Taking kids to a deep lake is a worry for many parents. Here are 5 hot safety tips for taking your kids to Lake Tahoe.
- When taking your kids to Tahoe, you should know the weather, be aware of altitude, and swimming safety.
- Use plenty of sunscreen and reapply every couple of hours, even under the chin and nose, as the high altitude increases the risk of sunburn. The air may be cool, but the sun is strong.
- Watch out for sudden underwater cliffs that can take kids by surprise, and consider swimming in roped-off areas to avoid them.
- Beware of the effects of alcohol at high altitudes, as it hits differently, and drinking even one drink can feel like two or three.
- Take breaks and pull kids out of the water at least every hour, as even on hot summer days, the lake water is very cold.
- Shallow water beaches like Kings Beach are recommended as the water temperature is warmer, and there are no underwater drop-offs.
I grew up in Kings Beach on the North Shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe. As a teenager, I was also was a summer camp counselor in Tahoe City. I’ve watched my fair share of kids play at the lake, and so I have some important expert local safety tips for you.
Here are 5 hot safety tips for taking kids to Lake Tahoe:
Sunscreen
I know you’re thinking, “no kidding” I need to keep the kids covered in sunscreen. Yes, and you need to reapply it every couple of hours at the very least. Set the alarm. The altitude is high, and it’s so much easier to get sunburned at high altitudes. Hats are your friend, even in the water.
One of my favorite activities as a camp counselor was to sneak up behind my campers and slap a cold hand of sunscreen on their back as they were playing in the water. They made a whole game of me “getting” them without them seeing me.
The reflection of the water and snow will do things like sunburn under your chin and under your nose. Sunscreen needs to be applied like the sun is above and below you. Ever had an armpit sunburn? I have. I had to walk around with my arms up for 3 days. Since I lived there, it didn’t ruin my vacation, but my brother never let me live it down.
You have a few days to just over a week for your trip. A bad sunburn can cost you 3 days of your vacation.
Kid Safety Tip #1: Apply sunscreen liberally to kids, every hour or 2. Make sure to apply under the chin, nose and on armpits too!
Underwater Cliffs- WARNING!
Some of the underwater drop-offs are sudden and very steep. It’s all pretty perfect sand and then suddenly…off a cliff.
It’s a tough subject, but as a lifeguard at the lake, I can tell you kids make no noise or motions as they go under the water.
The water is cold. They are shocked to be suddenly falling off an underwater cliff.
They just go down.
Yes, I have pulled kids up who were sinking off an underwater cliff. I was able to because I knew where the cliffs were, and I was watching like a hawk.
You don’t know where these underwater cliffs are. Some are off of the North Shore just south of Tahoe City. There are several, and they are all around the lake.
Kid Safety Tip #2: Swimming in roped-off designated areas not only ensures there are no steep drop-offs but it also makes sure boats or jet skis can’t hit your kids. These areas are a great idea.
Kid SafetyTip #3: No matter what, watch your kids and do a head count every time you think of it.
Wind Wander – yes, it’s a thing
One minute your kids will be splashing in the water right in front of your spot on the beach, then… they’re way the heck down the shoreline. What happened? You yell, “Hey, Get back over here! Don’t wander away from our spot.” 5 minutes later…they are down the shoreline again.
The breeze blows at angles to the beach. The waves don’t come straight into the shore. This creates the optical illusion for kids playing in the water that they are adjusting to stay in the same spot when really, they are moving away.
Don’t yell at the kids. They can’t help it. They are correcting to do the right thing. Ironically, that’s why they are moving down the shore.
It’s your job to keep an eye on them.
Kid Safety Tip #4: I highly recommend bringing a bright-colored frisbee. Let the kids know ahead of time that when you are waving it on the beach or are throwing it at them, they are to come back.This will help with the natural tendency to “wind wander.”
Important Parent Tip: Have you ever had alcohol at a high altitude? It really hits differently! Laying in the sun makes you thirsty. Lugging all your family’s supplies to the beach makes you thirsty. High altitude makes you thirsty. Listen to me, my friends, because I care about you and your vacation.
One drink = 2 or 3 drinks if you aren’t used to high-altitude living. It’s not fun to be hungover while on vacation with the family. “Haha, remember when Dad or Mom puked at the beach and spent the rest of the time in bed?” Don’t let it happen to you.
Cold
The lake is cold. At all times of the year, it’s very cold. Some kids can keep going and going in the water with seemingly no problem. Pull them out every hour for a break anyways. Every summer, my son would have a meltdown at my pulling him out for a break. As soon as he was out, he would start shivering. His teeth would chatter, and I would wrap him against me in a big beach towel. All of this on a HOT summer day.
Kids are the worst judges of their own limits. They will push it. It’s just not fun.
You’ll be melting on the beach, and it will never occur to you that your kids are out there turning blue and freezing.
Kid Safety Tip #5: I highly recommend some of the shallow water beaches like Kings Beach, as the temperature of the water is a bit warmer, and there are no underwater drop-offs.
Fingers and toes crossed that your trip to Lake Tahoe is safe and fun. Make sure that you follow our 5 hot safety tips for taking kids to Lake Tahoe, from our resident experts.
FAQ about Safety Tips for Kids at Lake Tahoe:
Q: Why is sunscreen important in Lake Tahoe?
A: Sunscreen is important in Lake Tahoe because the altitude is high, making it easier to get sunburned, and the reflection off of the water and snow can cause sunburns in unexpected places.
Q: Are there underwater cliffs in Lake Tahoe?
A: Yes, there are underwater cliffs in Lake Tahoe, and some of them are sudden and very steep.
Q: What can parents do to ensure their kids’ safety when swimming in Lake Tahoe?
A: Parents can ensure their kids’ safety when swimming in Lake Tahoe by swimming in roped-off designated areas and watching their kids very closely.
Q: Is the water in Lake Tahoe warm or cold?
A: The water in Lake Tahoe is cold at all times of the year, and kids may not be aware of their own limits in the water.
Q: Are there any shallow-water beaches in Lake Tahoe?
A: Yes, there are shallow-water beaches in Lake Tahoe, such as Kings Beach, which may be more suitable for kids
Read more about Kings Beach HERE.
My husband and I love to fish at Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, and we can often be found taking visiting friends and family on boat trips around the lakes.
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