Sugar Pine Point Light, Lighthouse at Lake Tahoe, California, United States.
Sugar Pine Point Light is a 4-meter tall beacon on the western shore of Lake Tahoe, powered by solar panels to guide boats. The structure sits at an elevation of about 6,200 feet and continues to flash regularly across the water.
The beacon was built in 1921 to replace an earlier light at Rubicon Point and guide commercial traffic on the lake. It was automated in 1985 and has operated without permanent staffing since then.
The light reflects how people navigated Lake Tahoe in its early days and remains a landmark within the state park today.
The beacon is visible from the adjacent state park and easiest to reach from the water or nearby viewpoints on shore. The best time to visit is from June through September when the lake is clear and trails around the area are accessible.
The beacon once held the distinction of being the highest navigational aid in the country, showcasing advanced navigation on mountain lakes. Its remote high-altitude location made it a notable feat of maritime engineering.
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