This year will be different as we are going back to our normal weather patterns. The Lake is rising, and as reported on January 7, the beach trail is still open…just. Be aware that if you start at Granite Bay and go north to Long Bar (where the trail then connects again the Pioneer Express Trail), or hikers and horses that start at Sterling Pointe and go south towards Negro Bar, that soon you may be stopped at the inlet directly down from the Nakao property. This is the first place the trail goes under water, and there is no way around it. The mud there is quite deep and sands sometimes are even deeper, so it isn't advisable to cross.
The beach trail is open to all non-motorized use, but on the upper trail, the Pioneer Express, only foot traffic is allowed - for safety, mt. bikes are not allowed because of steep drop offs and narrowness.