10 Most Amazing Things to See and Do in Lake Tahoe in 2024
Last Updated on March 12, 2024
10 Most Amazing Things to Do and See in Lake Tahoe
Beaches
Lake Tahoe is home to many spectacular shorelines with shimmering waters and delicate sands. Unlike sea beaches, the beaches of Lake Tahoe are surrounded by gentler waves, making them perfect for paddling or kayaking.Â
Arguably the most popular beach destination in Lake Tahoe, these quiet waters gleam emerald in the summer. Sand Harbor is framed in trees and boulders, making it a perfect spot for nature viewing all around Lake Tahoe.Â
Sand Harbor Beach
You can find this little slice of heaven off Highway 28, near the Incline Village. You’ll need to get there before early noon if you want to find a suitable parking space, and there’s a $15 fee for parking in the area.Â
In the nearby Incline Village, you can rent out a kayak or boat to explore the harbor more thoroughly. Clearly Tahoe especially had many great kayaking options, with their kayaks being transparent from the bottom half. You can see through the crystal clear waters right below your feet! It’s $100 per person for their tours, and they drive you out to the beach before guiding you through Bonsai Rock for a magical trip over the waters.
If you’re going kayaking, I recommend visiting early in the morning just after the sun starts shining in the water. The sunlight glitters on each wave and pierces down into the turquoise waters.Â
The view above the Sand Harbor waters
South of Sand Harbor is a humble cove decorated in rocks and boulders, featuring brilliant panoramic views of the lake. It’s hidden behind a narrow trail downwards, but it’s one of the best places to lie down and soak the sunlight streaming down onto the waters. Bear in mind that it’s a clothing-optional beach as well, though most people explored the beach fully clothed while I was there.
This beach harbors incredibly aesthetic, round boulders that dot around the waters. You can climb up on these rocks to take in more of the scenery or snap pictures from afar. There are also hikes around the area that can take you to some of the best beaches in Lake Tahoe.Â
There’s a lot you can do and explore in Zephyr Cove. The beach has a mile-long resort with boat and jet-ski rentals, barbecues, concession stands, picnic areas, and even fishing and camping sites. You can find this cove southeast of Lake Tahoe, and there’s a parking and entry fee that varies depending on the season.
Forests & Mountains
Beyond the sandy beaches, Lake Tahoe is surrounded by lush forests and towering mountainscapes. Whether you’re a hiker or a nature lover, the lake has much more to offer than water-side festivities. Here are some of my favorite areas to visit outside the beaches!Â
Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range
The Sierra-Nevada Mountain Range overlooks Lake Tahoe at over ten thousand feet, and it’s quite a sight to behold from down below. Last summer, I had the opportunity to ride up this vast mountain range through the Heavenly Mountain Gondola, and looking down from such heights was breathtaking. You can take the gondola from 4080 Lake Tahoe Boulevard at South Lake Tahoe, and it costs $69 for adults and $34 for kids.
You’ll also want to stop mid-way through your journey to the top as soon as you see an observation deck. The deck offers great views of Lake Tahoe from above and even has a nice little resting area where you can drink some coffee from Cafe Blue.
Lake Tahoe from the first Heavenly Gondola stop
Once you get to the top of the mountain range, the Heavenly Mountain Resort gives you a wide variety of activities you can try out depending on the season. During my time in the summer, I got to try out the Hot Shot Zip Line, which sent you on a thrilling zip down through the mountain range’s ephemeral nature landscape. I got to try summer tubing too, where you get to slide down 500 feet through a fun little tube. There are also plenty of hiking trails to choose from along the mountains.
In the winter, the resort also offers skiing and snow tubing options, making it quite welcoming for any type of visitor throughout the year. The mountain range itself is a fantastic place to wander around in Lake Tahoe, easily one of the most photogenic natural wonders in the area.
Emerald Bay glimmers like a gem in Lake Tahoe, and it’s a major spot all travelers should visit if they ever come across Lake Tahoe. The Emerald Bay State Park stretches over 1,500 acres around the Emerald Bay and has some of Lake Tahoe’s most significant landmarks and destinations. It also has numerous hiking trails to choose from. Overall, it’s a beautiful park with views of the lake that will leave you speechless.
You can enter the Emerald Bay State Park through Highway 89, where you’ll find parking space along the route. Emerald Bay itself and many other landmarks in the area are only accessible by foot or by private boat. I highly recommend taking the Rubicon Trail to the Bay, especially during the summer and fall. The views along the 16.4-mile hike are to die for.
Emerald Bay & Fannette Island
Sunrise and sunset are some of the best times to take pictures in the park. The clear green waters of the bay contrasted with the distant Fannette Island make for dramatic pictures no matter which angle you take them from. My favorite spot was an unnamed view on a small parking spot along the road at 38.94900° N, 120.10930° W. On the road surrounding Emerald Bay, you’ll also find breathtaking views of the Emerald Bay Vista Point and Inspiration Point, so don’t forget to make stops for pictures! Â
Emerald Bay & Fannette Island at sunrise
If you’re interested in historical architecture, Emerald Bay also has a unique attraction bringing the fairytale castles of Scandinavia to the forests of California: VIkingsholm.
Vikingsholm
Vikingsholm
Named after the mythical ancient people of Scandinavia, Vikingsholm stands out in the rocky mountains and rolling hills of California. It’s America’s greatest example of Scandinavian architecture, and it comes off as a little peculiar considering the setting.Â
This former summer house was built in the 1920s to 1930s by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who thought the vast forests and glittering waters of Emerald Bay resembled the fjords of Scandinavia. The rough stonework, rounded rooftop, and sturdy wooden walls all evoke the feeling of living in a Viking settlement, and it also blends perfectly into the nature around it.
You can find this quaint castle near the north of Emerald Bay, where you’ll have to hike for around one mile from the Highway 89 parking lot to reach it. It also has many of the best viewpoints of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, and the distant Fannette Island. Visiting it, you’ll get the sense that Mrs. Knight had a brilliant eye for scenery when she first commissioned this historical house.
Cave Rock Viewpoint
Located over one the tallest points beside Lake Tahoe, Cave Rock is very easy to reach and has my favorite view of the lakeside. It’s a relatively easy 0.8-mile hike up the trail to the top, and you can even climb the rocks to sit on the peaks of the cave rock. You can find this glimmering view just a little bit off Highway 50.
Cave Rock itself also has a fascinating history and origin you might want to uncover if you have the time. The Cave Rock State Park offers a lot of different activities to explore these ancient paths, including taking boat trips to admire the caves alongside the rock.Â
Spooner Lake
On the east side of Lake Tahoe is the wide acres surrounding Spooner Lake, a major section of the Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park. It’s a quiet lakeside with calm waters and unique flora growing from its shores. Surrounding it is a vast backcountry with multiple activities to choose from, including hiking, biking, camping, and fishing. You can even ski around this area in the winter!
Waterfalls
California’s waterfalls tend to dry out in the summer, but Lake Tahoe’s bountiful location allows many waterfalls to flow even well into August. Whether you’re planning to visit the lakeside next summer or waiting for the rush of water in spring, Lake Tahoe’s waterfalls are must-visit destinations.
The trail to Eagle Falls is a moderate hike in a short 0.6-mile-long trip, and it brings you to a quaint waterfall positioned amidst rocky terrain and evergreens. Travelers can rest alongside the boulders and cliffs to admire the Falls from afar. The more adventurous may be interested in climbing up the top to walk along the log bridge over the stream. Â
Eagle Lake lies ahead beyond the falls, and if you have the energy, you can pick up the trail and hike another mile to see its glassy waters.Â
Eagle Falls
Cascade Falls
Towering over 200 feet above the cliffsides of Emerald Bay, Cascade Falls takes a short 2-mile round trip hike to capture one of Lake Tahoe’s best views. The magnificent waterfall floods graciously down into a sea of trees, leading towards the stunning Cascade Lake.Â
The Cascade Falls trail is one of the most popular destinations in Lake Tahoe, so you’ll probably have a lot of hiking companions to accompany you along the trip. You can find the main trail at the Bayview Trailhead behind the Bayview Campground. There should also be a longer trail walking toward the bottom of the falls, but I didn’t have the chance to see it on my trip there. The views I did find were still spectacular!
Glen Alpine Falls
Tucked behind a narrow road, Glen Alpine Falls is one of Lake Tahoe’s brightest hidden gems. The little-known waterfall rests over red sand and stone, flowing down in multiple streams and shimmering in the summer.Â
To visit this area, you’ll need to take a 20-minute drive on Fallen Leaf Road on Highway 89, and it does go through the camping grounds. Remember to bring some waterproof boots and trousers along the way, as the roads can be a little flooded in the spring when the snow melts!
Driving to Lake Tahoe
If you’re heading from the south to Lake Tahoe, be sure to check your map and find Highway 395. It holds some of the best sceneries to drive past from Bishop to Lake Tahoe. The highway runs past towering mountains over the horizon, accompanied by acres of farmland and green forests.
It’s the most popular route to and from Lake Tahoe and has a lot of fantastic stops along the way if you’re not in a rush. You can stop by Mono Lake, Crowley Lake, the Hot Creek Geologic Site, the little ghost town of Bodie, and many others. I had a fantastic time driving through this route, which you can see in my reel!
On the other hand, if you’re heading out from San Francisco specifically, you might want to try Highway 80. The interstate route goes through the Sierra Nevada and has beautiful views of the mountains as well. It’s especially interesting in the fall, as you may want to stop by Placerville in the foothills of the mountains. There, you’ll find Apple Hill, a sleepy agricultural community where you can wander around farmlands, taste the vineyards, or admire the bountiful pumpkin patches.Â
In the springtime, Highway 50 is also a great route to take to Lake Tahoe. This route passes through the splendid Folsom Lake, a wide expanse just 30 minutes away from Sacramento. I visited it during the season and was taken aback by the scenery around me. Lavender lupines bloom in this season, and it’s a marvelous stop on a long trip to Lake Tahoe.Â
