Recreation

By David H Bailey, on January 1st, 2018

Tahoe Recreation Highlights
Updated: 5 June 2024

The South Lake Tahoe area is blessed with outstanding recreational amenities. Here are some of the highlights (note that prices and hours may differ from listed below). Click on any entry in this list to see the photos and details below. For additional photos and details on Tahoe area mountain lakes and hiking trails, see Tahoe lakes and trails.

South Lake Tahoe and Nevada side attractions:

Highway 89 northbound attractions:

Highway 50 southbound:

Highway 89/88 southbound:

South Lake Tahoe attractions:

1. Kayaking the Upper Truckee River. This is a great activity for the whole family. Possible launch spots are the Motel 6 back parking lot (park at a spot that doesn’t have a no parking sign); the Upper Truckee Meadow (see below); near the intersection of Elks Club Drive and Hwy 50; or Paradise Park (see below). Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

2. Picknicking along the Upper Truckee River. There are numerous places to do this, including the Upper Truckee Meadow (see below) and Paradise Park (see below). This photo is at the end of a short path starting at 729 Colorado Court (N38 55.678 W120 00.051). Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free.

3. Boat tours. Several boat tours are available. The Safari Rose, shown here, departs from the end of Ski Run Blvd in South Lake Tahoe, follows the south shore past the Keys, Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach, then into Emerald Bay and around Fannette Island, then north to Rubicon Bay, before returning to South Lake Tahoe (2 hours). Cost: $95 per adult, $55 under 12. Runs three times daily; advance reservations required. Food is available for purchase, but no food may be brought onboard. Other boat tours include the Tahoe Bleu Wave and the MS Dixie II. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: $6 per hour. Consider parking say at the nearby Safeway, or taking Uber or Lyft. It is also close enough to bicycle.

4. Jet ski rentals. It is great fun to tour around Lake Tahoe on a jet ski. These can be rented for several places, including Tahoe Keys Marina. Cost: typically $174 + tax per hour. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free but crowded.

5. Bijou Community Park and BMX course. This park features trees, meadows, picnic areas, volleyball and a large BMX bicycle course. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

6. South Lake Tahoe recreation and swim complex. This features a indoor/outdoor year-round swimming pool, gymnasium, volleyball and basketball courts, weight room, skating rink and picnic facilities. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

7. Blue Granite Climbing Gym. Just opened in 2019, the Blue Granite Climbing Gym features multiple rock climbing walls. Adult day pass: $20; students: $18, children under 13: $16. Gear rental package: $6. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free.

8. Upper Truckee Meadow. This is a lovely place for hiking, bicycling, picnicking or cross-country skiing, with miles of little-used forested trails. It can be accessed at 1299 Beecher Avenue (N38 54.988 W119 58.934) or at Barton Memorial Hospital, 2180 South Avenue. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

9. Escape rooms. There are two escape room facilities in South Lake Tahoe — a great family activity. Trapped in Tahoe currently features four rooms: “Dracula’s Castle” (easiest), “The Prospect,” (moderate), “The Test” (hard), and “The Train” (hard). Puzzle Room Tahoe features three separate rooms: “Valley of the Kings,” “Below Ground” and “Lost Cabin.” The photo below is “The Prospect” at Trapped in Tahoe. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

10. Nevada Beach. This is a large public beach on the Nevada side, operated by the Forest Service. It has numerous facilities, including picnic tables, and great views back towards the west side of Lake Tahoe. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: $10; free with a National Forest Service season pass.

11. Zephyr Cove. This is another nice beach area, with rocks and pools. The southern part is operated by Zephyr Cove Resort; the northern part is operated by the Forest Service. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: $15 in resort, or free parking along Highway 50 (come early).

12. Cave Rock. Cave Rock is a prominent rock structure along Highway 50 (in fact Highway 50 goes through tunnels here) that is revered by Native Americans. You can hike to the top from a trailhead on Cave Rock Drive (N39 2.520 W119 56.792). Driving: 25 minutes; parking: free.

13. Heavenly Valley Ski Resort. Heavenly Valley offers world-class skiing. Tickets are not cheap, but discounts can be had for advance purchase or multiple days. During the summer (June 15 through Oct 15), one can take the gondola ride to the top of the ski area, where one can eat lunch at Tamarack Lodge. Adults: $59; teens and seniors: $46, children: $30. Driving: 15 minutes; parking: $10.

14. Other ski resorts. In addition to Heavenly Valley, one can ski at Palisades Tahoe (formerly Squaw Valley, the site of the 1960 Winter Olympics), Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood, Northstar, Homewood, Granlibakken and Alpine Meadows. This is a photo of Squaw Valley in winter.

Highway 89 northbound attractions:

1. South Shore bicycle path. This is a lovely paved bicycle-only path that follows Highway 89 north from South Lake Tahoe for several miles, starting at the intersection of Eloise and 15th Street, passing Pope Beach, Camp Richardson, the Tallac historic site, the Fallen Leaf Lake turnoff, the Taylor Creek Visitors Center turnoff, the Mt. Tallac turnoff and the Baldwin Beach turnoff, ending at the intersection of Highway 89 and Spring Creek Road. A similar path also leads through South Lake Tahoe itself; one can travel to the Nevada state line and beyond, plus along branch routes such as the path that heads south along Al Tahoe Blvd to Bijou Park. See also the Saw Mill Road bicycle path below.

2. Pope Beach. This is a large public beach, with lots of parking and picnic facilities. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: $10 per vehicle; free with a National Forest Service season pass. This is close enough to walk or bicycle.

3. Camp Richardson and Richardson Corral. This is a commercial camping/cabin/beach resort with a 100-year history. The Richardson Corral (a few hundred yards northwest of the main complex) offers horseback rides through forest trails, with overlooks of Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake. One hour $50; two hours $90; four hours $168. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons; an alternate route is Tahoe Mountain Road to Lake Tahoe Blvd. This is close enough to bicycle.

4. Tallac historic site. The Tallac historical site features several interesting historic buildings dating back to the 1920s: the Baldwin Estate, the Pope Estate and the Valhalla building. There is a nice museum (free) and lovely garden walks. Tours of the Baldwin House are $10. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free. This is close enough to bicycle.

5. Fallen Leaf Lake. Fallen Leaf Lake is arguably even lovelier than Tahoe, with Mt. Tallac towering over it on the west side. You can access this lake either from Fallen Leaf Road on the east side or from Cathedral Road on the west side (see Cathedral Road immediately below). Along Fallen Leaf Road, park at N38 55.370 W120 02.753, which has a path that leads directly to the northeast corner of the lake. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons; an alternate route is Tahoe Mountain Road to Lake Tahoe Blvd. This is close enough to bicycle.

6. Glen Alpine. Glen Alpine Falls is near the southwestern corner of Fallen Leaf Lake. Up the road a block or two further is a trailhead to Lily Lake, Upper Falls, and (after a 1.25 mile walk) Glen Alpine, a historic natural spring resort. Continuing further up the trail, one enters the Desolation Wilderness, and access to numerous lakes, including Grass Lake (only one mile beyond Glen Alpine), Suzie Lake, Heather Lake, Aloha Lake, Gilmore Lake, Half Moon Lake and Alta Morris Lake, and numerous heart-stopping vistas. Suzie Lake and Lake Aloha are shown below. A wilderness permit is required for backpacking or overnight camping. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: free (but arrive early). The one-lane road around Fallen Leaf Lake often requires tricky driving, and driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons; an alternate route is Tahoe Mountain Road to Lake Tahoe Blvd.

7. Cathedral Road (west side of Fallen Leaf Lake). Hardly anyone knows about the Cathedral Road access to Fallen Leaf Lake, so it is never crowded. To reach it, turn at the “Sno Park” sign along Hwy 89 at N38 56.015 W120 03.444. One nice place to park is N38 55.546 W120 03.413, which is close to numerous places for kids to play in Taylor Creek, and the start of a lovely forested trail to the lake. Another place to park is N38 54.706 W120 04.011, which leads along a path directly to a nice picnic spot on Fallen Leaf Lake, with the remains of Lucy Baldwin’s summer home just a short distance away (at N38 54.739 W120 03.855). Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons. This is close enough to bicycle.

8. Taylor Creek Visitor Center. The Taylor Creek Visitor Center features a very nice nature walk with an underwater viewing chamber, allowing one to see real fish and other wildlife in action. Kids love it. Driving: 5 minutes; parking: free. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons. This is close enough to bicycle.

9. Baldwin Beach. This is a long, sandy beach and is seldom crowded. Near the north end is a slough for kayaking. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: $10; free with a National Forest Service season pass. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons. This is close enough to bicycle.

10. Mt. Tallac trailhead. The scenery on the Mt. Tallac trail is first-rate: even after just the first mile, there is a breathtaking vista of Fallen Leaf Lake with Lake Tahoe in the background. The hike to the top of Mt. Tallac (elev. 9720 feet) is quite arduous, roughly 10.5 miles round trip, with an elevation gain of 3350 feet and (often) some snowy patches, but the view is spectacular in all directions. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free. If parking at trailhead is crowded (often during summer), parking along Cathedral Road at N38 55.234 W120 04.013, which is never crowded and only 100 yards from the trailhead. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons. This is close enough to bicycle.

11. Inspiration Point. Located at the summit of the Emerald Bay Road, this vista point features a great view of Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed spots on Earth. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: free, but crowded (arrive early!). Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

12. Bayview trailhead to Cascade Falls and Desolation Wilderness lakes. The Bayview trailhead is located at the south end of a campground across the road from Inspiration Point. A trail to the left heads to Cascade Falls (only about 0.75 miles), with a great view of Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe in the background. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: $10, free with season pass also good at Pope Beach and Baldwin Beach. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

The trail to the right from the Bayview trailhead leads to Granite Lake and Maggie’s Peak, which offers a view nearly as spectacular as Mt. Tallac, with a stunning view high above Emerald Bay along the way. Beyond the summit that leads to Maggie’s Peak are numerous lakes in the Desolation Wilderness, including Upper Velma Lake, Middle Velma Lake, Dick’s Lake and Fontanillis Lake. These are accessible on a day hike, although be prepared for a long and fairly strenuous hike. A wilderness permit is required for backpacking or overnight camping. The two photos below are of Upper Velma Lake.

13. Emerald Bay State Park, Vikingsholm and Eagle Falls trailhead. Emerald Bay State Park is one of the loveliest and most-photographed spots on Earth. After parking at the top, hike down the trail to Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style home build in the 1920s. You can also rent kayaks and paddleboards, say to go to Fannette Island, with its “castle.” The scenery is drop-dead gorgeous. Driving: 20 minutes: Parking: $10; free with an annual California State Park pass; do not park along the road — you may be towed. ARRIVE EARLY to find parking! Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

Nearby, on the southwest side of the road, is the Eagle Falls trailhead, which leads to Eagle Lake (1 mile), and then, after a steep climb, connects to the Bayview trail (see above) heading to numerous other lakes in the Desolation Wilderness. This is a photo of Eagle Lake.

14. D.L. Bliss State Park. The D. L. Bliss State Park features a gorgeous bay and beach, with remarkable turquoise-hued water. Kayaking along the cliffs here is both scenic and exciting. Driving: 25 minutes; parking: $10; free with an annual California State Park pass. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

15. Rubicon trail. The Rubicon trail starts from either 200 yards inside the D.L. Bliss guard station or from the beach itself, then goes through forests with stunning vistas of Tahoe, and then follows the northwest shore of Emerald Bay all the way to Vikingsholm, if you wish to go that far. It is arguably the single loveliest trail in the Tahoe area, yet is easily hikeable, with only modest elevation gain. A round trip from the D.L. Bliss guard station or beach to Emerald Bay takes only about 1.5 hours; round trip to Vikingsholm takes only about 2.5 hours (plus breaks). Below are two photos. Driving: 25 minutes; parking: $10; free with an annual California State Park pass. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

16. Sugar Pine Point State Park. Sugar Pine Point State Park features a historic home site, a gorgeous bay with turquoise water, and a nice hiking trail through woods. Driving: 30 minutes; parking: $10; free with an annual California State Park pass. Driving past Camp Richardson is sometimes crowded in summer afternoons.

Highway 50 southbound:

1. Saw Mill Road (and beyond) bicycle path. This starts at the intersection of Lake Tahoe Blvd and Viking Road (a few blocks southwest of the Hwy 50-89 intersection), then passes through forests south to Saw Mill Road, then east along the side of Saw Mill Road to Hwy 50, then south along the side of Hwy 50 (past the Lake Tahoe Golf Course), continuing all the way to a point just beyond the Hwy 50 inspection station in Meyers.

2. Twin Peaks bouldering and trails. Just off Saw Mill Road, east of Hwy 50, is a great spot for bouldering, and a trail to the top of Twin Peaks, a pair of hills with great views in all directions. Park on Saw Mill Road at N38 52.497 W120 00.654. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

3. Lake Tahoe Golf Course. Lake Tahoe Golf Course is a beautiful course along the Truckee River, just south of South Lake Tahoe along Hwy 50. Green fees: $99 for 18 holes; $55 for 9 holes. Driving: 10 minutes; parking: free.

4. Paradise Park and Lake Baron. This is a nice family park in Meyers, just a few miles south of South Lake Tahoe, near the Hwy 50 inspection station. It features a picnic area, Lake Baron and a lovely trail along the east side of the Upper Truckee River. Driving: 15 minutes; parking: free.

5. Washoe Meadows State Park. This park, largely undeveloped, features some lovely trails along the west side of the Upper Truckee River. Two trailheads are 950 Mountain Trout Drive (N38 52.856 W120 01.912) and 870 Chilicothe Street (N38 51.554 W120 01.756). Driving: 15 minutes; parking: free.

6. CalTrans Wall rock climbing. Located a short distance from Highway 50 before it ascends to Echo Summit, at GPS coordinates N38 50.550 W120 02.628, this area features several great rock climbing spots. A short trail heading north leads to Osgood Lake (marshy in late summer). Park along Hwy 50 at N38 50.540 W120 02.440. Driving: 15 minutes; parking: free.

7. Echo Lakes. Lower and Upper Echo Lake are located near Echo Summit, about one mile north of Hwy 50. One highlight here is a boat ride ($18 per person one way) across both Echo Lakes to a trailhead from which you can hike to a great vista point or continue to Lake of the Woods, Aloha Lake and others in the Desolation Wilderness. A wilderness permit is required for backpacking or overnight camping. Below are Echo Lakes (first photo) and Lake of the Woods (second photo). Driving: 25 minutes; parking: free but crowded in summer.

8. Horsetail Falls. This is a prominent sight along Highway 50. From the Pyramid Creek trailhead at Twin Bridges, about 7 miles west of Echo Summit along Hwy 50, a lovely loop trail follows the creek up to the Desolation Wilderness boundary. From there you can hike to the base of the main falls, about one-half mile further. Driving: 25 minutes; parking: free but crowded in summer.

9. Wright’s Lake. A bit further away, but still an easy drive from South Lake Tahoe, Wright’s Lake is a lovely spot for picnic or camping. Further, it is a trailhead to Twin Lakes, Grouse Lake (below) and Smith Lake (great fishing). A wilderness permit is required for backpacking or overnight camping. Driving: 60 minutes; parking: free.

Highway 89/88 southbound:

1. Hawley Grade trail. Just south of Meyers is the Hawley Grade trail, which is thought to be the historic route taken by the Pony Express climbing from the valley to Echo Summit. The trail itself is a fairly pleasant 2-mile hike with an 800 ft elevation gain. The trailhead is a nice spot along the Upper Truckee River. Park along South Upper Truckee Road at N38 47.800 W120 01.191. Driving: 20 minutes; parking: free.

2. Big Meadow trailhead. Only about 10 miles from South Lake Tahoe, this trailhead leads to Big Meadow, Dardenelles Lake, Round Lake and Meiss Lake. Dardenelles Lake (two photos below) is one of the loveliest lakes in the entire Northern Sierra region. No wilderness permit is required for backpacking, although a campfire permit is required for campfires, and campfires are often prohibited during summer months). Driving: 20 minutes; parking: free, but may have to park along Hwy 89 if lot is full.

3. Meiss Lake trailhead. At Carson Pass, on Hwy 88, this trailhead heads north to a trail junction in about three miles. The left branch heads to the very lovely Showers Lake (first photo below), and then, if one is ambitious, all the way to Echo Pass; the right branch goes near Meiss Lake (second photo below), and then north to Round Lake and the Big Meadow trailhead. Driving: 35 minutes; parking: free.

4. Woods Lake trailhead. About two miles west of Carson Pass, on Hwy 88, this trailhead leads south to Woods Lake, then to Round Top Lake and Winnemuca Lake. One can continue on a trail to climb Round Top, elev. 10,381 ft. Driving: 40 minutes; parking: $10.

5. Lake Margaret trailhead. Just after Cappels Lake on Hwy 88, near the Kirkwood Ski Resort, is a trailhead to Lake Margaret. Both the trail and the lake itself are gorgeous. No wilderness permit is required for backpacking, although a campfire permit is required for campfires, and campfires are often prohibited during summer months. Driving: 45 minutes; parking: free but crowded in summer.

6. Silver Lake area. Further west along Higway 88 is Silver Lake, from which one can hike to Shealor Lake, Granite Lake and others, all connected with lovely trails, many of which feature wildflowers in the summer months. Driving: 60 minutes; parking: free.

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