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)

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

Year first lit

1921

Current structure built

1921

Tower height

unknown ft

Focal plane

unknown ft

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

Sugar Pine Point Light (1921) was a small automated acetylene beacon on Lake Tahoe, similar to Rubicon Point Light. The tower no longer stands. The site is within Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park, which preserves the historic Hellman-Ehrman Mansion and nearly 2 miles of lake frontage.

Why it matters

Inland curiosity; one of the few Lake Tahoe lighthouses. No structure remains but the state park is worth visiting for the mansion and lake access.

The visit

No lighthouse structure remains. The state park is worth visiting for the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion (1903) and lake access. The lighthouse site itself has no interpretive signage.

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

Visited this light? Leave a note in the Keeper's Log.

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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