West Shore Lake Tahoe Homes for Sale
- State
- California
- Includes
- Homewood, Tahoma, Sunnyside, Tahoe Pines
- Character
- Historic lakefront estates, forested and quiet
- Sun exposure
- Afternoon and sunset sun across the lake
- Ski access
- Homewood Mountain Resort; near Palisades Tahoe
- County
- Placer County, unincorporated
- Shoreline
- Piers and buoys regulated by TRPA
- Best for
- Legacy lakefront buyers who want afternoon sun
Down the west shore, you’ll first find the quiet community of Sunnyside, with a market and Sunnyside hotel and restaurant on the lake. Firesign Café across the street is a popular breakfast and lunch spot, with Sunnyside Market a good stop for great sandwiches.
Next stop is Homewood, one of the most desirable locations on the lake. It’s about 5 miles from Tahoe City, has the Homewood Ski Resort, West Shore Café, old-time/updated Swiss Lakewood Lodge for dinner, Obexer’s Market and Marina along with High & Dry Marina. Obexer’s Marina is the site of the famous annual August Concours d’Elegance showcasing beautiful woodies from around the country.
Further down the shore, past numerous homes both on and off the water, Tahoma offers a newly updated small market and deli, a post office, a couple of cafes and easy access to Sugar Pine Point State Park with camping, hiking, beaches and the historic Hellman-Ehrman mansion open for tours in summer.
You can ride your bike from here all the way to Tahoe City on the regional bike trail, which is approximately nine miles on gentle terrain.
Further south, Meeks Bay and Rubicon Bay offer old Tahoe cabins, secluded custom homes, some with stunning lake views, and lakefront estates not to mention gorgeous beaches, camping, lodging and trailheads leading into Desolation Wilderness. Bliss State Park is a very popular spot for overnight camping in the summer with beautiful beach access and hiking. Second homes for many, but also home to local residents.
Beyond this is famous Emerald Bay with its historic Vikings Home to visit and view Fannett Island. The trailhead to Eagle Falls is here. Then on down to South Lake Tahoe past Cascade Lake and the entrance to Fallen Leaf Lake.
What it is like to live on the West Shore
The West Shore is the quiet side of the lake. It runs south from Tahoe City through Sunnyside, Tahoe Pines, Homewood and Tahoma, in unincorporated Placer County, backed by forest and fronted by some of the oldest lakefront estates on Lake Tahoe. There is no commercial center of any size. People drive to Tahoe City for anything practical.
The orientation is the reason buyers pay for it. The West Shore faces east across the water, so it gets the afternoon and evening sun, which are the hours most owners actually use a lake house. Mornings are shaded and cool, afternoons are long and bright, and sunsets happen behind you over the ridge rather than across the water.
It is quieter than the north shore and noticeably quieter than the Nevada side. That suits people who want the lake itself rather than a resort scene, and it is why families hold these properties across generations. It also means fewer services, longer drives, and winters where you should think carefully about how a steep driveway behaves in February.
Homewood Mountain Resort is the local hill. It did not operate for the 2024-25 season, which unsettled the market at the time, and it reopened for the 2025-26 season. The operator has committed to keeping the mountain public rather than converting it to a private club, following a resolution reached with the community and the regional planning authority. Worth confirming the current season's plan directly with the resort.
What to confirm before you make an offer here
On a lakefront purchase, the pier is often worth more than the extra square footage. Shoreline structures at Lake Tahoe are regulated by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, and an existing permitted pier or buoy cannot be assumed and cannot be casually replaced. Confirm what is permitted for the specific parcel, and that the permit is current and transferable, before you value the property.
Ask the same question about the buoy separately. Piers and buoys are handled differently, and a property can have one without the other.
Short-term rental rules here are Placer County's, which means the same 3,900 permit cap and the same requirements that apply in Tahoe City. If rental income is part of the plan, check the position for the address early.
This page is general information rather than legal or planning advice. Verify shoreline permits with TRPA and rental permits with Placer County.
West Shore frequently asked questions
Compare this community in the Lake Tahoe communities guide, or read the lakefront buyer’s guide and California vs. Nevada comparison.