Van Sickle—Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park

Brimming with world-class outdoor recreation minutes from the nightlife and entertainment that defines South Lake Tahoe, there’s no better way of getting to know Tahoe’s South Shore than a trip to the stunning Van Sickle State Park. Situated minutes from Stateline on the Nevada-California border, Van Sickle is not just one of the most accessible parks in the Lake Tahoe Basin, but one of the more spectacular, too. Brimming with dozens of miles of mountain biking and hiking trails, Van Sickle vistas serve up some of the best views of the Jewel of the Sierra and surrounding peaks and rock formations, along with easy access to the Tahoe Rim Trail system. 

Early Days at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe and the surrounding areas have been home to the Washoe Tribe, the region’s first inhabitants, for thousands of years. By the mid 1860s, the California gold fields called pioneers West, and the discovery of the Comstock Lode beckoned many back east, prompting modern development of the Lake Tahoe Basin and surrounding areas. During this time, Lake Tahoe became a commerce hub thanks to a booming timber industry, but most of the Tahoe shoreline and surrounding land became privately purchased in the years to follow.

When visiting Lake Tahoe today, you’ll discover that the majority of the west side, or California side remains private with very few ways for the public to enjoy the Jewel of the Sierra, while the eastern side, or Nevada side, has remained open to the public or made possible by land donation to the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks system and other land management groups. As a memorial to Henry Van Sickle, 542 acres was donated to the State of Nevada in 1988 and made public to residents and Tahoe vacationers by 2011 when it opened as Van Sickle Bi-State Park. 

Visiting Van Sickle Bi-State Park Today

Like all Nevada State Parks, Van Sickle offers a variety of great amenities for day use, including picnicking, horseback riding, wildlife viewing, hiking, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and photography. In partnership with the California Tahoe Conservancy, enjoy this Nevada State Park year round, just be sure you stay on the trails and do your part to keep Tahoe Bears Wild. Pets are welcome, but please keep them leashed and remember to Leave No Trace whenever possible.