Lake Tahoe Visitor Guide Summer/Fall 2021

TAHOE'S GREATEST SUMMER ATTRACTIONS

Scenery, history, hikes and beaches

Emerald Bay

One of the most photographed spots on earth, Emerald Bay is like a Norwegian fjord surrounded by steep mountain sides, dotted with an island topped by a stone tea house. Highway 89 hugs the cliffs above the lake, with parking in 3 lots, plus a few highway-side spots. Eagle Falls tumbles down cliffs below the road into Emerald Bay State Park. A 1.7-mile hike leads to the lakeshore and Vikingsholm “castle,” constructed in 1929 and one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere.

Sand Harbor at Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park

Emerald Bay

Sand Harbor State Park

A marvelous combination of protected cove, rocky point, giant granite boulders and a long, sandy beach, this State Park fills its parking lot quickly on many summer days. Take advantage of new shuttle services to the park, including a bus from Reno and free microshuttles hailed by a TNT-TMA app.

Heavenly Village & Gondola

Heavenly Village and nearby casinos and shops are Tahoe’s nucleus of man-made fun! Ride an incredibly scenic aerial gondola up to 9,123-foot elevation viewing platform, mountain lodge, ropes-course and “mountain-coaster.” Venues in the Village often feature live music.

Squaw Valley Village & Tram

Sometime this summer, Squaw Valley ski resort plans to rename itself. Whatever name they choose for the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, the valley’s beauty, base village, and spectacular aerial tram make it worth a visit. The tram travels up 2,000 vertical feet to the resort’s High Camp day lodge.

Cruising or Paddling Lake Tahoe

By kayak, paddleboard, sailboat, speedboat, or scenic cruise, getting out on Lake Tahoe’s blue surface is an unforgettable experience. Comfortable cruises leave from Zephyr Cove and Tahoe City daily. See “Boating,” page 31, for more details.

Downtown Truckee

Truckee’s charming, “Old West” downtown is bisected by the Transcontinental Railroad and the Truckee River. The historic buildings house a wide variety of quality restaurants, shops, galleries and brew pubs. Trails and bike paths head out in multiple directions, including the scenic Truckee River Legacy Trail.

Tahoe City Dam

Trail between Bliss and Emerald Bay State Parks

Downtown Truckee

Heavenly Village, South Lake Tahoe

Squaw Valley Tram

Tahoe City, State Park & Museums

Lake Tahoe’s only outlet is the Truckee River in Tahoe City, where a dam controls the top six feet of the lake. Lean over the railing of Fanny Bridge to watch the giant trout below. Bike paths and sidewalks lead from Gatekeeper Museum throughout this charming town of shops and restaurants.

D.L. Bliss State Park

Enormous granite boulders dot this scenic park, whose highlight is its white sand beach, turquoise waters and rocky coves. A trail from Bliss clings the cliffs to Sand Harbor State Park to the south.

Sugar Pine Point State Park

This park gives a glimpse back in history with its lovely Hellman-Ehrman Mansion, surrounding grounds and boat houses. But it is also features a beautiful shoreline and trails through a forest populated with its name-sake tree.

Mt. Rose Highway Scenic Viewpoint

A short drive above Incline Village on Nevada Highway 431 is a scenic pull-off with unobstructed views of the Lake Tahoe Basin, spectacular day or night. The road from there north to Reno includes a winding descent with expansive views.

Donner Memorial State Park

A recently re-designed museum tells the stories of the infamous Donner Party and other Western pioneers. The park also includes grassy shoreline and trails along Donner Lake.

Tallac Historic Site & Beaches

Connected by bike trail with South Lake Tahoe, the Historic Site’s white sand beaches and green lawns extend down a long stretch of lakeshore. Stroll past “Gilded Age” mansions or take in one of the concerts scheduled there this summer.

Virginia City

Donner Memorial Monument

Old Highway 40 and Donner Lake

Sugar Pine Point State Park

Tallac Historic Site

Nevada Highway 431 Scenic Overlook

Virginia City

This 1860s silver boomtown was pivotal in helping the Union finance the Civil War. It is remarkably well-preserved, with wooden boardwalks in front of its downtown shops. The high-desert drive from either Carson City or South Reno completes the Old West journey.

Old Highway 40

This alternate route from Interstate 80 over Donner Summit parallels the historic pioneer trail and railroad tracks over the Sierra Crest, its switchbacks and scenic pull-outs often featured in national car commercials. From the pass, a short hike reaches the abandoned train tunnels and “Chinese wall” constructed in the 1860s. Construction was scheduled to close portions of Highway 40 this summer.