State park

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is a state park in Douglas County, Nevada. Day use is free. Hours: Open to pedestrians year-round, sunrise to sunset Open to vehicles May 1 - October 31, sunrise to sunset.

Check current closures and fire restrictions for Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park on the managing agency's own page.

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park
Photo: Vanessa Vancour, CC BY 2.0

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park map

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.

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Closures

  • Every year from November 1 to April 30: Park road, gates, parking lots and restrooms close to vehicles for the winter; the park stays open to pedestrians from sunrise to sunset (as of September 25, 2026). Current notice
  • Construction closure through fall 2027: the main road is closed past the California day-use area, the Nevada day-use area and parking are shut, and Nevada-side trails west of the Vista Spur Viewpoint are closed. Reach the Tahoe Rim Trail from the California side (as of September 25, 2026). Current notice

Fire restrictions

One fire restriction order is recorded for this unit as of Sept. 30, 2026. Each links the signed order.

Nevada Fire Info, BLM Nevada's interagency fire site, keeps the Nevada fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Nevada fire map of active fires.

Common questions

Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park is free to visit. Hours: Open to pedestrians year-round, sunrise to sunset Open to vehicles May 1 - October 31, sunrise to sunset.
Every year from November 1 to April 30: Park road, gates, parking lots and restrooms close to vehicles for the winter; the park stays open to pedestrians from sunrise to sunset (as of September 25, 2026). Construction closure through fall 2027: the main road is closed past the California day-use area, the Nevada day-use area and parking are shut, and Nevada-side trails west of the Vista Spur Viewpoint are closed. Reach the Tahoe Rim Trail from the California side (as of September 25, 2026).
Yes, dogs are allowed at Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.
No, drones and other remote-controlled aircraft are not allowed at Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park.

Before you go

Closed to vehicles November through April; pedestrians may still enter, but restrooms and drinking fountains are closed and sledding is not allowed (as of September 25, 2026).

  • Drinking water from May 1 through October 31 only

Trails

  • Rim Trail Connector (3.6 mi one way, moderate) Longest trail in the park, climbing to the Kingsbury segment of the Tahoe Rim Trail
  • Barn Trail
  • Vista Spur Short spur to the Vista Spur Viewpoint
  • Cal-Neva Loop

What to see

  • Historic site Van Sickle ranch barn Ranch barn relocated to its current site in 1960; the family ran Stateline Stables here until 1993
  • Historic site Van Sickle log cabin Circa-1914 log cabin, relocated to the site in 1960
  • Overlook Vista Spur Viewpoint

Public lands next to Van Sickle - Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.