Emerald Bay State Park

We camped the boat-​in campground and had a great time. We had a lot of questions going in, so hopefully I can answer some for others:
–We put in at Tahoe Keys. They stored our trailer as well. Total cost for three days was $ 80 (in/​our boat launch fee and storage fees). You also need a boat inspection ($ 30) off Hwy 50 in South Lake.
–There is a pier at the camp site you can tie off on for loading/​unloading, from there each camp site is allocated one buoy to tie off on.
–The camp host is great, but when he is gone/​off, the rangers are supposed to fill in for him, and we never saw any. You can buy firewood for $ 9/​bundle, gathering wood is prohibited.
–No showers but the bathrooms are decent.
–If you kayak, there are storage racks on the beach.
–From 6−9am (before the day visitors and boats arrive), it is a different world as the entire bay is empty and quiet.
The campground is gorgeous and there is a great little beach as well. The sites are private and large, and each has a large bear locker, fire barrel, charcoal grill, and picnic table.
The pier became the gathering site at night; adults drank a beer and all the kids took turns catching crawfish. I bough a cheap crawfish trap and did crawdad boils every day, they were great.
The walk to Emerald Bay beach/​Vinkingsholm is an easy one-​mile hike, from there you can buy an ice cream or hike up to the water fall (short walk).
The most striking thing to see was the number of no-​shows. This campground fills up fast and reservations are hard to come by, yet at least half (more like ²⁄₃) of the rsvp sites were empty.
If you don’t bring a kayak, then rent one as the short paddle to the island is a must. You can tie off and hike to the old castle-​looking tea room.

Awesome park and hike! Most beautiful hike I have done. Park awesome and clean. Can’t wait to come back

Emerald Bay gets it’s name for obvious reasons. It rivals the Emerald City in it’s emerald-​ness. It was about a 20 minute drive from our hotel in Lake Tahoe. My photography obsessed boyfriend wanted to come to get some nice pics of the sunset. I was happy to come along for the ride. We found a large rock to sit on to enjoy the view. If you’re looking for something free to do in Lake Tahoe you should check it out.

If you are visiting Tahoe, please do yourself a favor and go see Emerald Bay. It is absolutely gorgeous. You get great views from the highway but taking some time to pull over and really enjoy the view is well worth it.
Emerald Bay is one of the most iconic views of Lake Tahoe. The water is usually more calm since it is in a bit of a wind shadow. When the sun rises or sets, the bay catches some lovely colors on the water. Overall, it is breathtaking.
Not only does Emerald Bay offer great views, but there are some great hikes for all fitness levels around the area. Check out Eagle Falls or even hike down to Emerald Bay. Tours are offered at Vikingsholm during the summer months. (
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It is worth the drive up for the picture. The scenery is beautiful.

If you have to choose between visiting this place and any other in Lake Tahoe, I would say choose this. It is beautiful, scenic and heavenly. It has breathtaking views of the lake and the surrounding mountains just add to the view. The drive can be bit tricky (well, it is up in the hills so obviously but you can never be too careful. We didn’t plan for the sunrise but I assume the sunrise would be lovely from here since it covers the east and west side of the lake.
Drive safe and enjoy the views. It is worth the drive. Vikingsholm is located at the head of the Emerald bay (it was closed when we visited).

The view is absolutely breathtaking. Worth coming just for the scenic picture! Just make sure it’s a clear day out otherwise you won’t be able to see anything! We didn’t find the parking lot that everyone was talking about, and I had trouble finding the spot that seems to be the picture area. But we just drove around and were able to park off the side of the road and still have a great view!
If you’re in South Lake Tahoe, you MUST come here!

I don’t know what to say about Emerald Bay. Lake Tahoe in general is one of my favorite travel destinations because of its small town charm and cabin in the woods type of architecture. The beauty of Lake Tahoe needs no justification. Lake Tahoe is definitely a must see for any travel buff.
Now, let’s talk Emerald Bay. This little slice of heaven was at the front of God’s Natural Beauty line indeed. To have Eagle Falls cascading down the side of the cliff while gazing upon the blue lake and crescent shaped shore situated around the beautiful Fannette Island was truly an awe inspiring event. God’s artistry is without match.

It seems like everytime we go to tahoe we always go to emerald bay. The neat thing is the view is never the same. It could be cloudy, raining, snowing, morning, noon or dusk.
Each view is different. The only thing that does not change is the natural beauty.
We were there on a cool crisp fall day with a totally clear blue sky.
The only negative is the tre traffic both foot and car, but that comes with the most photographed area in lake tahoe

Heaven on Earth.
That pretty much describes all of Lake Tahoe, but this spot, on the western most tip of the bay, is where I am convinced the angels stop to rest.
Some of the best views and photo opportunities are along the highway that bends along the west side of the bay. Inspiration Point and Vikingsholm both have facilities and informational signs and parking. You do need to pay $ 10 to park there, but it is the honor system. Be a good person and help keep the parks open and maintained. They also get really full, so coming earlier especially in the busy summer season is prudent.
The hike down to Vikingsholm is worth the trip, but the climb back out is very strenuous and not recommended if you have health issues. It is 1 mile down and 5 miles up. There is a very nice beach and boat dock and kayaks/​canoes are available for rent. There are also guided tours of the Swedish style home.
A path runs along the highway from Vikingsholm to Eagle Falls Trailhead. This offers you most excellent opportunities for admiring and photographing the spectacular view without getting squished by campers.
This is an area not to be missed when visiting Lake Tahoe.

A beautiful view of the Lake on a clear day! The drive here was a little longer than expected because of construction, but the view is beautiful– especially around the vista point! I parked here at the Vikingsholm trailhead (come early, before 11 AM for better chances at finding parking), and paid $ 10 for daily parking.
First we took pictures from the top of the trail, meeting tourists from New Zealand (kiwis!) and graciously exchanging group pictures. Next we went down the very easy Vikingsholm trail (only 1 mile), especially since the first part was downhill. There are some nice stopping places with benches and mini-​waterfalls. My friend couldn’t help but sing «Colors of the Wind» as we walked along the tall pine trees on the concrete paved path.
Once you reach the bottom there is a beach and pier! The Vikingsholm house tours are closed after summer, but there’s still a nice picnic area and kayak/​paddleboat rentals (that close around 4 PM). The single kayak/​paddleboard was $ 25/​hr, $ 40 – 45 for 2, while the double was $ 35/​hr, $ 55 for 2). The kayak/​paddleboard is the only way to get to the island, which offers a mini-​trail and a teahouse with a great view!
Overall you could easily spend 1/3−½ of the beginning of a day at Tahoe here, and stop by Camp Richardson or Taylor Creek on your way back to South Lake Tahoe. A lot of fun that is easily accessible and great views of the lake and on it!

Emerald Bay is my favorite part of the lake. The view from the ridge looking down at the island is amazing. The Vikingsholm trail is great. $ 10 to park in the small lot, and it’s one mile down to the bottom. There’s not a lot of shade on the trail until you get to the bottom, so be careful on a hot day. Bring water. My 3 and 5 year old kids were able to walk by themselves both directions, but it is steadily uphill.
We spent a couple hour a down on the awesome beach and playing in the water. This our favorite beach and place to relax. We were also able to rent a double kayak for $ 35/​hr and paddle out and around the island. You can also get out and walk on the island if you want to.

You can’t go wrong with mother nature. All I have to say is arrowhead trail, what an amazing moderate to difficult trail. It is the first stop in the beautiful Emerald bay state park. This place is a photographers dream, you will have plenty of locations to take beautiful pictures and leave with good memories.

Beautiful views of Lake Tahoe.
A few tips:
–Come EARLY. We got there around 8 – 9 and had our choice of where to set up our camp on a picnic table. Come 10 – 11, a ton more people have arrived and there are less spots for you to choose.
–Bring lunch — you’ll be happy to pack lunch and have a picnic by the water. Note though, please cover your food as birds ate at our chips and sandwiches.
–Sunscreen and bug spray are a must.
–Great hiking trails! I got winded from time to time walking up, but take plenty of breaks and bring enough water and you’ll be fine.
–There are restrooms here near the lake, but don’t expect anything fancy. Bring Purell or wash cloths.
–Kayaking and stand up paddleboarding is available. Such fun!
Lovely place to view Lake Tahoe and enjoy some of the peace and quiet.

Making your way about 30 miles West of SLT, you can enjoy the Emerald Bay. Go to the Vista Points and take your pictures.
One vista point (the first one) was full and parking was hard. There are a lot of people that stop here to try and take pictures, and there’s a campground across the street. Be careful when parking– it IS a highway. U-​turns are not to be made.
Second ‘vista’ point is in the middle and is unofficially a vista point. You get to be in the middle. There’s a guardrail, you can choose to climb over it in your discretion (be safe please) to take the picture. You don’t really need to, but try and find the angle.
Third vista point costs money to actually park, it’s the state park itself, and you can shoot off a lot of pictures here, walk, talk, enjoy life. There’s not enough parking here either *gasp* but you’ll be able to find one sooner or later.
Oh I forgot to talk about the thing itself! Emerald Bay, yes, does look emerald. Not blue, not green, but midway. There’s a little islet (inlet?) so it actually is a bay and the fourth side is a smaller entrance (which looks really nice). You can see people way on the bottom, but I have no idea how to get there :/

Really fun day trip if you like to hike!
Pros:
–beautiful photo ops on rocks, overlooking lake, trees, a dock
–many activities to do: kayak, SUP, large tour boat
–there’s a dock you can jump off and into the cold water. Also a pretty place to sit and watch the sun set.
–once at the beach, it’s not so crowded There’s lots of room to picnic and pass a football
–if you kayak to the little island, you’ll have a fun time exploring!
–hiking trails!
–if you come with your parents/​grandparents who are seniors, you get a dollar off parking
Cons:
–parking is very limited and not free. Be wary of the ranger that will ticket you if you forget to purchase a ticket, especially if you park far and have to walk back and forth to put in on your windshield. $ 10 per car or $ 9 with a senior.
–restrooms are at the bottom of the hike, and they’re gross
–everyone that wants to get to the bay are forced to hike down and back up again. Our parents did it though :)!

An absolute sight to see. Located in South Lake Tahoe, this state park has scenic views that’ll make you love life. Park at Vikingsholme lot for $ 10 and you’ll get a gorgeous view of the entire bay. Make sure to come early as this lot fills up quick! You don’t want to be forced to parallel park on the highway.
Picture opportunities are plenty from the moment you begin your descent to the lake. Once that’s done, you can hike north to the lighthouse. As for the actual hike, it’s not strenuous, but very long. With your hard work, you’ll be rewarded with even more jaw dropping views of the lake and the trees adjacent to it. Bring snacks, water, and plenty of sunscreen!
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Conclusion: Easily my favorite section of Lake Tahoe and a place I’ll visit again. Thumbs up and highly recommended.
Extra Notes:
–Parking lot is cash only
–kayak rentals available for $ 25/​hour/​person
–Rangers are kind and friendly
–Restrooms could be cleaner

This state park offers some of the best views of the south lake tahoe. If you have seen pictures of the lake with beautiful blue and green shades and want to witness it, this is the place to go. The only island in the whole bay is situated near this coast and from this park, you can rent kayaks or paddle boards to reach the island. However, if there is a thunderstorm forecast you may not be able to do this. To get to the place where you can rent kayaks, park in the state park parking lot (if you get the spot) and hike down 1 mile on the vikingsholm trail. You will reach a beach area where the castle is situated with a sign board pointing to the kayak rental area. In and near the park are some vista points like the Inspiration point vista that offer magnificent views of the bay. If you plan on exploring the south lake tahoe area, this is a must do!

Amazing x a million trillion! If you don’t like the outdoors or scenic views then go home! This isn’t the place for you. (end tough love)
My first time to Emerald Bay was only for the look and sounds of the place, I wasn’t able to do the hike or rocky climb from Eagle Falls, so I was definitely looking forward to this trip! So worth the antipication. Just being on the lake was amazing. The views at ground level are just as awesome being up at the vista point. The Vikingsholm trail going up was intense given the over 80 degree weather, although I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I love how there where mini waterfalls along the trail, very tranquil.
Highly recommend and can’t wait to go back!

Absolutely gorgeous!!!
I came in late April right after a snow day and it was breathtaking to see the mountains covered with snow while the lake was a dreamy light blue.
There was an observation point and about a mile away, we arrived to the parking lot where Rubicon Trail starts. It was an easy 1 mile hike down to reach Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian inspired castle which offers tours in the Summer time, apparently. There are also restrooms near the lake.
Best view to South Lake Tahoe and Fannette Island, the only island in Lake Tahoe.
Must visit!