SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The ‘Pie Shop’ boulders, named after a pie shop that used to be on the trail, may become inaccessible to the public if a residential development permit is approved by the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA). Located near Sawmill Road, the boulders have been a popular climbing spot for visitors and residents alike, and the Tahoe Climbing Coalition is requesting the public to comment at the meeting.
The TRPA is reviewing a permit application for a residence at 1663 Sawmill Road for a single-family residence. The application came in on February 2025 and because the local plan area lists residences as special use, they will require a public hearing. That hearing will take place on April 2.
The property is located south of a large parcel of Forest Service land, as well as near public parcels from the USFS and California Tahoe Conservancy. While the property itself has been private for some time, people have been climbing on the boulders since the 1970s and using the site as an entrance. The parcel contains eight documented boulders and an existing trail. According to the Tahoe Climbing Coalition, “Approval of the project could result in the loss of a historic, heavily used local climbing are and set a concerning precedent for recreation access in the Lake Tahoe Basin.”
Maxwell Dergosits, a board member of the Tahoe Climbing Coalition, told the Tribune that the site was fairly popular. “I know people there who have been climbing at the Pie Shop boulders since the 80s. It’s a great spot to bring beginners or people new to the sport.” The site is also more accessible than other bouldering spots in South Lake Tahoe, as it’s through open forest.
“It’s not just a select few people who climb here, it’s one of the more popular areas, and it’s got a history,” said Dergosits. “With more development there, it could make it less appealing to climb, since people are doing that to get out in nature.”
Plenty of people were surprised to learn that the access point was on private land, and there are concerns that development in the area could make recreation less accessible and set a precedent for more development near Forest Service lands. “It could make it potentially more enticing for the USFS to sell land if housing is built there,” said Dergosits.
The Tahoe Climbing Coalition’s mission is to protect and improve climbing in the Lake Tahoe Basin through mentorship and stewardship. “We want to make sure we’re an organizing point for the community and serve as a conduit for people to put their energy out there,” said Dergosits. “We are not anti-development, and we are interested in reaching out to the homeowners or speaking to the TRPA to express that we want to preserve access there.”
The owners of the parcel responded to the Tribune via email and said the TRPA had made them aware of their concerns and the petition. “As long-time admirers, skiers, hikers and part-time residents of the Lake Tahoe Basin, we feel fortunate to have purchased a beautiful property to call home. This has been a privately owned parcel since at least 1963. We deeply respect the natural beauty of the area, and have spent significant time and resources ensuring our project surpasses the already rigorous environmental and planning standards of El Dorado County and TRPA.”
“We also deeply respect the climbing community and the passion it holds for the Pie Shop Boulders. We have no intention of preventing climbers from passing through our property to access the fully surrounding National Forest and its boulders. Our goal is to be respectful neighbors and to coexist with the recreational culture that makes Tahoe so special to us, and to the climbing community. While we are moving forward with plans for our sustainable home, we are committed to open communication to ensure our private residence is integrated thoughtfully into the landscape and its culture,” they continued.
The property owners will be present at the TRPA public hearing on April 2, and the Tahoe Climbing Coalition mainly wants to ensure that the public has a chance to speak at it. Dergosits said, “This is an opportunity to make your voice heard.”
