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Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe Guide

08/27/2020 by Kristin Addis 1 Comment

A complete guide to Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, with information on the best spots, best hikes, other activities to do in the area, and camping guide. #EmeraldBay

Emerald Bay State Park in South Lake Tahoe is a dream for hiking, swimming, and catching that sunrise view.

Located on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, North Americaโ€™s largest alpine lake, Emerald Bay is one of the most-loved and most-photographed places in the states.

Itโ€™s beautiful in any season, and when I moved to Reno, this was one of the first parts of Lake Tahoe that I saw. Iโ€™ve been in love ever since! Hereโ€™s some advice from a local on how to best enjoy Emerald Bay:

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Striking Features in Emerald Bay:
  • Hiking Around Emerald Bay:
  • Kayaking and Boating in Emerald Bay:
  • Camping in Emerald Bay:
  • Catching the Sunrise Over Emerald Bay:
  • Read Next:
  • Mt. Tallac Trail Guide
  • The Perfect California Itinerary

Striking Features in Emerald Bay:

Lake Tahoe, and by extension Emerald Bay, has some of the clearest water you can hope to find on planet Earth. Think deep, rich blues, aquamarines, and a hint of emerald too! The colors change as the sun moves in the sky and the wind dances on the waterโ€˜s surface.

One of the first things youโ€™re likely to notice is a little island in the middle of the bay called Fannette. This is Lake Tahoeโ€™s only island and Emerald Bay is its only inlet! Itโ€™s possible to boat and kayak to this island and hang out, provided you Leave No Trace and pack everything out with you that you bring.

Thereโ€™s also the famous Vikingsholm castle, a 38-room mansion built in 1929 by Lora Knight. There are daily tours in the summer of this incredible feat of Scandinavian architecture.

But if youโ€™re like me, you want to enjoy the great outdoorsy stuff when in Lake Tahoe, and Iโ€™ve got you covered for that too!

Hiking Around Emerald Bay:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on May 26, 2020 at 7:17am PDT

My favorite trail for taking in Emerald Bay is the Rubicon Trail. There are many different access points (D.L. Bliss State Park is a popular one) as this is quite a long trail, spanning over 16 miles.

The hike takes place all along the shore of Emerald Bay and beyond, through the sugar pines, ponderosa and Jeffrey Pines, and as the snow is melting, look for bright red snow plants!

If youโ€™re looking for something more challenging, the Bayview hiking trail can be turned into an overnight hike (so youโ€™ll need a permit) and takes you up to Maggie’s Peak and several other gorgeous lakes.

Finally, check out Cascade Falls and Eagle Falls, which are close to Inspiration Point.

Falls is a loose term but it’s cool to see!

Kayaking and Boating in Emerald Bay:

Kayakers, paddle boarders, swimmers, and boaters all share Emerald Bay. It is a no wake zone, so if youโ€™re boating be sure to take it slow and be on the lookout for people in the water. There is no launch area, but the boat in camp is a nice one and if I had a boat, Iโ€™d be camping there! Itโ€™s peaceful bliss.

That brings me to the next exciting thing to do in Emerald Bay, camping!

Camping in Emerald Bay:

There are several campgrounds around the perimeter of Emerald Bay, including the Eagle Point Campground, Emerald Bay State Park, Emerald Bay Boat Camp, Bayview Campground, and Upper Eagle Point Campground. Nearby, you can also stay in D.L. Bliss State Park.

Be sure to checkย parks.ca.govย for more information on the current status of openings and closures in the state park system, or pending current COVID-19 regulations.

If camping is not your scene, there are plenty of Airbnbs in South Lake Tahoe and plenty of casinos with luxury hotels at Stateline, neither of which are too far away.

Catching the Sunrise Over Emerald Bay:

Inspiration Point along Highway 89 to Emerald Bay is one of the famous places to take in Emerald Bay, this time from 600 feet above.

If you continue along 89 youโ€™ll see several other pull-offs as well, giving different views of the bay as you go. This one is my favorite. Canโ€™t make it there for sunrise? No worries, sunset sure is nice there, too.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kristin Addis (@bemytravelmuse) on Jul 15, 2019 at 8:21am PDT

Parts of Highway 89 can be windy and with steep drop-offs, so if youโ€™re the one driving keep your eyes on the road!

When it comes to beautiful parts of Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay is one of many, many gorgeous areas of the lake to explore and appreciate. However its uniqueness as the lake’s only inlet, plus that gorgeous sunrise view, do make for an amazing place to camp, swim, hike, and enjoy.

I hope you love it as much as I do, and please, keep Tahoe blue.

Planning a trip to Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe? Check this complete guide out for the best things to do in the area, local tips, and camping guide. #EmeraldBay

Read Next:

Mt. Tallac Trail Guide

The Perfect California Itinerary

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About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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Comments

  1. Stella Wilson says

    08/31/2020 at 9:11 pm

    I love this blog. I am in love with this beautiful travel destination and all the beautiful photographs. Thanks for sharing your this amazing article with us.

    Reply

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