Cave Rock at Lake Tahoe: sacred Washoe landmark pierced by highway tunnels

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Cave Rock, which sits on the southeastern side of Lake Tahoe, is a 360-foot-high and 800-foot-wide geological marvel that archaeologists say was formed by a five-million-year-old volcano vent.

Thousands of years later, the Washoe Tribe would occupy the area that surrounds Lake Tahoe, and would take possession of and take pride in the rock. They named it De Ek Wadapush , which gives the notion of its spiritual prowess. Washoe natives say the rock would be a resting ground for water babies, small beings that carry the knowledge of medicine and healing. Other stories say shamans would visit the rock for religious gatherings.

In 1931, road planners felt there needed to be easier access for travel from Carson City through the Lake Tahoe area. Construction crews then dug out a large tunnel through Cave Rock. Then a second tunnel was blasted through for outgoing traffic in the 1950s. The old bridge around the rock was then used as a walking path until it was closed in the 1960s. It is not accessible today.

The federal government worked to assist the tribe in keeping the rock safe and sacred. In 2003, the U.S. Forest Service prohibited all forms of rock climbing on Cave Rock, which the tribe considers to be disrespectful.

Today, Cave Rock is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Traditional Cultural Property.