Overview
Emerald Bay is a state park in the Lake Tahoe region of California. This is a small bay located at the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe and contains its only true island, Fannette Island.
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 80°F; winter lows dip to about 18°F. Wettest: Feb and Dec. (climate data from nearby South Lake Tahoe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- TKF Truckee Tahoe Airport, Truckee — 25 mi away. Directions
- RNO Reno Tahoe International Airport, Reno — 42 mi away (major hub). Directions
By car Emerald Bay can be accessed from Highway 89 south from Tahoe City or west from South Lake Tahoe. The bay cannot be accessed by car. There is a short but steep hiking trail down from the highway to Vikingsholm, which is on the shore, and a trail leads from Eagle Point campground to a beach.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Food for you
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Understand
Emerald Bay is a flooded glacial valley that was carved during the Ice Age by a glacier that has since disappeared. The Bay has been listed as a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.
History
Landscape
Flora and fauna
Climate
Get in
By car Emerald Bay can be accessed from Highway 89 south from Tahoe City or west from South Lake Tahoe. The bay cannot be accessed by car. There is a short but steep hiking trail down from the highway to Vikingsholm, which is on the shore, and a trail leads from Eagle Point campground to a beach.
By boat Power boats and sailboats can reach Emerald Bay from any part of the Lake.
By kayak Emerald Bay is an easy paddle from Kiva Beach at Tallac Point to the south. It can also be reached from D. L. Bliss State Park to the north, but parts of the route have sheer cliffs where stopping would be impossible, so it should only be attempted by confident paddlers.
Sternwheeler tours leave from South Lake Tahoe and Zephyr Cove, but do not stop in the bay.
See
Vikingsholm is a historic Scandinavian-inspired home at the head of the bay. It is one of the best examples of Scandinavian architecture in America.
The Tea House on Fannette island was built by the owner of Vikingsholm as a spectacular location for hosting tea parties. It can be seen from anywhere at the bay, but can only be reached by private boat. However, there is no dock. Swimming from the shore of the mainland is prohibited. Once onshore, there is a path to the Tea House at the top. It requires a little bit of rock scrambling. The Tea House is a stone structure whose original wooden roof is missing.
Do
Hike the Rubicon Trail. The trail can be accessed at Vikingsholm. It follows the shoreline of the bay to south to Eagle Point campground. To the north it follows the shore of the bay and the main part of the lake all the way to D. L. Bliss State Park. The Eagle Falls trail also starts at Vikingsholm and goes up the valley to an impressive waterfall.
Buy
Vikingsholm has a small gift shop.
Sleep
Lodging
Camping
Eagle Point Campground is on the point at the south of the mouth of the bay. It is a large campground with supplies of water and bathrooms including coin-operated showers.
The Emerald Bay Boat Camp is a smaller campground nicely situated in the evergreens on the center of the north shore of the bay, accessible only by boat. It has water and pit toilets, but no showers. There is a dock and moorings for boats (reserved for use by campers).
Backcountry
Stay safe
Bears are frequently seen in the area of Emerald Bay. The most important measure to stay safe from bears is to keep all unattended food in approved bear-proof containers provided by the park. Even non-food items are a risk if they have a smell. Things you might not think of like toothpaste and sunscreen should be locked in the bear locker. When hiking, make noise by talking, clapping, singing, or wear a bear bell. Bears will usually avoid humans if aware of their presence. Bear spray can be carried as a last resort.
There is a 5 mph speed limit for boats within the bay. Stay between the channel buoys when entering the bay. Submerged rocks are a hazard especially on the north side of the entrance.
Go next
D.L. Bliss State Park has a large sandy beach with a wide expanse of shallow water. Richardson Bay is a commercial campground to the south offering a number of services.
Nearby
Bliss State Park
Park · 2 mi away
South Lake Tahoe
City / town · 22 listings · 6 mi away
Stateline
City / town · 14 listings · 8 mi away
Homewood
City / town · 6 listings · 10 mi away
Tahoe City
City / town · 27 listings · 15 mi away
Minden
City / town · 6 listings · 17 mi away
Kirkwood
City / town · 18 mi away
Olympic Valley
City / town · 9 listings · 18 mi away
My experience
Write about your trip here. Notes save automatically in this browser as you type; back them up from My journal.