Keep Tahoe Blue encourages visitors and residents to care for Lake Tahoe this July 4th weekend.
LAKE TAHOE, Calif. & Nev. — June 30, 2026 — Keep Tahoe Blue invites residents and visitors to show their love for the Lake by cleaning up, refreshing, and revitalizing Tahoe’s sandy shores and surrounding areas on Sunday, July 5 as part of the 13th Annual Keep Tahoe Red, White & Blue Cleanup. Participants can choose from six locations ringing the Basin, from Commons Beach in Tahoe City to Nevada Beach.
Beyond the July 5 event, everyone is encouraged to do their part to protect Tahoe this holiday weekend and all summer:
– Clean, Drain and Dry every piece of gear you plan to put in the water to stop harmful aquatic invasive species, like golden mussels, from spreading.
– Leave Tahoe better than you found it. Dispose of all trash — even if it’s not yours — in a trash can or dumpster, including pet waste. If the bins are full, take it with you.
– Bring your reusables. Pack your Tahoe beach bag with a reusable bottle, utensils, and a trash bag for waste, and avoid buying single-use plastics, which are one of the most common types of litter found in Tahoe.
– Respect wildlife. Give animals plenty of space and remember that food scraps are dangerous for wildlife. Make sure it all goes in the trash.
– Travel Car-Free and Care-Free. Take advantage of lake-friendly transportation options, from free buses and microtransit shuttles to e-scooters, bike paths, park and ride lots, and shuttle service to Emerald Bay. Skip the traffic and parking hassle — let someone else do the driving.
– Know before you go. Be aware of fire restrictions, road construction (nvroads.com and quickmap.dot.ca.gov), and alcohol restrictions, including on the Truckee River, at Zephyr Cove and Shoals, Meeks Bay, and Round Hill Pines. Check with your destination before you head out and always have a backup plan in case your first choice is full.
– Embrace the pace. Slow down and enjoy one of the most beautiful places in the world. Please be patient and respectful to others.
In addition, Keep Tahoe Blue is working with beach managers, concessionaires, and businesses through its Tahoe Blue Beach program to “raise the bar for beach management.” Members and participating beaches — Zephyr Cove Resort, Tahoe Beach Club, Kings Beach, Meeks Bay Resort, and Camp Richardson Resort — are taking steps to make responsible, Lake-friendly recreation the easy and obvious choice for everyone who comes to the shore. This Fourth of July weekend, expect to see bold, consistent signage with helpful tips on how to protect Tahoe while you play.
Keep Tahoe Blue is aligned with and taking action to implement the Lake Tahoe Destination Stewardship Plan in collaboration with over 20 regional organizations. The award-winning plan, developed with the participation of over 3,000 residents, visitors, and businesses, establishes a shared vision for the region’s outdoor recreation and tourism and encourages everyone to help take care of Tahoe’s cherished communities and environment. Visit www.stewardshiptahoe.org to learn more and read the plan.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Register for your location of choice at keeptahoeblue.org/july5.
WHEN
8-11:30 am | Sunday, July 5
WHERE
Kings Beach – 8398 North Lake Boulevard, Kings Beach, CA 96143
– Check here for meeting location.
Kiva Beach – 1 Heritage Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
– Check here for meeting location.
Zephyr Cove – 760 US-50, Zephyr Cove, NV 89488
– Check here for meeting location.
Lakeview Commons – 1004 Lakeview Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
– Check here for meeting location.
Tahoe City Commons Beach – 400 North Lake Boulevard, Tahoe City, CA 96145
– Check here for meeting location.
Nevada Beach – 416 Bittlers Road, Zephyr Cove, NV 89449
– Check here for meeting location.
WHO
Participants will include hundreds of local and visiting volunteers of all ages and abilities, along with representatives from Keep Tahoe Blue and event partners, including Tahoe City Public Utility District, Tahoe City Downtown Association, USFS Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, Aramark Destinations, City of South Lake Tahoe, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, California State Parks, Northstar Mountain Resort, Protect Our Winters, Great Basin Institute, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Camp Richardson Resort, ExplorUS and Bally’s Lake Tahoe.
WHAT
Every July 5, passionate volunteers pour in from inside and outside the region to take part in Tahoe’s largest cleanup event, which follows the busiest holiday of the summer season. Together, their efforts exemplify how to take care of Tahoe and inspire others to do the same.
WHY
Beach cleanup events protect the Lake’s delicate ecology, preserve its famous water clarity, and encourage others to take personal responsibility for their footprint and leave Tahoe better than they found it. The data gathered during this and all Keep Tahoe Blue cleanups are used to create solutions that stop litter at its source. Explore 12 years of July 5 cleanup data at keeptahoeblue.org/july5storymap.
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Keep Tahoe Blue is the donor-funded, science-based organization of environmental experts and Tahoe-lovers who have led the protection and restoration of the Lake Tahoe Basin since 1957. We use science to design innovative solutions, advocate with federal and state partners on behalf of the Lake, and engage thousands of volunteers as citizen scientists and stewards of Tahoe. Visit keeptahoeblue.org to donate and learn how to help conserve Tahoe for all — for generations to come.