Nevada side, Lake Tahoe
Cave Rock
Homes in the hills around Cave Rock, the landmark Highway 50 tunnels through, beside a state park boat launch.
About Cave Rock
The rock
Cave Rock is a volcanic remnant rising about 250 feet over the lake. It is a sacred site to the Washoe people, who call it deʔek wadapush, “Standing Gray Rock,” and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2017. Climbing on it is banned.
Highway 50 passes through the rock in two tunnels, the first bored in 1931 and the second in 1957.
The state park
Below the rock, Cave Rock is part of Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, with a double boat ramp, trailer parking and a small swim beach. Fees and hours change with the season.
The neighborhoods
Cave Rock Estates was laid out in the early 1960s, with lots from a third of an acre to more than an acre among surrounding public land. Its general improvement district maintains the roads, storm drains, street lighting and water system.
A few miles north, near Glenbrook, Uppaway is a planned development of 39 parcels around shared common land. It draws its water from Douglas County’s Cave Rock system.
From the air
Cave Rock on video
Videos play from YouTube, which loads only when you press play.
Around Cave Rock
Photographs: Tony Laurian.
Buying anywhere on the Nevada shore
These rules apply to Cave Rock and to every other neighborhood on this side of the lake.
Stormwater BMPs
Every developed property in the Tahoe Basin must install and maintain TRPA-approved stormwater Best Management Practices. Their status is disclosed to the buyer when a home sells.
TRPA: stormwater BMPs(opens in a new tab)Buoys, lifts and slips
Existing moorings must be registered and permitted with TRPA, and the registration is renewed each year. New moorings are allocated by lottery.
TRPA: shoreline program(opens in a new tab)Vacation rentals
Douglas County caps the number of vacation-rental permits in the Tahoe Township, limits their share of each neighborhood, and treats a permit as discretionary rather than a right. Association rules can add their own limits.
Douglas County: vacation rentals(opens in a new tab)Defensible space
Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District inspects defensible space around homes and offers consultations to owners.
Tahoe Douglas Fire: defensible space(opens in a new tab)
Sources
This guide is general background drawn from the public sources below, not a disclosure about any property. Rules, fees and services change, so confirm anything that matters with the district, association or agency before you rely on it.
- USDA Forest Service: Cave Rock management(opens in a new tab)
- Nevada State Parks: Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park(opens in a new tab)
- Cave Rock Estates GID(opens in a new tab)
- TRPA: Uppaway planned development(opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Cave Rock(opens in a new tab)
- Wikipedia: Cave Rock Tunnel(opens in a new tab)
Questions about Cave Rock?
Ask directly. A conversation will get you further than a page of description.