Lake Tahoeone lake, two states, four shores

The north shore's main town. The Truckee River, the lake's only outlet, leaves the lake here, with a dam and a bridge over the outlet.

The ski area in Olympic Valley that used to be called Squaw Valley, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics. A short drive from the lake, so a winter-day stop rather than a lakefront one.

• Season Winter

A breakfast and lunch cafe on West Lake Boulevard in Tahoe City. Check its site for hours and the menu.

A lakefront grill with its own pier on the north shore. Check its site for hours, and reserve ahead on summer evenings.

Gently sloping sand beaches among granite boulders, with clear water for swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. A half-mile trail leads to Memorial Point. Very popular from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and closures can happen.

• Cost Day use $10 per vehicle ($15 non-Nevada vehicles); $2 per bike
• Parking Limited; no roadside parking on SR-28
• Book Vehicle day-use reservations required daily May 15 to Sept 30
• Season Open year-round; visitor center open year-round. Dogs only Oct 15 to Apr 15, on a leash

A paved three-mile trail from Incline Village south to Sand Harbor, with access to public beaches and coves on the way. The Tahoe Transportation District's East Shore Express has run in summer, so check whether it is operating.

• Time About 3 miles each way
• Level Easy, paved

Spooner Lake is a trailhead area at the SR-28 and US-50 junction. The Tahoe Rim Trail is a roughly 165-mile loop around the basin, open to hikers and horses and about half of it to mountain bikes; its high point is Relay Peak at 10,338 feet.

• Season Snow can cover high trail into early summer

• Season Late spring to early fall

Heavenly's ski area sits on both sides of the state line. The Scenic Gondola gives non-skiers a view of the lake from the mountain. In winter the mountain opens for skiing; Heavenly lists November 20, 2026 as its opening day for the 2026-27 season.

• Season Gondola and skiing both operate by season; check dates and ticket prices

Casinos and shows line US-50 on the Nevada side; shops and restaurants are a short walk away in California. The state line runs between them.

A US Forest Service site on the south shore with trails near the creek and lake. Hours and programs change by season, so check the Forest Service page.

Fannette Island, the only island in the lake, sits in the middle of the bay and is reachable only by boat (closed April and May, and swimming to it is not allowed). The classic photo is from the SR-89 overlook above the bay.

• Cost Vikingsholm lot: $10 per vehicle for the day, $3 for one hour
• Parking Lot closes when full; vehicles over 18 ft and trailers not allowed; shuttle mid-June to early Sept
• Season Visitor center and tours May 23 to Sept 30 (2026)

A Scandinavian-style house at the water's edge in Emerald Bay State Park. The trail down is steep (about a mile each way, with a climb back up), there are no rides out, and dogs are not allowed on the grounds. Tours are first come, first served, 10:30 to 3:30 in season.

• Level Steep out-and-back; not for people with mobility or medical concerns
• Season Tours end for the year on Sept 30 (2026)

A short trail from the SR-89 trailhead near Emerald Bay to Eagle Falls, with a longer route into Desolation Wilderness. Day hikers need a permit, and the lot has a fee; see the Forest Service page for the current steps.

• Parking Trailhead lot fills early in summer
• Book Desolation Wilderness day permit required

Almost two miles of west shore, the Ehrman Mansion built in 1903 for banker Isaias Hellman, and General Creek. In winter it has groomed and ungroomed cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.