Lake Tahoe Recreation Hiking in Lake Tahoe With a circumference of 72 miles, Lake Tahoe obviously has a lot of territory to explore on foot. The Tahoe Rim Trail system boasts over 150 miles of trail alone. Add to that the 81 trails in the Desolation Wilderness Area and over a dozen easy hiking trails within Lake Tahoe’s state parks, and you have a hiker’s paradise. Lake Tahoe hiking trails lead you to alpine lakes, waterfalls, forests, and mountain meadows. Spectacular views of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and Lake Tahoe beckon nature-lovers year after year. There are strenuous trails for the die-hard hiker and easier trails for the active family with kids. Paved trails for wheelchairs and strollers, and dirt trails for bikes, horses, and hikers. But before you plan your hike, get familiar with Lake Tahoe’s geography. If you’re planning on a few hikes in one day, group hikes in similar locations together. 4 Areas in Lake Tahoe .South Shore of Lake Tahoe .North and West Shore of Lake Tahoe .East Shore of Lake Tahoe .Carson Pass area of Lake Tahoe Lake Tahoe Hiking Trails Eagle Falls / Eagle Lake · Location: South Shore / Lake Tahoe · Rating: Easy/moderate · Duration: 1.5 hours (only 20 minutes to Eagle Falls, which is a popular destination) · Trailhead located at Eagle Falls Picnic Area, on highway 89. · Permit required. Convenient self-registration station located at trailhead. · 2 miles round trip to Eagle Lake (about 0.25 mile to the waterfall at Eagle Falls). · Beautiful up close views of the waterfall and lake. Trail crosses over Eagle Falls on a sturdy steel bridge. Trail climbs 500 feet, and is steep in places, but even young children manage this hike fairly well. Short interpretive loop by the Eagle Falls waterfall offers a sweeping view of Emerald Bay. Eagle Lake has several shady picnic areas (no tables) and is often a favorite spot to take a swim in summertime. Emerald Bay / Lower Eagle Falls · Location: South Shore · 2 ½ miles round trip to Lower Eagle Falls. If you want a longer trek, follow the trail past the castle (1.0 mile one way), the falls (1.25 miles), and on to Emerald Bay State Park (2.85 miles one way), or follow the trail north 4.5 miles to D. L. Bliss State Park. · Rating: Easy/moderate · Duration: 1.5 hours (to Lower Eagle Falls) · Along this trail, you can see some of the most scenic views in Lake Tahoe (looking down to Emerald Bay). You will also pass by the Scandinavian mansion home known as Vikingsholm Castle, 1 mile along the trail. A quarter of a mile further is Lower Eagle Falls (1.25 miles from the trailhead). Past the waterfall the trail continues to Eagle Point Campground at Emerald Bay State Park. Beyond this point, the trail meets up with the Rubicon trail, and continues 4.5 miles to D.L. Bliss State Park. · As this is a popular hike, come early to get a parking spot. · Trailhead located at Vikingsholm parking area. $6 parking fee. To get to this parking area from South Lake Tahoe, take Hwy 50 to the Y junction of Hwy. 50 & Hwy. 89. Take Hwy. 89. Drive 8.7 miles northwest on Hwy. 89. Turn right into the Vikingsholm parking lot. · Additional parking: $3 per day parking is available at Eagle Point State Park. From this area, the hike to Lower Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm Castle is longer but less steep. This trail sweeps along Emerald Bay before descending to the Castle and joining the other trail to the Falls. To find this parking lot, follow signs for Day Use Area of Eagle Point State Park. Glacier Meadow Loop · Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe · Rating: Very Easy · Duration: 30 minutes · Distance: 0.5 miles · This is a short interpretive nature trail that starts and finishes at the Donner Summit Rest area. Signs explain the geological forces that created the landscape. · Trailhead location: Pacific Crest Access Trailhead. Follow signs for the Tahoe National Forest Trailhead/Donner Summit/ Pacific Crest Trail area. Park at the Forest Service parking area, which has restrooms and water. You’ll find the Pacific Crest Access Trailhead/Donnor Summit Rest Area by taking the Castle Peak Area/Boreal Ridge Road exit off I-80. · Trail use: very heavy. As this is a popular hike, be aware that parking is sometimes difficult to find. Loch Leven Lakes · Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe · Rating: Moderate · Duration: at least 4 hours · 7.8 miles roundtrip to all 3 lakes. First lake is 2.7 miles (one-way) from the trailhead. Middle lake is 0.5 miles further along the trail, and the last of the 3 lakes, High Loch Leven (also called “High Lake”), is 1.2 miles further (3.9 miles from the trailhead, one way). Be aware that distances are approximate; some sources cite High Lake as 10 miles roundtrip. · Description: The three beautiful Loch Leven glacial lakes are a favorite destination for hikers. Clear blue and sprinkled with islands, the lakes beckon swimmers in hot summer months. If you want to escape the crowds, plan on going to at least the second of the two lakes. Anglers enjoy fishing the lakes, and lakeside camping is permitted at all of the lakes. · Trailhead: Coming from Soda Springs on I-80, take the Big Bend/Rainbow Rd. exit. Go west for 1 mile on Hampshire Rocks Road until you come to the trailhead parking area. The parking lot is 1/8 mile east of the Big Bend Visitor Center and ½ mile west of Rainbow Lodge. The trailhead is located across the street from the parking lot. · Trail Use: Heavy Lower Lola Montez Lake · Location: North and West Shores/ Lake Tahoe · Distance: 6.6 miles roundtrip · Rating: Moderate · Elevation: 6640-7200 feet · Duration: 3 hours · Elevation gain: 500 feet · Trailhead location: Coming from I-80 (west of Truckee), take the Soda Springs/Norden exit. Cross over the overpass to the north side of the freeway. Continue east 0.3 miles until you get to the parking lot.