The Lighthouse Circuit

Access, tours, hours, fees, and closures change often. Always verify with the official source before driving.

Tier 3 · Curiosities

Sugar Pine Point Light

Tahoma · El Dorado County · Inland (Lake Tahoe)

Sugar Pine Point Light is an inactive lighthouse in the Lake Tahoe region of California, first lit in 1921, owned by California State Parks (Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park).

InactivedemolishedPublic accesseasyCalifornia State Parks (Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park)

Year first lit

1921

Current structure built

1921

Optic

Acetylene gas light (automated)

Owner

California State Parks (Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park)

Manager

California State Parks

Coordinates

39.0667, -120.1167 Map

Current hours

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park hours

Fees

$10 day use fee (California State Parks)

History

Built 1921 as a small automated acetylene beacon on Lake Tahoe, paired with Rubicon Point in a short-lived Corps of Engineers navigational series. The tower no longer stands.

Why it matters

Companion entry to Rubicon Point — together they document the only inland lake light system in the California atlas.

The visit

Drive-to within Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. Whether any physical remnant of the lighthouse remains within the park is an open research question. Combine with the historic Hellman-Ehrman Mansion on site.

Logistics

Recommended base

South Lake Tahoe or Tahoe City

Nearby food / coffee

Tahoe City restaurants, Sunnyside Resort

Nearby lodging

Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park campground, various Tahoe resorts

Inland curiosity; not part of any coastal circuit. Appendix entry for completeness.

Nearby lighthouses

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Sources

Image rights: No known public domain images of the lighthouse structure itself; park photos available from CA State Parks

Research confidence: medium · Last verified 2026-05-13