In October of 2016 Austin and I went on an epic road trip that looped from San Francisco to Yosemite, to Mammoth Lakes and back. On the way back to San Francisco we had planned on spending a day in Lake Tahoe, but to much sadness, there was a massive forest fire where the Governor declared a state of emergency. We weren’t able to explore to Lake Tahoe that trip, but we knew that one day we would have to come back to see what this elusive place had to offer.

Feeling wanderlust we decided to travel to Lake Tahoe in July of 2018. Lake Tahoe blew away our expectations. The shimmering cobalt blue water, snow-capped mountain peaks, and crisp air made for an incredible backdrop to our adventures. Although Lake Tahoe is no secret, it’s difficult to find what is truly worth doing with limited time. Outlined below are some of our favorite activities with some quick tips to make your trip as smooth as Lake Tahoe.

Hiking

Quick tips:

• AllTrails App: I 100% recommend downloading the AllTrails app before you get into the wilderness where there is zero signal (the free version works great). It has helpful features such as an interactive map feature, so when you lose service you always know where you are hiking.
• Getting There Early: Get to the state parks before 10:00 AM, and bring cash (around $10 for parking). Anytime after that will be nearly impossible to find parking and go on the incredible hikes.

1. Rubicon Trail, D.L. Bliss State Park, CA

Rubicon Trail was the best first hike we could have picked to embark on day 1 of our trip, we truly were in “bliss”! This trail was right next to the lake for the entire duration with incredible views of the turquoise blue water and mountains with every step. Rubicon trail extends for 11.9 miles long, and we only did 8.5 which was perfect for us. This trail takes you directly to Emerald Bay, which is the gem of Lake Tahoe. Expect to discover beautiful coves and cliffs overlooking the clear water (which you can see straight down 70 ft into the water). We stopped many times to soak in the beauty, this hike took us half a day to complete.

AllTrails Rubicon Trail

2. Eagle Lake Trail, CA

Eagle Lake Trail is a short 1.8 mile straight up hike that initially starts with incredible views of Emerald Bay and a rushing waterfall. Climbing straight up to Eagle Lake, a charming lake 7,000 ft above sea level. Along the way, there is a scenic swimming hole to enjoy. We thoroughly enjoyed walking in the back trails once we got to Eagle Lake, and swear we heard a bear ruffling through the forest (which I immediately ran as fast as I could away from)!

AllTrails Eagle Lake Trail

Beaches

Quick tips:

• Ease Your Way into the Freezing Water: Swimming in Lake Tahoe is unique because of its frigid temperatures even in the summer. Cold shock is involuntary gasp reflex caused by sudden immersion in cold water and is far too common cause of death in Lake Tahoe. Ease your way in the cold water and wear a life jacket.
• Beware of Slippery Rocks: Lake Tahoe is famous for it’s beautiful rocks that you can see clearly in the water. It may be tempting to stand on them during your swims, but there is a lot of algae growing on them so just be careful before you put all your weight on them.
• Getting There Early or Late: Get to the beaches before 10:00 AM or after 3:00 PM, and bring cash. The state parking lots will fill up before you know it, and the parking on the road is hit or miss depending on the times.

1. Sand Harbor, NV (Paddle Boarding)

This beach is the overall best due to the amenities of having a place to grab something to eat, restrooms and kayak and stand up paddleboard (SUP) rentals. We rented our paddle boards for 3 hours and got waterproof bags to bring our phones to take pictures. Paddleboarding in the middle of the lake and along the shoreline was breathtaking due to discovering the true depths of Lake Tahoe. We paddle boarded a little over a mile to reach the stunning, yet lesser known Bonsai Rock.

Bonsai Rock (pictured below) is remarkable because against all odds, there are small trees growing out of the cracks. You can swim up and appreciate the mightiness of Bonsai rock while basking in the sun on it or the surrounding rocks. All makes for great photo opportunities.

Trip Advisor Sand Harbor

Bonsai Rock Location

2. Secret Cove, NV

This beach is a nude beach for locals, so be prepared and respectful. There are no amenities, just untouched beauty. We parked on the road and walked along the side until we saw the faint dirt path to get down. There are many paths that all lead to the same place, so don’t worry if you’re can’t figure out which dirt path to take. This beach is a must-do for the stunning aerial views and peacefulness it has to offer. Our favorite part about this beach is that you could hike above, or lay on a rock down by the water to enjoy. We loved it so much, we came back twice!

Secret Cove Location

3. Zephyr Cove, NV

We inadvertently escaped the chaos and $40.00 parking by going late in the afternoon and walking off the beaten path to the most stunning reading rock (location tagged below). We completely lost track of time and ended up reading there until the sunset. This was truly the perfect spot to watch the sun dip below the Sierra Nevada mountains because of the unobstructed view of the west and quietness of it just being us.

Reading Rock Location

Boating

We saw boats zipping around the lake on our Rubicon Trail hike, so we wanted to explore for ourselves. Seeing the lake from a boat’s perspective is an absolute must if you are able. We saw the lake from an inverse perspective, which allowed us to see places we weren’t able to while on the outside looking in. Boating enabled us to travel around the lake quickly while admiring the 360° panoramic view of the mountains and hidden coves. We anchored the boat next to Fannette Island to admire the ruin “tea house” on top of the island. This was constructed by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, the owner of Vikingsholm (38-room mansion on the shore of Emerald Bay) to bring guests for high tea.

We got extremely lucky by going to Action Water Sports to rent a boat when we did because we got a deal for 4 hours for the price of 3, and only had to wait 20 minutes without a reservation. This was the most affordable boat rental option we found, and what’s nice about this place is there are 4 locations around the lake. If you are more proactive then us, you are able to book online for reservations from 8:00-10:00 AM.

Action Watersports

Fannette Island Location

Biking

On the way to the Rubicon Trail Head, we passed a lot of bikers near Camp Richardson and wanted to try it out! I’m not an experienced mountain biker like Austin, so this was a great compromise because we were able to go off the beaten path, without the danger of going downhill. There are many bike trails that lead you to the beaches in South Lake Tahoe in the map below. It was a great way to switch up getting around and exploring the parks.

Bike Map

Food

Sprouts Cafe, CA

I’m a pescetarian and Austin eats really healthy, so we were so excited to discover our new found favorite eating spot, Sprouts Cafe. We went here almost every day for either breakfast or lunch (sometimes both)! Everything was just so healthy, fresh, and good vibes we couldn’t get enough of it. The owner has a sweet story how Sprouts came to be check it out here, so it made us want to support this place even more. I recommend absolutely any of the smoothies, especially the protein blast. They have delicious sandwiches (I got the vegetable crunch so good), grain bowls (I got the baked tofu bowl as seen in the photo below) and burritos (I got the mixed veggie burrito). Can you tell we went there a lot? A fantastic place to fuel up for all the activities above!

Yelp Sprouts Cafe