West of Lake Tahoe, this mountainous park contains the formidably named Desolation Wilderness within its boundaries.
El Dorado National Park
South Lake Tahoe & Stateline
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
9.32 MILES
Sheer granite cliffs and a jagged shoreline hem in glacier-carved Emerald Bay, a teardrop cove that will have you digging for your camera. Its most…
25.65 MILES
Just 12 miles north of Carson City off Hwy I-580, almost halfway to Reno, you'll find this fabulous regional park with manicured gardens perfect for…
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
14.39 MILES
The largest, and arguably most luxurious of the state parks at Lake Tahoe, Ed Z’Berg Sugar Pine State Park (formerly known as Sugar Pine State Park), sits…
6.3 MILES
Three 1920s-era estates – Baldwin, Pope and Valhalla – sprawl across this 150-acre site on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Free, self-guided tours wind…
18.71 MILES
Housed inside the 1869 US Mint building, the Nevada State Museum generally hosts one visiting exhibition to complement its four excellent permanent…
9.08 MILES
Swoon-worthy views of Emerald Bay, as the camera-wielding crowds testify.
9.53 MILES
Heiress Lora Knight's quirky mansion on the bay, Vikingsholm Castle is the focal point of Emerald Bay State Park, and a rare example of ancient…
25.66 MILES
Good for hikes in summer and skiing and snowshoeing in winter; there's also a sledding hill.
Nearby South Lake Tahoe & Stateline attractions
1.97 MILES
Soar to the top of the world as you ride this gondola, which sweeps you from Heavenly Village to some 2.4 miles up the mountain in just 12 minutes. From…
2. Lake Tahoe Historical Society Museum
2.5 MILES
This small but interesting museum displays artifacts from Tahoe’s pioneer past, including Washoe tribal baskets, vintage black-and-white films, hoary…
6.3 MILES
Three 1920s-era estates – Baldwin, Pope and Valhalla – sprawl across this 150-acre site on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe. Free, self-guided tours wind…
4. Mormon Station State Historic Park
6.98 MILES
The Mormon Station State Historic Park displays pioneer-era artifacts and has a wonderfully green lawn out front, perfect for taking a little lie down on…
6.99 MILES
The Genoa Courthouse Museum contains the original jail and a collection of woven Washoe baskets, along with exhibits on the famous Pony Express, which had…
8.88 MILES
Panoramic Hope Valley, ringed by Sierra Nevada peaks that may remain dusted with snow even in early summer, is home to wildflowers, meadows and burbling…
9.08 MILES
Swoon-worthy views of Emerald Bay, as the camera-wielding crowds testify.
9.19 MILES
This uninhabited granite speck in Emerald Bay State Park is Lake Tahoe’s only island. It holds the vandalized remains of a tiny 1920s teahouse belonging…