Hiking

Hiking in Lake Tahoe

With a circumference of 72 miles, Lake Tahoe obviously has a lot of territory to explore on foot. The Tahoe Rim Trail system boasts over 150 miles of trail alone. Add to that the 81 trails in the Desolation Wilderness Area and over a dozen easy hiking trails within Lake Tahoe’s state parks, and you have a hiker’s paradise.

Lake Tahoe hiking trails lead you to alpine lakes, waterfalls, forests, and mountain meadows. Spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe beckon nature-lovers year after year. There are strenuous trails for the die-hard hiker and easier trails for the active family with kids. Paved trails for wheelchairs and strollers, and dirt trails for bikes, horses, and hikers.

But before you plan your hike, get familiar with Lake Tahoe’s geography. If you’re planning on a few hikes in one day, group hikes in similar locations together.

4 Areas in Lake Tahoe

  • South Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • North and West Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • East Shore of Lake Tahoe
  • Carson Pass area of Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails

Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake

  • Location: South Shore / Lake Tahoe
  • Rating: Easy/moderate
  • Duration: 1.5 hours (only 20 minutes to Eagle Falls, which is a popular destination)
  • Trailhead located at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, on highway 89.
  • Permit required. Convenient self-registration station located at trailhead.
  • 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (about 0.25 mile to the waterfall at Eagle Falls).
  • Beautiful up close views of the waterfall and lake. Trail crosses over Eagle Falls on a sturdy steel bridge. Trail climbs 500 feet, and is steep in places, but even young children manage this hike fairly well. Short interpretive loop by the Eagle Falls waterfall offers a sweeping view of Emerald Bay. Eagle Lake has several shady picnic areas (no tables) and is often a favorite spot to take a swim in summertime.

Emerald Bay / Lower Eagle Falls

  • Location: South Shore
  • 2 ½ miles round trip to Lower Eagle Falls. If you want a longer trek, follow the trail past the castle (1.0 mile one way), the falls (1.25 miles), and on to Emerald Bay State Park (2.85 miles one way), or follow the trail north 4.5 miles to D. L. Bliss State Park.
  • Rating: Easy/moderate
  • Duration: 1.5 hours (to Lower Eagle Falls)
  • Along this trail, you can see some of the most scenic views in Lake Tahoe (looking down to Emerald Bay). You will also pass by the Scandinavian mansion home known as Vikingsholm Castle, 1 mile along the trail. A quarter of a mile further is Lower Eagle Falls (1.25 miles from the trailhead). Past the waterfall the trail continues to Eagle Point Campground at Emerald Bay State Park. Beyond this point, the trail meets up with the Rubicon trail, and continues 4.5 miles to D.L. Bliss State Park.
  • As this is a popular hike, come early to get a parking spot.
  • Trailhead located at Vikingsholm parking area. $6 parking fee. To get to this parking area from South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy 50 to the Y junction of Hwy. 50 & Hwy. 89. Take Hwy. 89. Drive 8.7 miles northwest on Hwy. 89. Turn right into the Vikingsholm parking lot.
  • Additional parking: $3 per day parking is available at Eagle Point State Park. From this area, the hike to Lower Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm Castle is longer but less steep. This trail sweeps along Emerald Bay before descending to the Castle and joining the other trail to the Falls. To find this parking lot, follow signs for Day Use Area of Eagle Point State Park.

Glacier Meadow Loop

  • Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe
  • Rating: Very Easy
  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Distance: 0.5 miles
  • This is a short interpretive nature trail that starts and finishes at the Donner Summit Rest area. Signs explain the geological forces that created the landscape.
  • Trailhead location: Pacific Crest Access Trailhead. Follow signs for the Tahoe National Forest Trailhead/Donner Summit/ Pacific Crest Trail area. Park at the Forest Service parking area, which has restrooms and water. You’ll find the Pacific Crest Access Trailhead/Donnor Summit Rest Area by taking the Castle Peak Area/Boreal Ridge Road exit off I-80.
  • Trail use: very heavy. As this is a popular hike, be aware that parking is sometimes difficult to find.

Loch Leven Lakes

  • Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe
  • Rating: Moderate
  • Duration: at least 4 hours
  • 7.8 miles roundtrip to all 3 lakes. First lake is 2.7 miles (one-way) from the trailhead. Middle lake is 0.5 miles further along the trail, and the last of the 3 lakes, High Loch Leven (also called “High Lake”), is 1.2 miles further (3.9 miles from the trailhead, one way). Be aware that distances are approximate; some sources cite High Lake as 10 miles roundtrip.
  • Description: The three beautiful Loch Leven glacial lakes are a favorite destination for hikers. Clear blue and sprinkled with islands, the lakes beckon swimmers in hot summer months. If you want to escape the crowds, plan on going to at least the second of the two lakes. Anglers enjoy fishing the lakes, and lakeside camping is permitted at all of the lakes.
  • Trailhead: Coming from Soda Springs on I-80, take the Big Bend/Rainbow Rd. exit. Go west for 1 mile on Hampshire Rocks Road until you come to the trailhead parking area. The parking lot is 1/8 mile east of the Big Bend Visitor Center and ½ mile west of Rainbow Lodge. The trailhead is located across the street from the parking lot.
  • Trail Use: Heavy

Lower Lola Montez Lake

  • Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe
  • Distance: 6.6 miles roundtrip
  • Rating: Moderate
  • Elevation: 6640-7200 feet
  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Elevation gain: 500 feet
  • Trailhead location: Coming from I-80 (west of Truckee), take the Soda Springs/Norden exit. Cross over the overpass to the north side of the freeway. Continue east 0.3 miles until you get to the parking lot.
  • The scenic trail to Lower Lola Montez Lake takes you through alpine meadows to an unusually warm lake (for an alpine lake) that’s a good fishing spot and has ok fishing. Since most of the trail goes through private property, hikers are asked to stay on the trail. It’s often a popular spot because it’s such an easy trail.
  • Trail use: medium (also used by bikers; can be very busy during summer months)

Marlette Lake

  • Location: East Shore/ Lake Tahoe
  • Distance: 9 miles roundtrip
  • Rating: Moderate
  • Duration: 5 hours
  • Elevation gain: 700 feet
  • Trailhead location: Coming from the junction of Hwy. 50 and Hwy. 28, take 28 0.6 mile north to Spooner Lake/Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park entrance. Park in the day-use lot ($6 fee for day parking).
  • Now that bikers and hikers have their own trails for this scenic piece of country, the hike to Marlette Lake is much more relaxing. (Up until 2005, bikers used to share this trail to get to the popular Flume trail). The bikers and hikers separate 0.7 miles along the trail, with hikers taking the newer, narrower North Canyon Road Trail. Most of the trail is a gentle climb past some of the best wildflower displays in Lake Tahoe. Near the end of the trail, it descends steeply to Marlette Lake. The lake has good picnicking spots, and swimming is also popular here. Fishing isn’t allowed at Marlette Lake, as it’s a fish hatchery.
  • Trail use: medium (first part of the trail also used by bikers; can be very busy during summer months)

Rubicon Trail

  • Location: South Shore/ Lake Tahoe
  • Distance: 5.5 miles one way (check to see if the Tahoe Trolley is shuttling hikers between trailheads the day of your hike: Lake Tahoe Transit or 800.736.6365)
  • Rating: Moderate
  • Elevation: 6640-7200 feet
  • Duration: 2.5 hours
  • Elevation gain: 500 feet
  • This shoreline trail offers sweeping views of Lake Tahoe, mostly from far above the shore itself. The trail runs between large trailheads at 2 state parks: Emerald Bay State Park and D. L. Bliss State Park. The trail skirts the Lake, climbing up 500 feet along the 5.5 miles of the trail. The trail offers beautiful views of Tahoe’s rocky shores, sparkling water, and sunny coves. Most hikers coordinate a shuttle ride from the beginning of the trailhead to the end of it (by parking one car at one trailhead, then driving another car to the other trailhead). Or, during summer months, hikers take the Tahoe Trolley shuttle back to their car at the end of the hike. Points of interest include Emerald Point, Vikingsholm Castle, and Rubicon Point. From the D. L. Bliss State Park trailhead, there is also a trail leading to the first lighthouse built in Lake Tahoe, the Rubicon Point Lighthouse, which has been rebuilt and restored.
  • Trail use: heavy (can be very busy during summer months)
  • Trailhead location: the Rubicon trail runs between the 2 Rubicon trailheads: one is near Vikingsholm/Eagle Falls/Eagle Lake at Emerald Bay State Park. The other Rubicon trailhead is at D. L. Bliss State Park, accessed from the Calawee Cove Beach parking lot.
  • $5 State Park access fee.
  • For more information, contact D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay State Parks: (530) 525-7277.

Squaw Creek and Shirley Lake

  • Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe (in Squaw Valley Ski Resort)
  • Distance: 2.5 to 5 miles roundtrip, depending on your route
  • Rating: Moderate
  • Elevation: 6640-7200 feet
  • Duration: 1-3 hours
  • Summertime heat in Lake Tahoe makes swimming spots like Squaw Creek popular hiking destinations. Wildflower meadows, rushing water, and shady pines make this an oasis for many travelers. You can hike the 2.5-mile trail past swimming holes, waterfalls, and alongside Squaw Creek to Shirley Lake. If you’re going all the way to Shirley Lake, it gets somewhat steep and strenuous in places — it gains about 1,500 feet in elevation. Shorter hiking options include a quick hike in to one of the swimming holes or waterfalls, where picnics are common. If you’re going on this trail, you can also opt for a 4.0-mile downhill-only hike by taking Squaw Valley’s gondola ride up to High Camp ($14-$19 fee). The trailhead from the top of the gondola ride (High Camp) leads first to the small Shirley Lake (1.5 miles) and on through Shirley Canyon back to the ski area parking area (another 2.5 miles). Dogs on a leash are permitted.
  • Trail use: light-medium (can be very busy during summer months)
  • Trailhead location: Once you’ve arrived at Squaw Valley Ski Resort, make a right hand turn onto Squaw Peak Road. Follow the road until it merges into Squaw Peak Way. At this junction, park somewhere alongside the road. If you are going to ride the gondola ride up and do a 4 mile one-way hike down the mountain, just park in the ski area parking lot. Purchase tickets for the gondola ride up to High Camp, where trailheads begin.

Vikingsholm Castle

  • Location: South Shore
  • Rating: Easy/moderate
  • Distance: 1.0 mile hike down to Vikingsholm Castle (2.0 miles round trip)
  • Vikingsholm often the busiest mini-hike in the South Lake Tahoe area, so come early to get a parking spot!
  • Duration: 1 hour or less (not including tour of Castle)
  • Vikingsholm Castle is a mansion house built in the 1920s. 30-minute tours of Vikingsholm are available mid-June through September for $5 per person ($3 for youth 6-17, 6 and under free). The 1-mile walk to the castle is a steep 500 feet change in elevation, which can be a surprisingly hot walk in the midday sun, particularly when going uphill, on the way back to the parking lot. The trail continues past Vikingsholm Castle 0.25 miles to the base of Lower Eagle Falls, and past the waterfalls the trail continues to Eagle Point Campground at Emerald Bay State Park. Beyond this point, the trail meets up with the Rubicon trail, and continues 4.5 miles to D.L. Bliss State Park.
  • Trailhead located at Vikingsholm parking area. $6 parking fee. To get to this parking area from South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy 50 to the Y junction of Hwy. 50 & Hwy. 89. Take Hwy. 89. Drive 8.7 miles northwest on Hwy. 89. Turn right into the Vikingsholm parking lot.
  • Additional parking: $3 per day parking is available at Eagle Point State Park. Hiking to Vikingsholm Castle from this parking area lengthens the walk to 1.7 miles, but it isn’t as steep. This trail sweeps along Emerald Bay before descending to the Castle. Other trails leading to Eagle Falls and beyond can also be accessed from the Eagle Point State Park parking area. To find this parking lot, follow signs for Day Use Area of Eagle Point State Park.
  • Arriving by boat: Vikingsholm Castle offers no public boat service, but has a dock available for private boats. Loading and unloading only. A bay is available for beaching boats.

Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails Resources

visit the US Forest Service Hiking Tahoe Website

visit the Tahoe Rim Trail website

Recommended reading: Moon Tahoe, by Ann Marie Brown. Published by Moon Handbooks. September 2006. Avalon Travel Publishing. 1400 65th Street, Suite 250, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.