20 Best Things to Do in Lake Tahoe
From stunning hidden beaches and coves with turquoise-blue water to world-class hiking, biking, restaurants, and even skiing during the winter, Lake Tahoe is one of the most fun and beautiful year-round destinations offering something for every type of visitor to enjoy!
I mean it when I say there is something for everyone to enjoy on both the Nevada and California sides of Lake Tahoe, and a visit for one group can look very different from a visit for another! It just depends on what you’re interested in seeing and doing.
That said, Lake Tahoe truly has some of the best trails in the Sierras—particularly when it comes to great sunset hikes! This is why I like to say that, even if you don’t consider yourself a hiker, I recommend coming prepared with the intention of setting off on one or two trails, as you’ll certainly miss out on some of the best things to do around Lake Tahoe if you don’t!
To add to this, many of the best and most beautiful places to access the shoreline on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe involve some very short but steep hiking to get between the highway and the water, so, at the very least, good hiking shoes are highly recommended!
All this to say, there is a lot to know about Lake Tahoe that can make visiting much easier and more stress-free—particularly when it comes to parking and accessing the best and most beautiful stretches of shoreline along Nevada’s famous East Shore. This is why I highly recommend reading this post in detail, including my tips at the end, as finding parking, parking fines, and getting towed are are very common on both sides of the state line and not things you want ruining your first experience in Lake Tahoe!
What is the Best Time of Year to Visit Lake Tahoe?
With incredible skiing in the winter and beautiful summer weather that makes for amazing hiking, swimming, paddling, and more, it’s certainly no secret that Lake Tahoe is an incredible year-round destination!
However, aside from all there is to do during the colder winter months, spring, summer, and fall are a little more nuanced in terms of recommending the best time of year.
If you were to ask me, my answer to this question is easily June, as this is when the trails are mostly snow-free, the air is warm enough to enjoy swimming in the frigid alpine waters of Lake Tahoe, and, most importantly, it’s typically early enough in the summer to not be affected by wildfires or wildfire smoke!
Furthermore, I like June because there are no major holidays or three-day weekends, which is important to keep in mind because Lake Tahoe is already a summer busy destination as it is—and just imagine what the Fourth of July looks like!
As for the rest of the year, spring is largely the least desirable time to visit Lake Tahoe, as melting snow eventually means closed ski resorts yet too much snow to make hiking enjoyable. However, come fall, visitors can enjoy the Aspens as they change from green to gold around the first and second weeks of October!
This is all to say that I still default back to June regarding the best time of year to visit Lake Tahoe, which, coincidentally, is also the best time of year to visit Yosemite, Great Basin, and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park nearby!
Hiking Checklist - Lake Tahoe
The Lake Tahoe Basin is Black Bear country, and, as with any area that is home to Black Bears, hiking with or without bear spray is up to your own discretion and comfort level.
With that in mind, here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in the Lake Tahoe Basin.
20 Best Things to Do in Lake Tahoe
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst.
That said, there are amazing things to do on all sides of Lake Tahoe, which is why I recommend visiting with the intention of driving the entire 72-mile (116 km) scenic loop around the lake, whether that means booking more than one place to stay or not.
1. Monkey Rock Trail
Distance: 2.6 miles / 4.2 km
The Monkey Rock Trail is a fun, beautiful, and, most of all, unique day hike near Incline Village in North Lake Tahoe, where visitors can enjoy panoramic west-facing views from the summit, including a distinct, one-of-a-kind rock carved to look like the face of a monkey!
For all these reasons, I believe Monkey Rock is the best sunset hike on the Nevada side of the state line. However, before visiting, know that there is a fee to park at the Monkey Rock Trailhead, though it can be avoided if you plan the trail for sunset, as I outline in my separate article linked below!
Read My Separate Post: Monkey Rock Trail
2. Secret Cove
Secret Cove is a stunning, protected rocky cove just to the south of Bonsai Rock and Sand Harbor that is arguably the most beautiful place to swim, paddleboard, and jump into the water from one of the many granite boulders surrounding the shoreline!
That said, Secret Cove is just as beautiful as it is popular, which is why I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning—not to mention, this is when the winds—and, as a result, the waves—on Lake Tahoe are typically the calmest!
The last thing worth mentioning is that Secret Cove is an 'unofficial' nude beach. I have personally seen this just as often as I have not, which is why the best I can say is that it simply depends on what type of crowd you are lucky enough—or perhaps unlucky enough—to encounter!
Google Maps Directions: Secret Cove
3. Bert’s Café & Ernie’s Coffee Shop
In South Lake Tahoe, there are two breakfast cafés located right across the street from one another, with both being among the best places to get breakfast anywhere around Lake Tahoe!
They are Bert’s Café and Ernie’s Coffee Shop, and while I might be splitting hairs trying to pick the better of the two, Bert’s Café has always been my long time favorite!
However, if you’re staying in South Lake Tahoe for multiple nights, I recommend visiting Bert’s one morning and Ernie’s another. You won’t be disappointed you did!
Yelp: Bert’s Café / Ernie’s Coffee Shop
4. Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay is a lot of different things to different people, including trails, beaches, viewpoints, and more, but what I think makes Emerald Bay special above all else is simply driving up and pulling over to watch the sunrise or sunset!
Now, the view from Highway 89 above Emerald Bay faces east, meaning it is a much better spot to watch the sunrise than the sunset. However, my photo below was taken at sunset, which is to say: who knows..? You might just get lucky with pink high clouds and a picture-perfect, glassy Emerald Bay as I did here!
Google Maps Directions: Emerald Bay
5. Eagle Rock Trail
Distance: 0.8 miles / 1.3 km
The Eagle Rock Trail is the best sunrise hike in Lake Tahoe, and I largely believe this because it is such a quick and easy hike with such a rewarding view, especially considering how early you need to wake up early during the summer in order to see it!
That said, sunrise is truly the only time of day I recommend hiking the Eagle Rock Trail, and I say this not only because of sunrise itself but also because the trail is often a very popular and busy summer adventure from about mid-morning and throughout much of the day!
Read My Separate Post: Eagle Rock Trail
6. Log Cabin Ice Cream & Coffee
Log Cabin Ice Cream & Coffee in Kings Beach is the best place to get ice cream in Lake Tahoe—and it’s not just me saying that!
This recommendation actually comes from a lifelong Lake Tahoe local, and after trying countless places following many day hikes on all sides of the lake, I have to agree!
You’re not going to find a better ice cream spot on a hot summer day than Log Cabin on the North Shore, and it’s the perfect place to stop after hiking the nearby Stateline Lookout Trail or spending some time in the sun at one of Nevada’s many beautiful East Shore beaches!
7. Bonsai Rock
Bonsai Rock is a beautiful and unique granite rock along Nevada’s iconic East Shore, made famous by a Jeffrey Pine growing from a crack in the rock that closely resembles a household bonsai tree!
That said, Bonsai Rock really is a lot of different things to different people, meaning it can simply be a place to pass by while paddling Tahoe’s East Shore, a place to hike down the steep hillside from the highway to swim, or even a destination for photos—a favorite among landscape photographers at sunset!
However, Bonsai Rock is a bit of a loaded suggestion because what all of this doesn’t say is that it is one of the most difficult places to visit on Nevada’s East Shore, as parking is illegal from Sand Harbor and beyond to the north, as well as to the south as far as the National Forest Chimney Beach parking lot, about 1.3 miles (2.1 km) away.
This is unfortunate because it means the best and most practical option is to park at Chimney Beach and walk the very narrow and dangerous 1.3-mile (2.1 km) stretch along the highway to reach the closest path down to the rock.
I obviously think—and wish—the State of Nevada would do more to make visiting certain parts of Lake Tahoe along this stretch safer for everyone. However, as it stands, drivers are not allowed to leave their vehicles in the pullout areas closest to Bonsai Rock, and this is very strictly enforced!
Google Maps Directions: Bonsai Rock
8. Cascade Falls Trail
Distance: 1.4 miles / 2.3 km
The Cascade Falls Trail is a very short and easy adventure near Emerald Bay that leads to the top of a towering 200-ft. (61 m) waterfall, with views looking east toward Lake Tahoe!
The Cascade Falls Trail is one of the easier, family-friendly adventures near South Lake Tahoe, and it’s one of my personal favorites because it makes for a great back-to-back adventure with the Maggie’s Peak Trail mentioned below!
Read My Separate Post: Cascade Falls Trail
9. Maggie’s Peak Trail
Distance: 4.4 miles / 7.1 km
Elevation Gain: 1,780 ft. / 543 m
The Maggie’s Peak Trail is a fun day hike above Emerald Bay that climbs to both a beautiful alpine lake and the summit of a panoramic peak, with views looking east across Lake Tahoe and west toward the Desolation Wilderness across the High Sierras!
This is exactly why the Maggie’s Peak Trail is one of my top summer hiking recommendations in Lake Tahoe, as the hike to Granite Lake and the hike to the summit beyond feel like two adventures in one!
On top of this, Granite Lake, located about halfway up, is such a great place to get in and cool off after returning from the peak, which are all reasons why this and the Cascade Falls Trail mentioned above are some of my favorite places to get outside and enjoy a longer day in the mountains around Lake Tahoe!
Read My Separate Post: Maggie’s Peak Trail
10. Secret Harbor & Creek Beach
Secret Harbor and Creek Beach are two beautiful, side-by-side beaches on Nevada’s East Shore, and I think they stand out from the rest because they are much longer than most beaches along this iconic stretch!
By this, I mean that many of the best and most beautiful beaches and coves on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe are better suited for paddling and jumping off the rocks into the water. However, they often don’t have a very large beach—or at least not one as long as either Secret Harbor or Creek Beach!
This is why I recommend considering both beaches if you’re looking for one of the better options to actually find a flat place to lay out in the sun—not to mention, the rocks at the far northern and southern ends of either beach make great places to jump into the lake!
Google Maps Directions: Secret Harbor & Creek Beach
11. Stateline Lookout Trail
Distance (One Way to Lookout): 0.75 miles / 1.2 km
Distance (One Way on Summit Loop): 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Stateline Lookout Trail is an easy, historical trail between Kings Beach and Incline Village on the North Shore that climbs to the site of a former fire lookout, where visitors can learn about what this viewpoint meant in terms of fighting fires for nearly 66 years in the Lake Tahoe Basin!
Today, the fire lookout no longer remains, but in the opinion of a longtime Lake Tahoe resident, the west-facing viewpoint at the top is one of the best places to catch sunset in the Basin—notably because it’s such a short and easy hike back in the dark once the sun goes down!
Read My Separate Post: Stateline Lookout Trail
12. Bike the Marlette Flume Trail
The Flume Trail, officially called the Marlette Flume Trail, is a stunning, world-class mountain biking adventure in the mountains above North Lake Tahoe that connects Marlette Lake with Tunnel Creek Road near Incline Village!
However, there is no parking at Marlette Lake, which is why the route most people refer to as the Flume Trail is actually a nearly 13-mile (20.0 km) one-way ride from Spooner Lake to the Tunnel Creek Trailhead—the same trailhead that also serves the popular Monkey Rock Trail.
That said, the highlight of the Flume Trail is the roughly 4.5-mile (7.2 km) section between Marlette Lake and Tunnel Creek Road, where a narrow single-track trail follows the path of a historic wooden water flume high above Lake Tahoe’s Eastern Shore!
What I hope all this says is that booking a tour is highly recommended in order to have the best experience, because after the gradual ascent from Spooner Lake to Marlette Lake, the Flume Trail becomes an incredibly fun, mostly downhill ride to Tunnel Creek—and certainly not a climb you will want to turn around and repeat at the end of a long day!
13. Rent a Private Boat
There are both private and non-private boat tours on Lake Tahoe, and while there’s certainly a fair case to be made for each, renting a private boat to enjoy the lake with your own captain is, without a doubt, one of the best ways to spend a day on Lake Tahoe!
That said, boat rentals of any kind are very expensive on Lake Tahoe, but when split between a large group, the price per person is actually quite reasonable for the experience you’re getting!
Boat rentals are most common in South Lake Tahoe and the nearby Stateline–Zephyr Cove area, as well as Tahoe City and Kings Beach on the North Shore.
With that in mind, I strongly recommend against letting where you are staying to be a factor when deciding what tour to book. Instead, choose the option that is the best fit for your group, regardless of the time it will take to drive to the marina—keeping in mind that bigger rentals with plenty of space for larger groups are the best way to enjoy your time on the water!
14. Whale Beach
Whale Beach is a very small but stunning cove near the southernmost end of the best beaches along Nevada’s iconic East Shore—the side of Lake Tahoe that is widely regarded as the best and most beautiful to visit!
That said, I think it’s important to highlight that the beach itself is very small, but what makes Whale Beach so special is all the granite boulders just offshore that are all fun to swim out to, paddle out to, lie on in the sun, and jump off of on a hot summer day!
Google Maps Directions: Whale Beach
15. Captain Pomin Trail
Distance: 2.4 miles / 3.9 km
The Captain Pomin Rock Trail is a little-known sunset hike on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe that winds its way through a very unpopular and uncrowded section of National Forest, ultimately ending at a hidden granite peak overlooking the entirety of the lake!
What all this hopefully says is that the Captain Pomin Trail is not a maintained trail like many of the best adventures around Lake Tahoe are. Rather, it’s what’s known as a 'social trail' and, as a result, is actually quite a confusing hike if you don’t know where you’re going.
This is why I highly recommend reading and studying my post linked below, as there are four confusing turns on the trail, which can mean the difference between getting off track and finding the beautiful peak at the very end!
Read My Separate Post: Captain Pomin Trail
16. Angora Lakes Trail
Distance (Roundtrip): 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The Angora Lakes Trail is a very short and easy hike just outside of South Lake Tahoe that leads to not one but two stunning alpine lakes, both of which are great places to swim, fish, paddle, lie out in the sun, and, best of all, enjoy some amazing fresh-squeezed lemonade sold at the Angora Lakes Resort!
Before visiting, know that, just like Lake Tahoe’s famous East Shore, the Angora Lakes are very popular during the summer, as the hike is only 0.75 miles (1.2 km) each way.
This is why I highly recommend arriving first thing in the morning if you want to enjoy Upper Angora Lake—the more beautiful of the two—before it gets busier throughout the day.
Read My Separate Post: Angora Lakes Trail
17. Baldwin & Pope Beach
Baldwin and Pope Beaches are two beautiful neighboring South Shore beaches between South Lake Tahoe and Emerald Bay that each make for great places to swim, paddle around, and, overall, enjoy the day with the whole family!
That said, both beaches are managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and as a result, there is a small parking fee to visit either.
If you’re trying to decide which is the better of the two, my personal preference leans toward Baldwin Beach because it is a little easier to park, walk a bit, and find your own quiet area along the beach, which is something that most certainly cannot be said about Sand Harbor to the north!
Google Maps Directions: Baldwin Beach / Pope Beach
18. Sand Harbor State Park
After what I just said about Sand Harbor above, it might seem as if it’s not a great place to visit, but it’s important to arrive with realistic expectations, knowing that Sand Harbor State Park is the busiest beach on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe—possibly the entire lake!
Nevertheless, Sand Harbor is a very beautiful, family-friendly beach, and what I think sets it apart is that it is a great place to rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards in order to do some exploring on your own!
This is noteworthy because, as previously mentioned, Bonsai Rock is very difficult to visit from the highway. However, Bonsai Rock is only a 0.6-mile (1.0 km) paddle from the southernmost side of Sand Harbor Beach, making it one of the best ways to visit this one-of-a-kind destination without having to walk along the highway, like I described above.
Google Maps Directions: Sand Harbor State Park
19. Treehouse Cafè & The Free Bird
Both Treehouse Café and The Free Bird are among the best coffee shops in Lake Tahoe, and the reason I included two under one recommendation is that Treehouse Café is located in Kings Beach on the North Shore, while The Free Bird is conveniently located right in the heart of South Lake Tahoe!
Therefore, if you happen to be staying on either end of the lake, there’s always a great nearby coffee shop that makes for a perfect stop before setting out on one of the many beautiful adventures talked about on this list!
Yelp: Treehouse Cafè / The Free Bird
20. Castle Rock Trail
Distance (RT Not Including Loop): 2.0 miles / 3.2 km
The Castle Rock Trail is a fun and easy day hike just up the hill from Stateline and South Lake Tahoe that I believe is one of the best hidden gems for sunset hiking on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe!
I say this because the end of the Castle Rock Trail is, deceivingly, not a great place to catch the sunset, which is exactly why it is typically a much less crowded sunset hike than Monkey Rock, farther north.
However, by venturing beyond the main viewpoint and exploring the little-known loop around Castle Rock, as outlined in my separate article, hikers can enjoy the sunset from one of several hidden viewpoints above the trees, as seen in the photo below!
Read My Separate Post: Castle Rock Trail
Why am I Recommending these Viator Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
Additionally, I’ve included these tours because some things, such as renting a boat, are only possible by booking a tour, and the options that I’ve listed provide a safe and amazing way to experience Lake Tahoe in a way you may not have been able to otherwise!
8 Best Things to Do Near Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe and everything to do in and around the Sierras are seemingly synonymous with one another, but I also recommend looking beyond the Sierras and the Reno–Tahoe area, as even my first recommendation, Great Basin, can be a great option to consider—especially since the park is never a convenient choice from any other nearby destination, let alone Lake Tahoe!
1. Great Basin National Park
I like to say that Great Basin National Park is pretty convenient to absolutely nothing, but if you’re already visiting Nevada to see Lake Tahoe, Great Basin is quite the hidden gem that’s absolutely worth going out of your way to see!
I truly believe this because there are beautiful towering peaks, the only glacier in the State of Nevada, and the oldest trees on Earth, all located in this little-known mountain range in eastern Nevada!
This is why, if you enjoyed all that I have written about Lake Tahoe, I highly recommend checking out my separate article about Great Basin, as I have spent much more time in the park than most, which is why I’m confident this is the best article with the best recommendations about a place that most people tend to overlook!
Read My Separate Post: Great Basin National Park
2. Loneliest Road in America (U.S. Highway 50)
In 1986, Life magazine called a U.S. Highway 50 across central Nevada, the "Loneliest Road in America!"
Well, needless to say, the name stuck, and decades later, U.S. Highway 50 across central and eastern Nevada still bears the name today!
That said, the Loneliest Road in America has more than a few beautiful towns and destinations along the way, including Sand Mountain east of Fallon, the Town of Austin, the Northern Railway Museum in Ely, and, of course, Great Basin National Park!
This is all to say that if Great Basin is on your itinerary when visiting Lake Tahoe, then the Loneliest Road in America is the route to get there—not to mention, there’s a lot to love about turning the drive to Great Basin into an adventure of its own!
Google Maps Directions: Loneliest Road in America (Austin, Nevada)
3. Mt. Whitney Trail (Highest Peak in California)
Distance (Roundtrip): 22.2 miles / 35.7 km
Elevation Gain: ~6,165 ft. / 1,879 m
Mt. Whitney via Whitney Portal, just outside of Lone Pine, is a roughly 4-hour, 30-minute drive from South Lake Tahoe.
That said, there’s nothing quite like climbing to the summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest summit in the lower 48 states!
However, there is quite a bit to know about the climb before visiting, including how to get a permit for the trail, considerations around day hiking vs. camping, and countless other details about the climb itself, which you can read all about in my very detailed separate article linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Mt. Whitney Trail (Lone Pine)
4. Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is not a park I recommend visiting during the beautiful, sunny summer season, but if you happen to be visiting Lake Tahoe during the winter ski season, Death Valley can be a great place to add to your list!
That said, Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park is roughly 6 hours away from South Lake Tahoe, as the long drive is really just an extension of the drive to Lone Pine and Mt. Whitney mentioned above.
However, I’d say the drive is well worth the effort, which can and should be planned during the cooler off-season months!
Read My Separate Post: Death Valley National Park
5. Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe are two very close and convenient destinations when planned as a single roadtrip—especially when starting from Reno!
In fact, from the Reno Airport, Yosemite Village is only 4 hours and 25 minutes away when Tioga Pass is open.
To learn more, I’ve written an entirely separate post about Yosemite, similar to my detailed article about Lake Tahoe.
Read My Separate Post: Yosemite National Park
6. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
This recommendation should come as no surprise, as one of the most common California roadtrips is visiting all three National Narks in the Sierra Nevada at once.
For this reason, I want to highlight that Grant Grove in Kings Canyon National Park is only a 3-hour 30-minute drive from Yosemite Valley, and Giant Forest in Sequoia National Park is only 4 hours and 15 minutes away.
This is why, if you enjoyed reading everything I’ve written about Great Basin, I recommend checking out my separate article about both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, where I share the same inside information about everything there is to see and do on all sides of each park.
Read My Separate Post: Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park
7. Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park may seem a bit out of the way from Lake Tahoe, but if you’re flying to Sacramento to visit Lake Tahoe, then Lassen isn’t as out of the way as it may initially seem.
In fact, from the Sacramento Airport, Lassen Volcanic is only 2 hours and 40 minutes away—more than an hour closer than driving to Yosemite Valley.
To learn more, I’ve written an entirely separate post about Lassen Volcanic, similar to my detailed articles about visiting the parks in the Sierras.
Read My Separate Post: Lassen Volcanic National Park
8. Burney Falls
Distance: 1.1 miles / 1.8 km
Between Lassen Volcanic and Crater Lake National Park is a unique waterfall and California State Park that, in my mind, can only be compared with the waterfalls at the end of the Havasupai Trail in Arizona!
Before visiting, know that Burney Falls is a very popular summer destination, which is why I highly recommend visiting first thing in the morning. This way, you can enjoy the best of Burney Falls without the crowds—not to mention, the early morning light, as shown below, is the best time to take beautiful photos at the waterfall!
Read My Separate Post: Burney Falls Loop Trail
3 Things to Know Before Visiting Lake Tahoe
1. Most of the best beaches are located in Nevada between Sand and Skunk Harbor.
This should come as no surprise, given all my recommendations along this stunning 5.3-mile (8.5 km) stretch of Highway 28, but one of the most important things I have yet to mention is just how popular Lake Tahoe’s East Shore truly is!
Yes, every beach along this stretch is just as beautiful as it is busy during the warmest summer months, which is exactly why I highly recommend arriving first thing in the morning, regardless of which one you plan to visit!
I say this both because the water is that much more enjoyable and because parking is a serious challenge at any one of these Nevada beaches, which is hopefully obvious from how difficult I described visiting Bonsai Rock above!
2. North Lake Tahoe closes early, while South Lake Tahoe stays open later.
Those who call Lake Tahoe home often refer to South Lake Tahoe as 'the city,' and while it’s not a city in the traditional sense, the casinos, restaurants, and all-around busyness of the area can certainly make it feel like one!
However, that’s not necessarily a bad thing because, while catching the sunset from the East Shore is easily one of the best things to do in Lake Tahoe, it almost certainly means that restaurants around the lake are starting to close by the time you hike back down and make the drive back to wherever you’re staying.
To my earlier point, this is exacerbated in North Lake Tahoe, with The Grid being one of the best places open late, while in Stateline and South Lake Tahoe, there are a few more options to consider.
3. Lake Tahoe is a big mess in terms of land ownership and management.
If there’s one way to truly say what I’m trying to say, it’s that there is no consistency in terms of fees, management, and parking when it comes to visiting beaches, trails, restaurants, and more.
By this, I mean that Lake Tahoe is one big mess of land managed by the National Forest Service, Nevada and California State Parks, and private ownership, which is to say: expect different rules and different fees everywhere you plan to visit.
This even applies to National Forest trails, where you might expect federal recreation passes to apply, only to find a separate fee, such as the Bayview Day-Use area that serves the hike to Cascade Falls and Maggie’s Peak.
While all these different rules and regulations can certainly be annoying for unaware first-time visitors, I think it’s easier to visit places in Lake Tahoe with the expectation of there being a fee and being pleasantly surprised if there isn’t!
