Emerald Bay State Park Tours

A calm lake surrounded by dense forests and distant mountains under a clear sky.

A clear turquoise lake surrounded by dense green forest and distant mountains.

Two people kayaking on a calm body of water with a forested shoreline in the background.

A clear turquoise lake surrounded by dense pine forests and rocky shores.

A beach with people kayaking, a dock, and a forested hillside.

Visit Emerald Bay State Park

Activities

This scenic inlet offers a beautiful beach, island, waterfalls, wreck dives, heritage sites and campgrounds with views over the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe.

Declared a National Natural Landmark in 1969, Emerald Bay is surrounded by snow-capped peaks that are a stark contrast to the cobalt-blue water of the lake. It’s no wonder that photographers, hikers and other nature lovers flock here year-round.

Emerald Bay is located 22 miles (35 kilometers) south of Tahoe City. It’s the only inlet in the lake, and home to Lake Tahoe’s only island: Fannette Island. Accessible by boat or kayak, Fannette was home to whiskey-loving Captain Dick Barter, nicknamed the “Hermit of Emerald Bay.” He built his own tomb on the land, but it never became his final resting place, because his boat sank in a storm, and he was never seen again.

Hike to the Lower Eagle Falls near the lake’s edge or explore one of the other trails further inland. There’s a short one-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail that leads you to a stunning beach at the mouth of Eagle Creek. It fills up with boats in summer, so get there before the crowds. It’s not uncommon to spot Californian black bears, among other native animals, on some of the hiking trails.

For a cultural experience, take another one-mile (1.6-kilometer) trail to Vikingsholm, a Scandinavian-style mansion built in 1929. The elaborate house was built as a summer home for an heiress. Pay for a guided tour to learn about its design and its wealthy owner. You can still see the ruins of her Tea House on Fannette Island.

Scuba divers can jump into the lake and explore the underwater world off Lester Beach or pay for a boat trip to dive shipwreck sites. This is a designated Underwater Park, so leave all artifacts in place.

Emerald Bay is easily accessible by car and has a shuttle service from Tahoe City. The waterfront and sheltered campsites for summer stays have bear-resistant food lockers. There is a visitor center, and parking along the bay is paid. The island is closed to the public from February to mid-June. The falls dry up in summer.

Plan a trip to see Emerald Bay State Park

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The Westin St. Francis San Francisco on Union Square

Union Square

￥208,203

per person

Nov 9 - Nov 13

found 1 day ago

Roundtrip flight included

Tokyo (TYO) to San Francisco (SFO)

8.8/10 Excellent! (2,259 reviews)

SIRTAJ - Beverly Hills

South of Wilshire

￥257,531

per person

Nov 4 - Nov 10

found 14 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (HND) to Los Angeles (LAX)

8.2/10 Very Good! (1,012 reviews)

Our overall experience was disappointing, particularly when it came to service and attention to detail. The hotel did not seem to be on top of basic room maintenance. For example, the closet door in our room would not open properly—something that should have been noticed and corrected before a guest checked in. We also found the front desk staff to be unnecessarily rigid and felt that the hotel nickel-and-dimed its guests. Our room was already cleaned and available when we arrived around noon, yet we were told we would have to pay an additional $50 if we wanted to check in before 2:00 PM. I can understand an early check-in fee when special arrangements are required, but charging $50 when the room was already sitting ready seemed excessive. On the way to our room, we noticed another room in the same price category that appealed to us a little more. We politely asked if we could switch to that room and were given a flat “No,” without any explanation or attempt to accommodate us. Finally, a large yellow “Wet Floor” sign was left directly in front of our room for our entire two-night stay. When we asked if it could be moved, we were simply told that it could not. It may seem like a small issue, but it was another example of the lack of attention and flexibility we experienced throughout our stay. Our impression of the hotel is that could benefit greatly from better attention to its rooms and a more accommodating, guest-friendly approach to service.

Reviewed on Aug 26, 2026

Fairmont Miramar Hotel

Wilshire Montana

￥354,276

per person

Nov 4 - Nov 10

found 14 hours ago

Roundtrip non-stop flight included

Tokyo (HND) to Los Angeles (LAX)

8.6/10 Excellent! (1,052 reviews)

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