Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

A comfy campout with 2 to 5 mile hikes
Driving to and sleeping at a campground
Ideal for first-timers
Perfect for families with young kiddos

Leaping into Lake Tahoe at Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Leaping into Lake Tahoe at Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Leaping into Lake Tahoe at Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Leaping into Lake Tahoe at Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Designed by
Yvonne Leow
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Last updated
August 3, 2024

Trip · 3-day camping trip

For · Friends and new campers

Vibe · Relaxing and chill

Reservations · Yes, reserve a site at General Creek Campground

Drive · 2.5 hours from SF and LA

Ideal dates · June to September

Pets · Welcome at camp, but not on beaches and trails

Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park (EZSPP) is the largest state park at Lake Tahoe! It features 2,000 acres of forest and almost two miles of lakeshore. The Sierra State Parks Foundation also offers tours of the park's 11,000 square-foot centerpiece: the historic Ehrman Mansion, aka Pine Lodge. Camp, swim and visit a slice of history at Sugar Pine Point SP.

Official State Park Website

Directions To Campground

Main image credit: Vrbo

Stuff to know

  • Bears are known to roam around the park. Properly secure your food in your campsite's storage box whenever you leave camp and overnight. Due to feisty bears, coolers can't be stored in cars and must fit in food storage lockers at your campsite. Food locker dimensions are 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high. Learn more about bear safety.
  • Hellman-Ehrman Mansion tours take place from Tuesday to Saturday, 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM
  • Adult tickets are $12, children tickets are $10, and you can buy them at the Visitor Center
  • Sugar Pine Point SP's day use fee is $10 a car

Resources

Check the weather
Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

Where to camp

General Creek Campground

Each campsite comes with a:

  • Picnic table
  • Fire pit and grill
  • Space for up to 8 people
  • Food storage locker
  • Two parking spots

General Creek campground has 175 sites designed for tent, trailer, and RV campers. It's tucked away underneath beautiful pine trees so there's plenty of shade to go around, and you're only less than a mile walk from the glistening shores of Lake Tahoe. There are restrooms, coin-operated showers, and a paved bike path throughout the campground. You're also a 15-minute drive from grocery stores, restaurants, and more lakeshore beaches in Tahoe City.

Check-in: After 2 PM · Check-out: 12 PM

View Campground Map

Nightly Rate: $35

General Creek Campground
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Itinerary

Day One

Lake Tahoe on the shores of Sugar Pine Point State Park
Lake Tahoe on the shores of Sugar Pine Point State Park

Leave SF by 11 AM and grab a sammie at Full Belly Deli

  • Diners LOVE their sandwiches and wraps, especially the Dirka Dirka
  • Located at 10825 Pioneer Trail Road, Suite 103 in Truckee
  • Open Mondays to Fridays from 7 AM to 3 PM and Saturdays from 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Last pit stop · Chevron - 310 W River Road in Tahoe City

Check in at General Creek Campground

  • Set up camp, wander around the campground and relax

Swim in Lake Tahoe!

  • From camp, walk 0.5 miles along Rod Beaudry Trail to reach Sugar Pine Point State Park beach
  • Change into your bathing suit and leap into the lake!

Take an evening stroll along the Dolder Nature Trail

  • This easy 2.1 mile loop takes you through Edwin L. Z’Berg Natural Preserve. You'll find beautiful lake views, a sandy beach, and a chance to visit the highest lighthouse (in elevation) in the world!

Return to camp for din-din

  • Prep and enjoy dinner back at camp
  • Stargaze and swap some of your favorite campfire stories
Ed Z'Berg was a state assembly member who served from 1958 to 1974 and led legislation to protect Lake Tahoe's natural environment.

Day Two

Sugar Pine Point State Park
Sugar Pine Point State Park

Pack a picnic and walk or bike along Sugar Pine Point State Park's Nature Trails

  • This 5 mile loop is a lovely, shady stroll through meadows and cedar trees
  • Pack a daypack with lunch, sunscreen, sunhat, bug spray, and water
  • Find a pretty spot along the way to picnic for lunch

Return to camp and unwind

  • Clean up and play some board games

Join an afternoon tour of Hellman-Ehrman Mansion

  • This rustic, palatial house was built by San Francisco financier I.W. Hellman for his beloved family to enjoy Tahoe's waters. Now you can experience it too!

Prep a sunset dinner

  • Cook up your last dinner at Sugar Pine Point and bring your camp chair to enjoy a sunset dinner by the lake
For centuries, the Wa she shu tribe came to Da ow a ga (edge of the lake) to spend their summers hunting and fishing

Day Three

Lake Tahoe on the shores of Sugar Pine Point State Park

Pack up and check out before noon

  • Cook up brekkie, clean up around camp, and throw away any random pieces of litter

Head home!

Florence and Sidney Ehrman sold their mansion and estate to the state in 1965, and Sugar Pine Point SP was named after Ed Z'berg in 2004
June 1, 2024

Bewilder at LAist Super-Fun Saturday

Make wildflower seed bombs with Bezzi the Yeti at LAist's Super Fun Saturday

Event in 2 days

Bewilder Basecamp: Spooky Wonders

Join Bezzi the Yeti on her first spooky camping adventure!

Shop curated gear

Everything your family needs for a fun and easy campout

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Bezzi's Pick
$399.95

NEMO 4-person Aurora Highrise Tent

This colorful tent can fit 4 to 6 people, and is easy to set up and pack out!

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Stargaze Reclining Camp Chair

Lean back, and we mean all the way back, in this luxurious camp chair. You'll never want to sit up.

Bezzi's Pick
$249.95

NEMO Roamer Self-Inflating Mattress

These are the cushiest sleeping pads we've tried! They come in Extra Wide and Double (for extra cuddles).

Bezzi's Pick
$99.95

Big Mo Toddler Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag that's designed for toddlers from ages 18-36 months.

Bezzi's Pick
$139.95

Big Mo 20° Down Kids Sleeping Bag

A sleeping bag designed for kiddos age 2-4 years old

Bezzi's Pick
$42

First Peak All-Season Sweatshirt

A cozy sweatshirt for ages 6 months to 4T designed for outdoor exploration.

Bezzi's Pick
$38

First Peak Flannel

A durable and soft flannel shirt that's kid-sized from 6 months to 4T

Bezzi's Pick
$59.95

NEMO Fillo Luxury Camping Pillow

Bring your own or splurge on this pillow that's designed for outdoor fun.

Bezzi's Pick
$100

GCI Outdoor Slim Fold Cook Station

Picnic tables don't always cut it for cooking outside. This one is easy to use and has plenty of counter space.

Bezzi's Pick
$89.99

Coleman Pack-Away Cot

Elevate your sleep system (literally) with this heavy-ish but easy to set up cot.

Bezzi's Pick
$69.95

Kelty Lowdown Chair

It's sturdy, reliable, well-designed, and a tad pricier than most camp chairs, but it'll last for awhile.

Bezzi's Pick
$189.99

Camp Chef Everest 2 Burner Stove

A popular and reliable dual-burner camp stove that stays hot in windy conditions.

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Meal & snack ideas

It turns out everything tastes better when we're outside

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Dessert

Campfire cinnamon roll ups

Vegetarian

Bezzi's Pick
Snack

Brookside Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries

Vegetarian

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Angie's Boom Chicka Pop

Gluten Free · Vegan

Bezzi's Pick
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Santa Cruz Organic Apple Sauce

Gluten Free · Vegan

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Lunch

Summer rolls with almond butter satay

Gluten Free · Vegan

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Dinner

Dan dan noodles

Gluten Free · Vegan

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Lunch

Asian chicken lettuce wraps

Gluten free

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Pho ramen

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Curry ramen

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Peanut butter cheesecake overnight oats

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Korean beef tacos

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Sausage sandwiches with sriracha honey

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