If you only see one Tahoe sight, make it Emerald Bay State Park, where the lake’s only island sits surrounded by sheer granite cliffs and sparkling waters.
The park protects the teardrop-shaped cove and a historic, Viking-inspired mansion within, as well as the thundering waterfalls and rocky bluffs sitting 700ft above the sandy shoreline.
Tour an Unexpected Historic Home
Vikingsholm Castle (sierrastateparks.org; adult/child $18/15) is an unexpected architectural treat. Its original owner, Lora Knight, purchased 240 acres around Emerald Bay, including Fannette Island, for a mere $250,000 in 1928. Knight, a wealthy widow, designed it with heavy guidance from her architect nephew. The two traveled across Scandinavia to find inspiration for what would become her dream home, much of which is still visible today. Inside, dragon-carved beams welcome visitors, and most of the home’s furniture was custom-made based on discoveries during their trip. Even without going inside the home, visitors can see Scandi-inspired features on the home’s exterior, including a grass-covered roof on the north side, intricately carved braiding motifs on the triangular eaves, and a cantilevered room made entirely of timber above the stone facade. All play homage to popular design trends in 19th-century Norwegian and Swedish architecture. Tours are run between 10:30am and 4pm daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Walk the Prettiest Trail in Tahoe
A brilliantly scenic trail on Lake Tahoe's western shore, the Rubicon Trail (500ft gain) ribbons along the lake for 4.5 mostly gentle miles, starting at the north end of Vikingsholm Beach. Heading north, you'll pass small, private coves perfect for taking a cooling dip and relaxing in the shade of towering pines. The trail ends at Calawee Cove in DL Bliss State Park, but is often done as an out-and-back. When planning, be sure to account for the 1-mile walk into Emerald Bay along the steep paved path.
Get a Bird's-Eye View
The Upper Eagle Falls hike packs a punch, gaining 150ft of elevation over a 0.5 mile loop. But it’s worth the effort to see the waterfall cascading down granite cliffs toward Emerald Bay. One of the best views is from the footbridge, with the surrounding Sierra Nevada landscape in the background. The Eagle Falls Trailhead begins from a parking area across Rte 89 about 0.2 miles south of the Emerald Bay parking lot, but given how busy the area gets, it's best to just walk if you’ve already found a spot. You can get a view of the smaller but still impressive Lower Eagle Falls on the lake side, directly across from the Upper Eagle Falls parking area.
Paddle to Tahoe's Only Island
Kayaking around Emerald Bay takes a bit more effort than other at rental locations, considering the hike in and the fact that you may have to wait your turn with the first-come, first-served system. But when you get a chance to rent a sit-on-top kayak from Kayak Tahoe (kayaktahoe.com; from $38), you’ll know it was worth the wait. Get a close-up view of Fannette Island, paddle along the shoreline of the former Emerald Bay Resort, or just paddle out to relax in the sun on the calm, color-changing water. Rentals are available from roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, with guided tours available once or twice a week.
