Located in Placer County
Carnelian Bay sits on the shores of Lake Tahoe and glistens with its namesake's semi-precious red and yellow gemstones. While this lakeside community is home to less than 600 residents, it offers its small population sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, dog-friendly beaches, beloved local restaurants and forest-like living, with plenty of mountain and log cabin style homes.
Living in Carnelian Bay means not only do residents wake up to sunrises over Lake Tahoe, they also live in a dense forest of tall pine trees. The residential streets are windy and hilly, with homes along them. Some homes resemble log cabins, while other styles run the gamut, including townhomes, mountain homes, lakefront mansions and newly built properties. A unique property is a remodeled A-Frame house nicknamed Twilight. This home has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and is on the market for $1.25 million. Single-family home prices range from around $800,000 to $7.4 million. Built in 2023, the $7.4 million property can sleep 14 people and has luxury amenities like a private beach, a lake-view hot tub and a guest house.
Neighborhood children can attend the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. They can begin their schooling years at Tahoe Lake Elementary, which has an overall A-minus rating from Niche. At Tahoe Lake Elementary, teachers supplement core teaching classes with technology, Spanish, art, music and physical education courses. Students can then attend North Tahoe School for their middle school years. North Tahoe School has an overall A-minus rating from Niche. High schoolers can attend the highly rated North Tahoe High School, which Niche recognizes with an overall A ranking. North Tahoe High is home to a highly acclaimed music program, including a popular jazz band. The high school also offers a Ski/Independent Study Academy. Students pursuing competitive downhill, Nordic skiing, or other extracurriculars that make it difficult to attend school regularly can enroll in the academy's customized study programs to provide a flexible schedule without losing a comprehensive high school experience.
Carnelian West Beach offers locals 530 linear feet of public beach space, benches, picnic tables, barbecues and restrooms. Locals can also go for a stroll on the beach's lakefront promenade. Pebbles make up the traditional sandy area at Patton Beach, but that doesn't stop locals from enjoying a good day at the lake. Four-legged pals are also welcomed at Patton Landing. There are also opportunities to rent or bring your own paddleboard or kayak and take it to the water. For locals who prefer land recreation, specifically skiing and snowboarding, Carnelian Bay isn't too far from a few Lake Tahoe area ski resorts like Palisades Tahoe, Northstar California Resort and a little further away is Heavenly Mountain Resort. Back in Carnelian Bay is the Magic Carpet Golf & Arcade, where there are two mini golf courses overlooking Lake Tahoe and an arcade filled with pinball machines, classic video games and newer options.
Along the water are a few local restaurants, including Waterman's Landing, where residents can sip specialty coffee drinks like a golden latte or a mushroom macca mocha. Waterman's Landing also has organic breakfast and lunch offerings. Gar Woods Grill & Pier offers unparalleled waterfront dining views. Locals can enjoy the restaurant's world-famous Wet Woody cocktail on the patio. A local favorite is CB's Bistro, an Italian restaurant and bar that, since 1986, has served pizza, burgers, sandwiches and pasta dishes. The Bistro has happy hour deals daily and live music every Wednesday. Residents can shop at nearby Safeway stores or New Moon Natural Foods when cooking at home.
Whether driving or boating around Carnelian Bay, there are plenty of places to go to. Locals can cross state lines into Nevada in 5 miles or travel to the Tahoe National Forest in roughly 50 miles. Sacramento is the closest major California city, about 120 miles from Carnelian Bay.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Sally Gardner
COMPASS
(916) 295-6845
41 Total Sales
1 in Carnelian Bay
$925,000 Price
Becky Arnold
Sierra Sotheby's Int Realty TC
(530) 317-4512
75 Total Sales
6 in Carnelian Bay
$624K - $1.1M Price Range
Aimee McDonald
Coldwell Banker Select
(775) 993-0936
53 Total Sales
1 in Carnelian Bay
$589,000 Price
Kate Wilkins
Compass
(530) 364-5989
60 Total Sales
6 in Carnelian Bay
$713K - $1.8M Price Range
Marlease Sewell
Nick Sadek Sotheby's International Realty
(415) 770-0390
50 Total Sales
1 in Carnelian Bay
$835,000 Price
Wendy Poore
Sierra Sothebys Intl. Realty
(530) 317-4056
75 Total Sales
4 in Carnelian Bay
$865K - $1.3M Price Range
On average, homes in Carnelian Bay, CA sell after 165 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in Carnelian Bay, CA over the last 12 months is $2,475,000, up 136% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Bike Score®
Walk Score®
Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
