ActivitiesHikingTop 3
Top 3 hikes at Lake Tahoe
Three places to start with, picked from the 40 in our hiking guide. Open a box for the details.
Number 1: Eagle Falls TrailheadA short climb past a waterfall to an alpine lake, with Emerald Bay behind you.
One of Lake Tahoe's most photographed hikes. Lower falls visible from road. Upper trail to Eagle Lake offers jaw-dropping Emerald Bay panoramas.
- Eagle Falls waterfall
- Eagle Lake
- Emerald Bay views
- Classic Tahoe hike
- Trail
- Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake
- Distance, round trip
- 3 mi
- Climb
- 620 ft
- High point
- 6,895 ft
- Season
- May – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- USFS day-use fee, $10, Fills by 9am weekends
- Dogs
- Allowed
Full detailsSee its pin on the mapMore on tahoeoutdoorstv.com (opens in a new tab)
Number 2: Mount Tallac TrailheadThe big summit day: 9,735 feet, with the whole basin below.
Tahoe's most iconic summit hike. The cross-shaped snowfield on the face is visible from South Lake Tahoe. Views from the top stretch 100+ miles.
- Summit views of entire Tahoe basin
- Cross-shaped snowfield visible spring
- Most prominent peak above Tahoe
- Trail
- Mount Tallac Summit Trail
- Distance, round trip
- 9.4 mi
- Climb
- 3,295 ft
- High point
- 9,735 ft
- Season
- Jul – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- Free, Spring/Cathedral Rd
- Dogs
- Allowed
Full detailsSee its pin on the mapMore on tahoeoutdoorstv.com (opens in a new tab)
Number 3: D.L. Bliss Rubicon TrailheadCliff-edge lake views along the west shore.
The most scenic lakeside trail at Tahoe — hugs granite cliffs hundreds of feet above the water. South end connects to Vikingsholm castle.
- Cliff-edge Tahoe views
- Vikingsholm access
- Most scenic lakeside trail
- Trail
- Rubicon Trail
- Distance, round trip
- 5 mi
- Climb
- 800 ft
- High point
- 6,340 ft
- Season
- May – Oct
- Permit
- None needed
- Parking
- CA State Parks day fee, $10
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Full detailsSee its pin on the mapMore on tahoeoutdoorstv.com (opens in a new tab)