Timber Cove Marina — Central South Shore

What Timber Cove Marina Is

Timber Cove Marina is the small marina associated with the Timber Cove Lodge resort on Lake Tahoe's central South Shore. The marina is more compact than Ski Run, Zephyr Cove, or Tahoe Keys — focused on rentals, parasailing departures, and small recreational boats rather than the larger party-pontoon operations of bigger marinas.

The marina's central South Shore position offers good access to the lake's primary boating destinations: Pope/Baldwin Beach are 5-10 minutes by boat; Emerald Bay is roughly 30-40 minutes; the East Shore (Cave Rock and beyond) is roughly 25-45 minutes.

Quick Facts

Operators & Rentals at Timber Cove

Timber Cove's primary rental presence is Action Watersports (covered in our Action Watersports guide). The marina also services hotel guests and various smaller rental operations seasonally.

Action Watersports at Timber Cove

• Wakeboard, ski, surf boats
• Jet skis
• Parasailing
• Equipment for water sports

Other Services

• Hotel guest moorage
• Small-boat berthing
• Fuel (limited)

Convenience Factors

Walkable Location

Many South Lake Tahoe lakeshore hotels are within walking distance of Timber Cove. Visitors staying at lakefront properties can walk to rentals — eliminating parking and driving complications.

Lake Access Quality

Central South Shore position means roughly equal access to West Shore destinations (Emerald Bay, D.L. Bliss) and East Shore destinations (Cave Rock and beyond). Less optimal for either extreme than the marinas closest to them, but balanced.

Parking

Limited compared to larger marinas. If driving, plan for limited spaces; consider walking from hotels.

Boating Destinations from Timber Cove

Closest (5-15 minutes)

• Ski Beach (5 min)
• Pope Beach (10 min)
• Baldwin Beach (12 min)
• Cave Rock (15 min)

Half-Day Distance (20-40 minutes)

• Emerald Bay (35 min)
• Camp Richardson (15 min)
• Skunk Harbor (20 min)
• Chimney Beach (23 min)
• Whale Beach (25 min)
• Secret Cove (28 min)

Full-Day Distance (40+ minutes)

• D.L. Bliss State Park (45 min)
• Sand Harbor (38 min)
• Bonsai Rock (33 min)
• Rubicon Bay (55 min)
• Meeks Bay (60 min)

Compared with Other South Shore Marinas

vs. Ski Run Marina

Ski Run is more central to Heavenly Village; better restaurants nearby; larger fleet. Timber Cove is quieter; more focused on watersports.

vs. Tahoe Keys Marina

Tahoe Keys is closer to Emerald Bay (~25 min vs. ~35 min from Timber Cove). Timber Cove is closer to Stateline casino area.

vs. Zephyr Cove Marina

Zephyr Cove is on the Nevada side, closer to East Shore boat-in beaches. Timber Cove is on the California side, more central to South Shore as a whole.

vs. Camp Richardson Marina

Camp Richardson is closer to Emerald Bay and more historic in feel. Timber Cove is more central and offers watersports focus.

Timber Cove Marina FAQs

What's the address?

Timber Cove Lodge at Lake Tahoe, central South Shore. Specific street address available from operators.

Is Timber Cove walkable from Heavenly Village?

Yes — approximately 5-10 minute walk from many Stateline and lakeshore hotels.

Is there a restaurant at the marina?

The associated Timber Cove Lodge has restaurant services. Limited at the marina itself.

Can I park overnight?

Parking is for marina patrons primarily. Overnight parking by arrangement.

Is the marina open year-round?

Open during the main boating season (typically May through October). Limited winter operations.

The Action Watersports Connection

Timber Cove and Action Watersports are intertwined — Action Watersports operates out of Timber Cove as their primary base. If you've been comparing brands and seeing "Action Watersports" everywhere, they're physically located at Timber Cove. This makes Timber Cove the go-to for jet skis, parasailing rides, and high-action watersports rather than scenic cruising. Action Watersports details →

Location Advantages

Timber Cove sits on the California side just south of the state line, with a short walk to Stateline casinos and the Heavenly Village gondola base. If your group is doing a casino day combined with watersports, Timber Cove fits the pattern: park once, do the boat thing, walk to lunch and back.

The Pier

Timber Cove Pier extends well out into the lake — long enough that the end is in genuinely deeper water. This makes for an unusual photo angle of the lake and the mountains. Visitors sometimes walk the pier even if not boating; it's free and offers a unique perspective on the South Shore.

Parking and Logistics

The on-site parking lot is paid in season and fills by mid-morning on summer weekends. If you're booking a boat or jet ski, allow extra time for parking. The marina is also accessible via the Lake Tahoe Water Taxi service if you're staying elsewhere on the lake.

What to Know Before You Go

Action Watersports staff handle most of the rental orientations efficiently — bring photo ID and a credit card for the deposit hold. Most rentals here are short-duration (jet skis: 30 min to 2 hours; parasail rides: 8-12 minutes airborne). For full-day pontoon rentals, the larger marinas typically offer better fleet variety than Timber Cove.

Timber Cove vs Ski Run

Both California-side casino-area marinas. Timber Cove specializes in fast watersports (jet skis, parasailing, wakeboard boats). Ski Run has more boat types and a larger fleet across categories. For pure action, Timber Cove; for variety, Ski Run.

Related Reading

Action Watersports →
Ski Run Marina →
Tahoe Keys Marina →
Parasailing →