Introduction:
What? : Emerald Bay
State Park is a state park of California in the United States, centered on Lake
Tahoe's Emerald Bay, a National Natural Landmark. Park features include Eagle
Falls and Vikingsholm, a 38-room mansion that is considered one of the finest
examples of Scandinavian architecture in the United States.
Where? : Located on Lake Tahoe south east corner, Follow
Highway 89 south from Tahoe City (20 miles) or north from South Lake Tahoe (10
miles) and you'll come across the Emerald Bay Lookout and parking lot. The park
main parking lot is right on highway 89 road.
Google Map Link
Eagle Lake Hike – Lake Tahoe
Susie Lake Hike – Lake Tahoe
When? : You can enjoy
the Emerald Bay view year round, every season is different, winter completely cover
the area with snow and summer offer many of lake water activities.
At winter trail
covered with snow and ice and access can be limited as well as few parking lots
are close.
Due note 1: You can enjoy Emerald
Bay view from the road, no need to hike down to the bay. There are several
viewing points, and each provide a different view of the bay.
Due note 2: The main park
parking lot at is a fee parking, there are paying machines at the left side of
the parking lot (you can pay for 1 hour or full day). Vehicles cannot drive
down to the lake, however, there are many vistas and hiking trails.
Due note 3: It is not legal
to park your car on highway 89 road in many sections, avoid parking outside the
designated parking lot.
Due note 4: Due to dry
conditions and a finding of extreme fire danger: Charcoal and wood fires are
prohibited in all Day Use Areas in the Sierra District CA State Parks.
Due note 4: Dogs are not allowed on any trails or roads into Emerald
Bay, nor on the beach. Dog regulations are enforced year-round.
Due note 4: No Fires, No
Drones, No bicycles or motors on the trails, No camping except within the
designated campgrounds
My thoughts: when you come
and visit here this is no surprise why this is probably one of the best picturesque
locations in lake Tahoe and north California. You do not need to go down to the
bay but rather have short stops at the few viewing points, take pictures and
enjoy the view.
The visit:
With its rounded
shoreline and blue-green water, Emerald Bay is one of the most photographed
places in the world. From the scenic overlook viewpoint on Highway 89, you can
see a panorama of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe and the remote Nevada shore.
In 1969, the
federal government designated Emerald Bay a National Natural Landmark for its beauty.
Emerald Bay looks like Cascade Lake or Fallen Leaf Lake with one major
difference, it is connected to Lake Tahoe in it narrow east opening.
The Eagle Creek
cascades flowing into the bay over three waterfalls and disappears into the
lake. Hikers can head up into nearby Eagle
Lake, keep going into the Desolation Wilderness or walk the rugged lakeshore from
D.L. Bliss to the bay along the Rubicon Trail.
You can enjoy Emerald
Bay view from the road, no need to hike down to the bay. There are several
viewing points, and each provide a different view of the bay.
From the
viewing points, look down on the astounding bay and you can see why this place considered
to be the best of Lake Tahoe views.
The relatively shallow
bay on the lake’s west shore gets beautiful blue-green colors where the small
Fannette Island (the only island in Lake Tahoe), right in the middle of the bay
dote it like a diamond in a perfect ring.
From the pullouts
areas off Highway 89, you can see the bay below, peaking between the trees or as
wide-open panorama, you can spot the ruins of a tiny stone tea house perched on
the top of the island.
Viewpoints are listed from south
to north:
Inspiration Point:
This viewpoint towers
600 feet above Lake Tahoe and is one of the best spots to stop and take in the
view of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. Set in the tall pines the paved path
overlooking Emerald Bay. This vista point can be a bit crowded, especially
during the summer months.
You can find
here restrooms, during winter the entrance is close, and you need to find
parking on the other side of the road.
Emerald Bay Overlook:
A small
road-side pull-out when you are driving from south to north, try not to miss this
even for a short stop on your way, get down and take some pictures and keep with your
drive.
Eagle Falls:
Here you can
find many parking spots on the left mountain side of the road (when driving
south to north). Park your car and cross the road to the lake cliff and
waterfall side.
This is the
best location to see up close the Eagle Falls, walk to the road edge and find
the path to the upper waterfall (be carful during winter months where all is covered
with slippery ice.
This location
is one of the best places for sunrise or sunset view.
There is a
walking path protected from the road that connect this point to the nearby main
Emerald Bay State Park Lookout and Parking Lot that is located quarter of a
mile north on the road.
Emerald Bay State Park Lookout and
main Parking Lot:
This is the
park parking lot and probably the most popular viewing point of Emerald Bay.
There is a
walking path protected from the road that connect this point to the nearby Eagle
Falls located quarter of a mile south on the road.
You can enjoy the
view from the nearby viewing point or hike down to the lake shore.
It’s about a one
mile of steep walk down from the parking lot to get to the lake level and visit
the park, it is steep hike back up but it’s definitely worth it.
The teahouse,
and the 38-room stone castle known as Vikingsholm that’s built on the bay shore.
When I visit the park shore during June 2022 the area near the house was under
renovation and I came late in the afternoon, so I was not able to get into the
house.
It is a place
where you can hike down to the lakeshore, tour a stone castle, rent a kayak or
paddleboard or even swim and snorkel in the cold crystal water of the bay.
At the south
park section there is a road entrance that get down to the lake (I never drove
it), here you can find the Upper and Lower Eagle Point Park Campgrounds
You can also
access Emerald Bay on the popular and easy Rubicon Trail, which follows the
edge of the lake from D.L. Bliss State Park.
Another short
hike with a big reward is the one-mile trail that starts across the highway
from Emerald Bay and leads up to the icy cascades of Eagle Falls and a
panoramic view of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe.
www:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506
Map:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/506/files/DLBlissEmeraldBayFinalWeb122917.pdf
Pictures:
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