Cave Rock Near Pyramid Lake In Nevada

People who visit the lakes of the Truckee Basin in Nevada can engage in healthy activities such as boating, fishing and camping along with visiting some culturally significant Native American sites. While many areas of Pyramid Lake are closed by tribal leaders to protect sacred grounds, the Cave Rock area of nearby Lake Tahoe is open to the general public.

History

The first written record of Cave Rock was made by surveyor George H. Goddard in the mid-1850s. According to the book "Nevada Curiosities, Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities and Other Offbeat Stuff," Goddard wrote about a "legendary cave" in his journals that held cultural significance to the native Washoe tribe. A tunnel was later carved through to give vehicles passage around the lake.

Significance

The Cave Rock site served as a gathering point for doctors from the Washoe tribe to gather for meditation at the end of the hunting and gathering season. Tribal legends say that Washoe prisoners kept by a warring tribe were freed when a deity put their captors into the cave below Cave Rock and imprisoned them underwater.

Function

Washoe tribe cultural resources manager Bill Dancing Feather told the Reno Gazette-Journal in 2003 that some members of his tribe still use Cave Rock for cultural celebrations and activities; however, it is also open to the public for activities such as climbing, while the beach area directly beneath it is a popular gathering site for beachgoers.

Features

There is a small day-use area on the beach section of Lake Tahoe directly below Cave Rock that is open to the public. The site has a boat ramp, giving you the ability to explore the lake on motorized boats, canoes or kayaks. You can also choose to swim in the water or explore the fishing options. If you are bringing a lunch or dinner, you can eat at one of the picnic sites on the beach. You can bring dogs to the beach as well, but they have to be kept on a leash.

Geography

Cave Rock was originally part of a 360-foot tall volcanic plug that was formed by an ancient volcano going dormant. The rock had a system of small caves on its west side, formed by waves that hit the rock during the Ice Age when Lake Tahoe's water level was 140 feet higher. The cave walls are made of andesite, while the cliffs surrounding Cave Rock are granite.