Lake Tahoe

Overview

Gallery

Itinerary

• This marks the start of the leg that leads around the east side of Lake Tahoe on the Nevada side, as you head south along Highway 28 through Incline Village, with spectacular views of the lake, Sierra Nevada Mountains on the California side, and the Carson Range to your left.nnThere is an incredible walking and biking path called the East Shore Trail that runs alongside this part of the lake, which is just brilliant to take advantage of if youu2019re staying around Tahoe for longer than the day.

• This beach is simply stunning. Itu2019s actually got three beachfronts that all have different landscapes and views, with a nature boardwalk that is a must-do! It is a gorgeous, rambling, easy walk full of discovering wildlife creatures and water views for miles in every direction. Pay the entrance fee and park wherever you can. You can walk a path that leads to all three beaches.u00a0nnThe beach furthest south has a sandy beach and very shallow water pretty far out into the lake, making it perfect for stand-up paddleboarding! The middle section of this park is where the Visitor Center is and a really wonderful cafe where you can dine outside overlooking the lake. The two beaches on the north side of the park have those huge boulders that make it so much fun for kids who want to climb, and add such character to your photos.

• From this point, youu2019re heading toward South Lake Tahoe along Highway 50. And this overlook is very popular for those taking wedding and engagement photos. Youu2019ll understand why once you park and walk up the short paved path for the views. Because at the last couple of stops you were close to lake level, and nowu2026.youu2019re high above Lake Tahoe. These panoramic views are just breathtaking!

• Another must-see stop! After approaching Cave Rock and driving through that short tunnel, youu2019re going to want to head down to the shoreline and look straight up at the entire rock formation and cave! It is a marvel, for sure!

• You may not want to pay another entrance fee if youu2019re not planning on beaching it for the day, but you can pull into the entrance, then bear left for the restaurant and general store and park there just to get out for a few minutes and see this gorgeous beach and the forest surrounding it, complete with little log cabins you can rent for lodging.nnBut if you do want to pay the fee and spend a little while at this beach, or make a reservation on the M.S. Dixie Paddlewheeler for a boat ride out on the lake, I canu2019t say I blame you! Thereu2019s volleyball and water activity rentals available from here, too.

• This is another beachfront that is a must-see. The beauty of this beach is astounding. Once you drive down the road itu2019s on, youu2019ll see a wooden fence along the side of the road. So if you donu2019t want to pay to park in the lot, you can turn your car around and find a parking space along the fenceline.nnThen youu2019ll see a beautiful walking path that you can take down to the shoreline of this gorgeous beach. The view from here of all the mountains in the distance that surround the lake, and the soaring trees along the shoreline make the landscape so unusual and glorious!

• Youu2019ll come to Heavenly Village, full of shops and places to eat. Once you park, walk inside the main hotel lobby of Heavenly to purchase tickets if you want to take the gondola ride for heavenly views of the lake.

• Youu2019ll know what street to turn down for the beachfront because of the adorable log cabin General Store on the corner! Stop inside because itu2019s a cozy place and on a chilly day the fire will be going and you can even grab a meal from the little cafe, or shop for some souvenirs.

• Definitely worth a walk-through. Park and take the trails through the old summer estates of the past. The Baldwin Museum, if open, is an old log cabin that you can tour. Some of the other old log cabin mansions on the water are just super cool to walk around, all in the gorgeous forest along the lake.

• The next road from Tallac leads to another visitor center and some nature trails. If youu2019re pressed for time, this is an optional stop that Iu2019d say isnu2019t a priority u2013 unless itu2019s salmon spawning season, in which case you can follow the creek along the Rainbow Trail and watch the bright orange salmon swimming upstream!

• Once you leave Taylor Creek youu2019ll start to climb again until youu2019re at a good 8,000 feet or so above sea level, and u2013 boy oh boy u2013 keep both of your eyes on the road and your wheels on the pavement because if you look over the edge (there are no guardrails) youu2019ll see just how long that drop-off is with the lake way, way down below.nnBut the payoff at the top is an overlook that beats the band! Inspiration Point will give you a jaw-dropping view of Emerald Bay, which lives up to its name u2013 believe me! And youu2019ll also see Fannette Island down below, the only island in all of Lake Tahoe, that sits in the middle of Emerald Bay.

• If youu2019re taking this tour in the spring or early summer, you may want to take the popular Eagle Falls hike that leads up to an amazing waterfall, flowing strong due to the snow melting off of the mountains above it.nnBut if youu2019re visiting toward the end of the summer or in the fall, the waterfalls will be down to a trickle u2013 if that u2013 since all the snow has already melted, in which case you can skip this stop unless you just want a nice hike through a forest. This is one of the few stops on the left side of the road.

• Between the emerald- green bay, the sandy shoreline, that tiny island and the castle itself, the photo opps are stupendous! And the hike to get there is pretty nice, too, full of pocket waterfalls and rugged cliffs rising out of the ground, along a well-worn and wide path.

• Thereu2019s a sweet little Visitor Center that you should stop inside upon arriving at this park, for souvenirs or for some maps and to talk to a ranger or volunteer. Although Shaka Guideu2019s got you covered on directions, it always helps to have a park ranger describe the conditions of The Rubicon Trail and where to park for Balancing Rock. Once youu2019ve stopped inside, weu2019ll driveu00a0 the parku2019s forest to three sights so worth seeing!

• Youu2019re taking what seems like a dirt trail to find the little brown signage alerting you that youu2019re at the short trail leading up to this unique formation that looks like itu2019s going to topple at any second! So see it while you can! Youu2019ll need a selfie, of course :)

• This is a sweet shoreline that you can walk, among those iconic Tahoe boulder formations. But if youu2019re short on time or thereu2019s no parking, itu2019s not a priority to see the beach itself.

• Just past Lester Beach, still inside D.L. Bliss State Park, youu2019ll head up a hill to the very popular Rubicon Trail. Itu2019s super long and you donu2019t need to take the whole thing, but Iu2019d recommend you take it for maybe ten minutes out and back just to see a view of the lake from high up along the cliffs of this trail.nnJust be careful and stick to the path! Thereu2019s also an abandoned lighthouse trail, but thatu2019s a little more challenging and time consuming. Now if you love to hike and you have a whole day to do so, this trail leads all the way to Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm Castle!

• Follow the path along the lake heading south (with the lake to your left) until you see the railroad tracks that head right into the lake! An Instagram-worthy photo if ever there was one! Especially with the clarity of the water, so that you can literally see the tracks almost to the bottom of the lake floor!

• Once you pull into the main lot, look for the tall fire-lookout-type building, and if itu2019s open, you can stop inside this nature center to see the exhibits. But really, what you want to do is either tour the Hellman Ehrman mansion, or really just walk around the estate grounds.nnBut certainly do at least step foot on the back porch of the mansion and check out the lake view from there before heading down that mega-lawn and walking out along the pier over Lake Tahoe!

• This is an absolutely amazing valley to see, and to know that the ski slopes above it are where the Olympics once took place! In the summer or fall, when everything in the valley is green and lush, the verdant view feels like youu2019ve been transported to a land far, far away. And if the gondola is open, take it to the top for the Olympic museum exhibit and Washoe tribe displays!

• Lake Tahoe Dam is a vital engineering marvel situated on the northwest shore of Lake Tahoe, a breathtaking freshwater lake straddling the border of California and Nevada. Built in the early 20th century, the dam serves as a crucial component of the Tahoe Regional Water System, regulating the water levels of the lake and providing various benefits to the surrounding region.

• Commons Beach is a charming lakeside retreat located in Tahoe City, on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This inviting public park offers a sandy beach, picnic areas, and a playground, making it a popular spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. With its stunning lake views and tranquil ambiance, Commons Beach provides a perfect setting for relaxation, recreation, and community gatherings.

• Youu2019ll come to the Watson Log Cabin and Penny Bear! And if you head down the steps from there or down through that parking lot, you can walk out on the public pier over the lake. You can see all the way across to the opposite side for a view of Heavenly Mountain!nnThere are also some wonderful restaurants right along the lake in this town for dining on the waterfront. On the way to our next stop, weu2019ll pass Carnelian Bay. Make a quick stop for a photo if the view grabs your attention, because itu2019s hard to ever tire of the views from every part of the lake loop!

• This is a super popular beach, but if youu2019ve already been to Sand Harbor, then thereu2019s not really a need to pay to stop at Kings Beach. (And if itu2019s a choice between Kings Beach or Sand Harbor, Iu2019d choose Sand Harbor any day over Kings Beach.)nnTheyu2019re similar in that they have gradually deepening shorelines, so the water stays shallow (and thereby warmer) longer than at some of the colder, deep-water beaches around the lake, but the view from here isnu2019t quite as mesmerizing as that of Sand Harbor.nnStill, many people love this beach and town. To me, the town is similar to Tahoe City but with less to offer. So this stop is not highest on the priority list of stops if youu2019re having to pick and choose for timeu2019s sake.

• This is a wide, semi-paved path to an old fire lookout well over 7,000 feet elevation (but remember u2013 youu2019re already pretty high up before you start along the trail so youu2019re not climbing that many feet) for a view overlooking Lake Tahoe that you wonu2019t find anywhere else.

• Thereu2019s an overlook along a hairpin turn out of Incline Village for one last memorable look down at Lake Tahoe.

• Tahoe Meadows South Trail is a scenic hiking path in Lake Tahoe. It winds through picturesque meadows, fragrant forests, and offers stunning views of the lake and mountains. With its gentle terrain and abundant wildlife, this trail provides an immersive experience for nature enthusiasts to connect with the unspoiled beauty of the region.

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

• Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.

• The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.

• Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.

• Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device

• Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting

• Start by 7 a.m. or earlier u2014 parking fills fast, especially in summer

• Many stops charge entry fees in peak summer months u2014 generally $10u2013$15/vehicle per stop

• Best visited spring through fall u2014 not a winter tour due to heavy snow and road closures around the lake

• Stop hours vary u2014 check the Hours of Operation section before heading out

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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