Indian Grinding Rock SHP

I left Black Chasm.

I continued south on Hwy 88.

Next stop:
Indian Grinding Rock State Historic Park.


The Native American roundhouse is a visitor center and museum.



The tribe in this area is known as the Miwok.


The exhibit diligently traces Miwok history during the period of white settlement.



The Miwok built shelters and granaries out of branches and bark.



The discovery of Yosemite by white settlers was disastrous for the Miwok.



Another element to the park are Native American petroglyphs.



A short stroll outside reveals a Miwok Village.



And, the actual grinding rock.

Sand Harbor

I continued south from Memorial Point
to Sand Harbor.

Sand Harbor State Park

is a small peninsula on the east shore of Lake Tahoe.

Hands-down, this is the best beach on the Nevada side of the lake.

[This was actually my second visit to Sand Harbor.

While driving the Owens Valley in March 2009, I was forced to take a major detour.

I naively thought the Tioga Pass into Yosemite would be open.

A ranger at Manzanar National Historic Site advised me otherwise.

I crossed the Sierras via Rt. 80, in a blizzard!]

Sand Harbor State Park has a long boardwalk with several interpretive plaques. This makes it easy to learn about the natural history of Lake Tahoe.



Lake Tahoe reflects the color of the sky. It's blueness depends on how clear or cloudy that day happens to be.

Sand Harbor has a cove.

And a broad beach, as well.

Large boulders tumble from the beach to the water.

Endless nooks and crannies beg exploration.