Sierra Nevada & national parks Yosemite
Granite cliffs a kilometre high, some of the tallest waterfalls in North America and groves of giant sequoias — the Sierra Nevada at its grandest.
Things to see in Lake Tahoe
Seven highlights around the shore, starting with the view everyone comes for.
1. Emerald Bay State Park
A narrow, glacier-carved inlet on the south-west shore with the lake’s only island, Fannette, at its centre. Roadside viewpoints on Highway 89, notably Inspiration Point, give the classic picture. Car parks are small and full by mid-morning in summer; the road can close in winter after heavy snow.
2. Vikingsholm
A 38-room mansion built in 1929 in Scandinavian style at the head of Emerald Bay. It is reached by a steep path of about 1.6 km (1 mile) down from the car park — and back up. Guided tours of the interior run in summer.
3. Sand Harbor
On the Nevada shore, the lake’s most photographed beach: pale sand, rounded granite boulders and shallow, turquoise water. In summer it fills early and day-use reservations may be required; check the Nevada State Parks website.
4. Heavenly Gondola
From the centre of South Lake Tahoe, an eight-person gondola climbs 3.9 km (2.4 miles) up the mountain, stopping at an observation deck with a view of the whole lake. It runs for sightseeing in summer and as a ski lift in winter.
5. Ski resorts
The Tahoe basin has one of the largest concentrations of ski areas in North America. Palisades Tahoe, host of the 1960 Winter Olympics, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood are the biggest. The season usually runs from late November or December to April, sometimes later.
6. Truckee and Donner Lake
A former railway and logging town north of the lake, with a main street of brick and timber buildings, good restaurants and the small, calm Donner Lake beside it. Donner Memorial State Park tells the story of the pioneer party trapped here in the winter of 1846–47.
7. On the water
Tahoe is at its best from a boat or a board. Rent kayaks and paddleboards at most beaches, take a cruise from the south shore or join a guided paddle. The water is cold all year — rarely above 20°C (68°F) at the surface even in August — so wear a life jacket.
Destinations
Combine it with
Sierra Nevada & national parks 
San Francisco & Northern California Napa & Sonoma
Two neighbouring valleys an hour north of San Francisco with several hundred wineries between them — one polished and famous, the other broader and more relaxed.
San Francisco & Northern California San Francisco
A compact city of steep hills, cable cars and fog — with the Golden Gate Bridge at one end and Alcatraz in the middle of the bay.
Plan your trip
Book tours in Lake Tahoe
Compare real-time prices and availability on GetYourGuide. Most tours can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours ahead.