Tahoe Beaches
Baldwin
Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson
Baldwin Beach is located 4 miles from the city of South Lake Tahoe on State Highway 89. Baldwin Beach is known for its beautiful sandy beach that stretches for approximately one-half mile with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada Mountains. Recreation opportunities include swimming and picnicking. The beach is also a popular launching point for kayakers heading to Emerald Bay. Kayak rentals are available on-site. The beach is located on National Forest land and is managed by the concessionaire Tahoe Recreation, a division of California Land Management. Entry fee required.
Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson
Camp Richardson Resort beach stretches for one-quarter mile and offers great views of Cave Rock, Heavenly Mountain Resort and the East Shore. Music and cocktails are available at The Beacon Bar and Grill. Hot Dog & Snow Cone stand available at the Marina. Boat, jet ski, kayak, SUP, peddle boats, and more are available for rent. Rum Runner Cruises depart twice daily to Emerald Bay and back. Buoys rentals and additional marina service are also available. Easy walking trails and a paved bike trail are located at the adjacent Tallac Historic Site. The historic building, Valhalla, is located directly on the adjacent property and offers music, theater and art events during the summer months. Entry fee required
Pope
Camp Richardson
Timber Cove
Pope Beach is located on National Forest land and is approximately three-quarter miles long with a sandy beach, excellent swimming and picnicking opportunities and incredible views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada. Kayak rentals and a food concession are available on site. Pope Beach is easily accessible by bicycle via the Pope/Baldwin Bike Path. No dogs are allowed. Entry fee required.
Timber Cove
Round Hill Pines
Timber Cove
Timber Cove Marina offers parasailing, Tahoe Thunder High Speed boat rides, Windsong Sailing Yacht Tour, Jet Ski Rentals, Boat Rentals, SUP rentals and more! During the summer months there is the Tiki bar operation on the beach for the 21+ beach goers to enjoy an adult beverage on the beach. Free access with limited parking.
Nevada Beach
Round Hill Pines
Round Hill Pines
Nevada Beach is located on National Forest land and offers one-half mile of beautiful sandy beach with panoramic views of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding Sierra Nevada. Swimming, picnicking and just enjoying the view are popular activities. Kayak rentals and a food concession available onsite. Large group pavilion is available for rent. Entry fee required.
Round Hill Pines
Round Hill Pines
Round Hill Pines
Round Hill Pines Beach Resort is located on National Forest land and is one-half mile long with views of Mt. Tallac, Emerald Bay and the West Shore. It's a family-friendly beach with a beach bar, snack bar, weddings/group facilities and catering. Recreation opportunities include boat, jet ski, kayak, SUP's, and bike rentals, parasailing, Tahoe Serenity Cruises and pedal boats. Entry fee required.
Zephyr Cove
Zephyr Cove
Zephyr Cove
Zephyr Cove Resort beach is located on National Forest land on Lake Tahoe's southeast shore and is a full-service resort with a restaurant, beach bar and grill and a general store. Summer recreation activities include boating, parasailing, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding and beach volleyball courts. The resort is also home to the M.S. Dixie ll paddlewheeler which offers year-round, narrated cruises to Lake Tahoe's Emerald Bay.
Tahoe Hiking Spots
Mount Tallac (9.5 mi round trip)
Mount Tallac is one of the more difficult hikes in South Lake Tahoe, but worth the view at the top. From the top of this 9.5 mile round trip hike you can see Emerald Bay, Cascade Lake, Fallen Leaf Lake, Desolation Wilderness and the entire South Shore of Lake Tahoe.
Directions: The Mount Tallac trailhead is located on Highway 89 between Camp Richardson and Emerald Bay. Take the Mount Tallac Road to the trailhead.
Eagle Falls & Eagle Lake Trail (2 mi round trip)
his is a very popular hiking and parking area in the summer, so get there early. The trail up to Eagle Lake is only one mile up, but the initial part of the trail is steep and rocky. However, about halfway up, you will get some stunning views of Emerald Bay. Eagle Lake itself is really beautiful and this trail will give you access to additional hiking in the Desolation area.
Directions: From South Lake Tahoe drive West on Highway 89 towards Emerald Bay. At the overlook for Emerald Bay, look for the signs for the Eagle Falls trailhead/Desolation Wilderness parking area. The parking fills up quickly in the summer and fall, so get there early.
Echo Lakes to Ralston Lake (6 mi round trip)
This trail is another way to access Desolation Wilderness, but if you want to keep it simple, just stick to the first part with its low elevation gain. From the Echo Chalet on Lower Echo Lake you can either start hiking on the trail that heads into Desolation, or take a water taxi across Lower Echo Lake to get a head start on the trail. The trail has some beautiful views of the mountains in Desolation and access to the cool, beautiful alpine lakes of Tamarack and Ralston.
Directions: The trailhead is located on Highway 50 at Echo Summit. Turn onto Johnson Pass Road. Stay left and the road will lead you to the parking area by Lower Echo Lake.
Rubicon Trail - West Shore
Located on the south shore between D.L. Bliss State Park and Emerald Bay, this long but fairly easy trail gives you some great views of the blue water from the sheer drop along a large portion of it, and access to some nice little swimming coves. From D.L. Bliss, the trail takes you to Emerald Bay and the Vikingsholm Castle around the bay to Eagle Point.
Directions: The trailhead can be accessed from the Emerald Bay Boat-In campground on the south end or from Lester Beach at D.L. Bliss on the north end.
Mount Rose (10 mi round trip) - North Lake Tahoe
As one of the tallest peaks in the Lake Tahoe area, Mount Rose towers over Reno and the North Shore of the lake. The trailhead is located at the highest year-round pass in the country (8,900 feet) on Highway 431 and climbs to 10,776 feet. The 10 mile round trip hike initially meanders through forest and meadows and then turns into more vertical, rocky terrain as you hit the switchbacks near the top. On a clear day at the top, you'll be able to see Reno and Sparks, Carson City, the Tahoe Basin, and the Boca and Stampede reservoirs. You may even be able to see Mount Lassen in Northern California.
Directions: The Mount Rose trailhead begins at the top of the Mount Rose Summit on Highway 431. From Incline Village, drive West on Highway 28 til the 28/431 interchange and turn right onto Highway 431.
Cascade Falls Trail (1.5 mi round trip)
Cascade is probably one of the best short hikes you can do in the Emerald Bay area. It is only 1.5 miles round trip from the Bayview Campground. Stepped out along the rocks, the trail will lead you to the top of the falls with great views of Cascade Lake and, of course, Lake Tahoe! The waterfall is about 200 feet and is very impressive. This is one of the most popular in the area, so parking will be difficult.
Directions: Take Hwy 89 north from the Hwy 50 junction for 7.5 miles to the Bayview Campground. Parking is in the back past the campsites.