🌊 Tahoe Dog Co.’s Guide to Hurricane Bay With Your Dog
Looking for a dog-friendly beach on Lake Tahoe's West Shore? Hurricane Bay is one of our favorites.
Located along Highway 89 just south of Tahoe City, Hurricane Bay is a beautiful pebble beach where you can spend an hour by the water or settle in for an entire Tahoe afternoon with your dog.
Bring a towel, paddleboard or float, find a spot along the shoreline and enjoy the lake. Hurricane Bay is relatively easy to reach, wonderfully scenic and a great alternative to some of Lake Tahoe's busier beaches.
At Tahoe Dog Co., it's exactly the kind of place we love: beautiful, uncomplicated and even better with a dog by your side.
Getting to Hurricane Bay
Hurricane Bay is located directly along Highway 89 on Lake Tahoe's West Shore, a short drive south of Tahoe City.
There are designated pullout areas along the lake side of Highway 89 where you can park and access the beach.
Because those pullouts are on the lake side, we recommend approaching Hurricane Bay while traveling north on Highway 89 whenever possible. That makes pulling into an appropriate parking area much easier and avoids trying to cross opposing traffic.
Most importantly: please park carefully.
Highway 89 is the main road through the West Shore and isn't just a scenic route for visitors. People live here. They're driving to and from work, taking kids places, making deliveries and going about their everyday lives.
Pull completely and safely into an appropriate designated parking area. Never block the roadway, and don't stop suddenly because you've spotted an open space.
Pay attention to the cars, cyclists and pedestrians around you and take your time.
What Is Hurricane Bay Like?
Unlike Kiva Beach and some of Lake Tahoe's sandy beaches, Hurricane Bay is a pebble beach.
That gives it a different feel — and it's part of what we like about it.
You'll find beautiful Lake Tahoe water, mountain views and plenty of shoreline where you can find a spot with your dog and enjoy the day.
Bring a towel and relax by the lake, or make more of an afternoon of it with a paddleboard, float, or beach umbrella.
On a warm Tahoe day, it's a pretty wonderful place to be.
Enjoying Hurricane Bay With Your Dog
Hurricane Bay is a great place to spend time at Lake Tahoe with your dog, particularly if your dog loves the water.
Settle in along the shoreline, enjoy the lake and let your dog be part of your Tahoe beach day.
As always, follow all current posted regulations and leash requirements and keep your dog under your control.
Remember that you're sharing the beach and water with other people and dogs. Not everyone wants to interact with your dog, and not every dog wants to interact with yours.
Give everyone space and be considerate of the people around you.
Pay Attention to the Water, Too
Hurricane Bay does see boat traffic.
Most boats will be farther offshore, but occasionally someone may bring a boat closer to the beach or pull onto the shoreline.
Keep an eye on what's happening around you, particularly if your dog is swimming.
Lake Tahoe is a shared space. Swimmers, paddleboarders, boaters, beachgoers and dogs may all be enjoying Hurricane Bay at the same time, so a little awareness goes a long way.
Plan for the Tahoe Sun
Hurricane Bay can get hot and sunny, particularly during the middle of a summer day.
Bring plenty of drinking water for both you and your dog, and make sure your dog has opportunities to rest and cool down.
Our Summit Water Bowl is particularly handy for days like this. It collapses down easily, so you can throw it into a beach bag and always have a way to give your dog fresh drinking water.
And don't forget about yourself.
Tahoe's high-elevation sunshine is strong, so this is a great excuse for a our Camo Trucker Hat.
After a day on the pebble beach, and going in and out of the lake, your dog may be ready for some soothing Adventure Paw Wax. We recommend several applications that day, and the next.
A few dog toys can also make for a very happy afternoon by the lake. Just make sure everything you bring to Hurricane Bay comes home with you.
Leave Hurricane Bay Better Than You Found It
Being able to enjoy places like Hurricane Bay with our dogs is something we shouldn't take for granted.
Pick up after your dog. Always.
Pack out your food wrappers, bottles, toys and everything else you brought with you.
Follow posted rules, respect wildlife and natural areas, and be considerate of the people who live nearby.
And if you spot a piece of trash that someone else left behind, pick that up, too.
At Tahoe Dog Co., we're big believers in a simple rule:
Leave Tahoe better than you found it.
A Tahoe Dog loves this place — and takes care of it, too.
Where to Grab Food Near Hurricane Bay
One of the nice things about Hurricane Bay is that there are some great places to stop on the way from Tahoe City.
Fire Sign Cafe
Fire Sign Cafe is a longtime West Shore favorite serving breakfast and lunch, with a dog-friendly patio and outdoor area.
It's a great option for breakfast before heading to Hurricane Bay or lunch after you've spent the morning at the lake.
West Shore Market
If you'd rather bring something to the beach, West Shore Market is another great stop.
Pick up sandwiches, snacks or drinks and bring them along for your afternoon at Hurricane Bay.
A local note here: be careful around Highway 89 when stopping in this area.
There's a residential neighborhood nearby and plenty of pedestrians crossing the highway. Parking on the lake side around West Shore Market can be particularly challenging.
Slow down, watch the crosswalks, respect pedestrians and cyclists, and don't make an unsafe maneuver just to grab a parking spot.
Make an Afternoon of It
Hurricane Bay doesn't need an itinerary.
Pick up some lunch. Head down Highway 89. Find an appropriate place to park. Bring your dog, a towel and maybe a paddleboard or float.
Then just enjoy being at Lake Tahoe.
Spend an hour swimming and playing along the shoreline or bring an umbrella and settle in for the afternoon.
That's part of what we love about Hurricane Bay. It's not an attraction you need to check off a list. It's simply a beautiful dog-friendly place on Lake Tahoe's West Shore where you can slow down and enjoy the lake together.
Tahoe Dog Co. Local Tip
Approach Hurricane Bay heading north on Highway 89 and use one of the appropriate pullout areas on the lake side of the road.
Bring plenty of water, particularly on hot summer days, and remember that this is a pebble beach rather than a sandy one.
If you're coming from Tahoe City, stop at Fire Sign Cafe for breakfast or lunch or West Shore Market for sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
Then give yourself some time.
Swim. Paddle. Sit by the lake. Let your dog enjoy being a Tahoe Dog.
And when it's time to leave, pack everything up — maybe even an extra piece of trash you found along the way — and leave Hurricane Bay just as beautiful as you found it.
Looking for more dog-friendly places around Lake Tahoe? Read our Dog-Friendly Guide to Kiva Beach and our Guide to Enjoying the Truckee River Trail With Your Dog, and follow the Tahoe Dog Co. Dog-Friendly Lake Tahoe Guides as we share our favorite beaches, trails, restaurants, breweries and places to stay with your dog.
Visit TahoeDogCo.com for Lake Tahoe dog gear, hats and adventure essentials inspired by the dogs and places that make Tahoe home.
Tahoe Dog Co. — The Badge of a Tahoe Dog.
