to paddling if you're not used to swimming in the big wide open.



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Tahoe water temps range from 40 degrees in winter to 70 degrees in summer. Lake Tahoe water is always cold! Survival – Time in cold water is greatly increased when you wear a life jacket.

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Tahoe water temps range from 40 degrees in winter to 70 degrees in summer. Lake Tahoe water is always cold! Survival – Time in cold water is greatly increased when you wear a life jacket.

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Here's an oft-asked question: Can you swim in Lake Tahoe? The answer is yes, especially if cool/cold water is your thing! And, if you look at all the water sports outfitters and popular beaches in the area, it's clear that it's absolutely a preferred thing to do in Tahoe for a lot of people.

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Covering 72 miles of shoreline and being the largest alpine lake in North America, Lake Tahoe is a must see for all adventure lovers. We absolutely love coming to this beautiful lake and exploring all around it. There is truly nothing like Lake Tahoe in the summer and there is never a shortage of activities.

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Average Lake Tahoe Water Temperature In Summer The surface water ranges from 40 degrees in winter to about 70 in summer. With that being said, July on average has the warmest waters. This is followed by August and September where they fluctuate between 65-70 degrees.

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The high elevation of the lake makes physical exertion more difficult also. Swimming in the morning hours with a wet suit is recommended if you plan on that long of a swim away from shore.

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Tahoe peaks at around 70 degrees in the summer, hardly a tropical affair. “It's a little colder, too cold for a lot of people unless you're wearing a wetsuit,” says Amy Hagen, co-owner of Reno's Adventure Scuba, where snorkelers often shop for gear. “You really need a wetsuit.”

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Now, researchers report that Tahoe is the clearest it's been in 40 years—and it's thanks to tiny zooplankton that gobble up the particles that make the water cloudy.

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What is the Lake Tahoe water temperature? For the Lake Tahoe marathon swim season, expect water temperatures in the range of 63ºF/17.2ºC to 69ºF/20.5ºC. Our marathon swim season in Lake Tahoe is mid-July thru mid- to late-August.

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The water temperature at Lake Tahoe is currently 67 degrees, which is considered cold water. Cold water can quickly lead to cold water shock, swim failure, and hypothermia, which can be deadly. “We have already responded to several water rescues this summer,” said NLTFPD Fire Chief Ryan Sommers.

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The Top 10 Best Swimming Spots in Lake Tahoe
  • Sand Harbor Beach.
  • Meeks Bay.
  • Desolation Wilderness lakes.
  • Pope Beach.
  • Eagle Lake.


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Make sure you bring lots of layers and warm jackets as well as swim gear and shorts. Leggings or athletic sporty pants- or beach pants like these. Windbreaker or light jacket- this by Vuori is nice. Coverup- or one that can double as a dress- This is almost just like mine on bike and this is similar .

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Most of the Tahoe shoreline is either granite boulders and cliffs, but the lake does have many great public beaches for swimming, picnics, BBQs or just lying around in the sun.

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Here are some basic essentials:
  • Swim Goggles.
  • Swim Cap.
  • Floaties.
  • Sun Protective Top.
  • Rash Guard.
  • Shirt with UPF.
  • Swimsuit or Boardshorts.
  • Swimsuit Cover Up.


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The water is 99.994% pure, making it one of the purest large lakes in the world. For comparison, commercially distilled water is 99.998% pure. Tahoe contains roughly 60 parts per million of dissolved matter.

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If you use a slow stroke rate without a wetsuit you will start to sink between strokes if you don't have great balance or buoyancy. With a wetsuit there is a lot more leniencies to swim with a slower stroke rate and keep better forward momentum.

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Kings Beach This sandy beach is perhaps the most prominent site on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The wide stretch of yellow sand makes Kings Beach a favorite of visitors and residents alike. Because it's facing south, they say this is the warmest swimming area on the lake.

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' Lake Tahoe, known for its purity and high level of legal protection had the third highest concentration of plastic of 38 lakes tested around the world and higher than in the surface water at the ocean's gyres where the floating islands of debris emblematic of the world's plastic pollution crisis collect.

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Why is the Lake so blue? Tahoe's clean air and water are the keys to the Lake's dazzling blue color. The surface of Lake Tahoe is blue in part because it's reflecting the sky, but there is more to this phenomenon. Water as crystal clear as Tahoe's absorbs red light, leaving the rich blue color that we all see.

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What is the Lake Tahoe water temperature? For the Lake Tahoe marathon swim season, expect water temperatures in the range of 63ºF/17.2ºC to 69ºF/20.5ºC. Our marathon swim season in Lake Tahoe is mid-July thru mid- to late-August.

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July and August are by far the busiest summer months in Lake Tahoe. Everything is crowded. For July, it's definitely recommended that you book your Tahoe cabin or condo early. As early as possible.

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