Lake Tahoe
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Lake Tahoe - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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15 Recommendations
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1. Emerald Bay State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)A massive glacier millions of years ago carved this 3-mile-long and 1-mile-wide fjord-like inlet. Famed for its jewel-like shape and colors...
A massive glacier millions of years ago carved this 3-mile-long and 1-mile-wide fjord-like inlet. Famed for its jewel-like shape and colors, the bay surrounds Fannette, Tahoe's only island. Highway 89 curves high above the lake through Emerald Bay State Park; from the Emerald Bay lookout, the centerpiece of the park, you can survey the whole scene. This is one of the don't-miss views of Lake Tahoe. The light is best in mid- to late morning, when the bay's colors really pop.
Hwy. 89, , California, 96150, USA530-525–7232Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 parking fee -
2. Heavenly Gondola
ViewpointWhether you ski or not, you'll appreciate the impressive view of Lake Tahoe from the Heavenly Gondola. Its eight-passenger cars travel from...
Whether you ski or not, you'll appreciate the impressive view of Lake Tahoe from the Heavenly Gondola. Its eight-passenger cars travel from Heavenly Village 2.4 miles up the mountain in 15 minutes. When the weather's fine, you can take one of three hikes around the mountaintop and then have lunch at Tamarack Lodge.
4080 Lake Tahoe Blvd., South Lake Tahoe, California, 96150, USA775-586–7000Sight Details
Rate Includes: $52 -
3. Tallac Historic Site
Historic District/SiteAt this site you can stroll or picnic lakeside year-round, and then in late spring and summer you can also explore three historic estates. The...
At this site you can stroll or picnic lakeside year-round, and then in late spring and summer you can also explore three historic estates. The Pope House is the magnificently restored 1894 mansion of George S. Pope, who made his money in shipping and lumber and played host to the business and cultural elite of 1920s America. The Baldwin Museum is in the estate that once belonged to entrepreneur "Lucky" Baldwin; today it houses a collection of family memorabilia and Washoe Indian artifacts. The Valhalla (valhallatahoe.com), with a spectacular floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, was occupied for years by Walter and Claire Heller (tidbit: after their divorce, each visited the property on alternate weekends, though she held the title). Its Grand Hall, Grand Lawn, and a lakeside boathouse refurbished as a theater, host the summertime Valhalla Art, Music and Theatre Festival of concerts, plays, and cultural activities. Docents conduct tours of the Pope House in summer; call for tour times.
Pope Baldwin Recreation Area Hwy. 89, , California, 96150, USA530-541–5227-late May–mid-Sept.Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, summer guided site walk $5, Pope House tour $10, House and museum closed late Sept.–late May -
4. D.L. Bliss State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)This park takes its name from Duane LeRoy Bliss, a 19th-century lumber magnate. At one time Bliss owned nearly 75% of Tahoe's lakefront, along...
This park takes its name from Duane LeRoy Bliss, a 19th-century lumber magnate. At one time Bliss owned nearly 75% of Tahoe's lakefront, along with local steamboats, railroads, and banks. The park shares 6 miles of shoreline with Emerald Bay State Park; combined the two parks cover 1,830 acres, 744 of which the Bliss family donated to the state. At the north end of Bliss is Rubicon Point, which overlooks one of the lake's deepest spots. Short trails lead to an old lighthouse and Balancing Rock, which weighs 250,000 pounds and balances on a fist of granite. The 4.5-mile Rubicon Trail—one of Tahoe's premier hikes—leads to Vikingsholm and provides stunning lake views. Two white-sand beaches front some of Tahoe's warmest water.
Hwy. 89, , California, 96142, USA530-525–3345Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 per vehicle, day use -
5. Donner Memorial State Park and Emigrant Trail Museum
Park (National/State/Provincial)The park and museum commemorate the 89 members of the Donner Party, westward-bound pioneers who became trapped in the Sierra in the winter of...
The park and museum commemorate the 89 members of the Donner Party, westward-bound pioneers who became trapped in the Sierra in the winter of 1846–47 in snow 22 feet deep. Barely more than half survived, some by resorting to cannibalism. The absorbing Emigrant Trail Museum in the visitor center contains exhibits about the Donner Party, regional Native Americans, and railroad and transportation development in the area. In the park, you can picnic, hike, camp, and go boating, fishing, and waterskiing in summer; winter brings cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on groomed trails.
12593 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, California, 96161, USA530-582–7892-museumSight Details
Rate Includes: $10 parking, day use ($5 in winter), $10 parking, day-use ($5 in winter) -
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6. Ed Z'Berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
Park (National/State/Provincial)Visitors love to hike, swim, and fish in the summer at this park named for a state lawmaker who sponsored key conservation legislation, but...
Visitors love to hike, swim, and fish in the summer at this park named for a state lawmaker who sponsored key conservation legislation, but it's also popular in winter, when a small campground remains open. Eleven miles of cross-country ski and snowshoe trails allow beginners and experienced enthusiasts alike to whoosh through pine forests and glide past the lake. Rangers lead full-moon snowshoe tours from January to March. With 2,000 densely forested acres and nearly 2 miles of shore frontage, this is Lake Tahoe's largest state park.
Hwy. 89, 1 mile south of Tahoma, , California, 96142, USA530-525–7982Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 per vehicle, day use, $10 per vehicle, day-use -
7. Gatekeeper's Museum
Museum/GalleryThis museum preserves a little-known part of the region's history. Between 1912 and 1968 the gatekeeper who lived on this site was responsible...
This museum preserves a little-known part of the region's history. Between 1912 and 1968 the gatekeeper who lived on this site was responsible for monitoring the level of the lake, using a winch system (still used today and visible just outside the museum) to keep the water at the correct level. Also here, the fantastic Marion Steinbach Indian Basket Museum displays intricate baskets from 85 tribes.
130 W. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, California, 96145, USA530-583–1762Sight Details
Rate Includes: $5, Closed Mon.–Wed. early-Sept.–late May -
8. Heavenly Village
Store/MallThis lively complex at the base of the Heavenly Gondola has good shopping, an arcade for kids, a cinema, a brewpub, a skating rink in winter...
This lively complex at the base of the Heavenly Gondola has good shopping, an arcade for kids, a cinema, a brewpub, a skating rink in winter, miniature golf in summer, and the Loft for magic shows and other live entertainment. Base Camp Pizza Co., Azul Latin Kitchen, and Kalani's for seafood stand out among the several restaurants.
1001 Heavenly Village Way, at U.S. 50, South Lake Tahoe, California, 96150, USA -
9. Hellman-Ehrman Mansion
Historic HomeThe main attraction at Sugar Pine Point State Park is the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, a 1903 stone-and-shingle summer home furnished in period style...
The main attraction at Sugar Pine Point State Park is the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, a 1903 stone-and-shingle summer home furnished in period style. In its day the height of modernity, the mansion had electric lights and full indoor plumbing. Also in the park are a trapper's log cabin from the mid-19th century, a nature preserve with wildlife exhibits, a lighthouse, the start of the 10-mile biking trail to Tahoe City, and an extensive system of hiking and cross-country skiing trails. If you're feeling less ambitious, you can relax on the sun-dappled lawn behind the mansion and gaze out at the lake. Purchase tour tickets at the Sugar Pine nature center.
Hwy. 89, , California, 96142, USA530-525–7982-mansion in seasonSight Details
Rate Includes: $10 per vehicle, day use; mansion tour $10, $10 per vehicle, day-use; mansion tour $10 -
10. High Camp
ViewpointRide the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram to this activity hub, which at 8,200 feet commands superb views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains...
Ride the Palisades Tahoe Aerial Tram to this activity hub, which at 8,200 feet commands superb views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. In summer, go for a hike, sit by the pool, or have a cocktail and watch the sunset. In winter you can ski or snow-tube. There's also a restaurant, a lounge, and a small Olympic museum. Pick up trail maps at the tram building.
Aerial Tram Bldg., Palisades Tahoe, Olympic Valley, California, 96146, USA800-403–0206Sight Details
Rate Includes: Aerial Tram, $46 -
11. Kings Beach State Recreation Area
BeachThe north shore's 28-acre Kings Beach State Recreation Area, one of the largest such areas on the lake, is open year-round. The 700-foot-long...
The north shore's 28-acre Kings Beach State Recreation Area, one of the largest such areas on the lake, is open year-round. The 700-foot-long sandy beach gets crowded in summer with people swimming, sunbathing, Jet Skiing, riding in paddleboats, spiking volleyballs, and tossing Frisbees. If you're going to spend the day, come early to snag a table in the picnic area; there's also a good playground. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: sunrise; sunset; swimming; windsurfing.
8318 N. Lake Blvd., Kings Beach, California, 96143, USA530-546–7248Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 parking fee -
12. Taylor Creek Visitor Center
Visitor CenterAt this center operated by the U.S. Forest Service you can visit the site of a Washoe Indian settlement; walk self-guided trails through meadow...
At this center operated by the U.S. Forest Service you can visit the site of a Washoe Indian settlement; walk self-guided trails through meadow, marsh, and forest; and inspect the Stream Profile Chamber, an underground display with windows right into Taylor Creek. In fall you may see spawning kokanee salmon digging their nests. In summer Forest Service naturalists organize discovery walks and evening programs.
Hwy. 89, 3 miles north of junction with U.S. 50, , California, 96150, USA530-543–2674-late May–Oct.Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free -
13. Vikingsholm
Historic HomeThis 38-room estate was completed in 1929 and built as a precise copy of a 1,200-year-old Viking castle, using materials native to the area...
This 38-room estate was completed in 1929 and built as a precise copy of a 1,200-year-old Viking castle, using materials native to the area. Its original owner, Lora Knight, furnished it with Scandinavian antiques and hired artisans to build period reproductions. The sod roof sprouts wildflowers each spring. There are picnic tables nearby and a gray-sand beach for strolling. A steep 1-mile-long trail from the Emerald Bay lookout leads down to Vikingsholm, and the hike back up is hard (especially if you're not yet acclimated to the elevation), although there are benches and stone culverts to rest on. At the 150-foot peak of Fannette Island are the ruins of a stone structure known as the Tea House, built so that Knight's guests could have a place to enjoy afternoon refreshments after a motorboat ride. The island is off-limits from February through mid-June to protect nesting Canada geese. The rest of the year it's open for day use—kayak and paddleboard rentals are available at Emerald Bay State Park's beach.
Hwy. 89, , California, 96142, USA530-525–7232Sight Details
Rate Includes: Day-use parking fee $10; mansion tour $10, Closed late Sept.–late May -
14. Village at Palisades Tahoe
Business DistrictThe centerpiece of Olympic Valley is a pedestrian mall at the base of several four-story ersatz Bavarian stone-and-timber buildings, where you...
The centerpiece of Olympic Valley is a pedestrian mall at the base of several four-story ersatz Bavarian stone-and-timber buildings, where you'll find restaurants, high-end condo rentals, boutiques, and cafés.
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15. Watson Cabin Living Museum
Museum/GalleryIn the middle of Tahoe City sits a 1909 hand-hewn log cabin, the town's oldest structure still on its original site. Now a museum open during...
In the middle of Tahoe City sits a 1909 hand-hewn log cabin, the town's oldest structure still on its original site. Now a museum open during the summer, it's filled with century-old furnishings and many reproductions.
560 N. Lake Blvd., Tahoe City, California, 96145, USA530-583–1762Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Tues.–Wed. and early Sept.–mid-June
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