Deep blue waters, sacred mountains, and painting-like landscapes are just a few of the many ways to describe the beauty of Lake Tahoe. In this post, I’ll take you through a one-day travel guide that leisurely explores the southern and northern parts of this majestic 2-million-year-old alpine beauty.
TL;DR: If you’re short on time, here are some sites I recommend visiting starting from the south to the northeastern parts of the lake:
1. Emerald Bay State Park
2. Lakeside Beach
3. Van Sickle Bi-State Park
4. Secret Cove
5. Sand Harbor
Emerald Bay State Park and El Dorado Beach
Begin your journey at the southern part of the lake with Emerald Bay State Park. The top things to do within this park include hiking the Rubicon and Vikingsholm trails. Since our time was short and we arrived close to sunset, we opted out of the hike and took a short walk to Lower Eagle Falls. The view of the lake from this park is incredible, and I recommend stopping along the side of the road to snap a photo. If you’re a worrywart like me, exercise caution when driving along the winding roads to get to the park, and make sure to not stand too close to the edge of the waterfall.
Pro tip: Visiting in April is quite the treat as you can enjoy a fun snowball fight at the upper ledge of the waterfall while admiring the blooming flowers on the surrounding mountains.
To top the day off, I also encourage you to end the day at El Dorado Beach. The lake is stunning when it mirrors the pink and purple skies following the sunset. If you’re looking for a place to stay the night, Hotel Azure Tahoe is as convenient as can be. It’s located right next to the road leading to El Dorado Beach.
Lakeside Beach
Continue your Lake Tahoe trip with a visit to Lakeside Beach. This park is perfect for a picnic and provides a different perspective and color palette of the lake. Here, the waters are crystal-clear. The waves at the shore are mesmerizing as they blur the lines between the surrounding snow-capped, blue mountains and the bright yellow sand.
Van Sickle Bi-State Park
Have you ever wanted to be in two places at the same time? Van Sickle Bi-State Park is just the place for you. Take a stroll along the forest trails and find the border between Nevada and California. The pronounced state line makes for a great photo-op to commemorate your Lake Tahoe bilocation.
Secret Cove
Secret Cove is the Instagram-famous beach featuring the famous lake’s round rocks and turquoise waters. On your way to Secret Cove, drive through the impressive Cave Rock tunnel on Highway 50. If you have some extra time, take the 0.8-mile trail to walk on top of the rock. To get to Secret Cove, you’ll have to park along NV-28 and begin walking along the Secret Cove Hiking Trail starting point. The trail to the Secret Cove will move southeast. The 0.8-mile hike is moderate with a slight incline and boulders you’ll have to walk around. If you head north at any point, you’ll hit Chimney Beach. The best part about this side of the lake is that it is fairly off the beaten path and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful vistas devoid of people.
Sand Harbor State Park
As your full day in Lake Tahoe ends, round the trip out with a visit to Sand Harbor. This beach is known for the colossal groups of jurassic and cretaceous boulders stacked upon the lake’s emerald waters. Rest along the cedar trees and Jeffrey pines and watch as the sun sets over the lake.
Lake Tahoe is truly a beauty to behold, and this one-day travel guide only scratches the surface of it. I hope this itinerary inspires you to go forth and embrace the magic that awaits you in this magnificent corner of the world.
