Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary: The Complete Guide

In the summer, Lake Tahoe is one of the most picturesque spots in the US, with beautiful dense pines, impressive (often still snow-capped) mountains, and shockingly blue water. This setting makes for some incredible hiking, and offers plenty of opportunities for water sports. 

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know before visiting Lake Tahoe in the summer. I’ll go over travel tips, as well as some of Lake Tahoe’s most iconic spots. This guide includes Tahoe’s Chimney Beach, Rubicon Trail, Emerald Bay, Secret Cove, and so much more. Below, I’ve included a full 2-day Lake Tahoe summer itinerary from my recent visit, as well as additional things to do in Lake Tahoe if you have more time!

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Where to Stay in Lake Tahoe

We stayed at an Airbnb in the Carnelian Bay area, on the northwestern/California side of the lake. This location was ideal for us, because it was relatively close to the beaches we wanted to check out on the Nevada side of the lake (about a 25-minute drive), and still close to Emerald Bay (about a 35-minute drive). 

This may sound like a lot of driving, but keep in mind Lake Tahoe is big – you’re going to spend some time in the car! 

Ultimately, the itinerary below lends itself best to staying closer to the northern side of the lake. That said, it’s best to finalize what you want to do in Lake Tahoe, and then decide where to stay. You’ll find rental homes and hotels all around the lake. 

What to Bring to Lake Tahoe

As you prepare to visit Lake Tahoe, here are a few of the essential items you’ll want to add to your packing list:

• Sunscreen: Proper sun protection is a must when you’re exploring Lake Tahoe – especially in the summer. My favorite body sunscreen is the Supergoop Play SPF 50, which is water and sweat-resistant. For the face, a high-quality water-resistant sunscreen I like is the Sun Bum Original SPF 50 Sunscreen Face Lotion. 
• Hiking Boots: Tahoe is known for its amazing hiking trails, which means you’ll want to have good hiking boots that will keep your feet supported and comfortable as you explore. I’ve had my Merrell hiking boots for years, and they’ve held up incredibly well. The updated version of what I own (and recommend!) are the Merrell Women’s Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boots and the Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot.
• Day Pack: You’ll want a backpack to carry your essentials as you’re exploring the trails. A smaller backpack that I own and recommend is the AOTIAN Mini Nylon Backpack. It’s compact but big enough to carry the essentials, including a small water bottle, snacks, and your wallet and keys. If you need something a little larger, an affordable larger hiking backpack I like is the ZOMAKE Lightweight Packable Backpack 30L. I used this one on my most recent Lake Tahoe visit, and it was big enough to carry the above + a lightweight sweater, my camera, and an extra lens. 
• Snacks and Water: You’re going to be spending lots of time in nature away from any restaurants or convenience stores. Make sure you have lots of snacks and water on hand – especially when you’re hiking!
• Layers: Even in the summer, you can expect some cooler weather in the early morning and after the sun goes down. Make sure you’re prepared with some lightweight sweaters and/or hoodies.

2-Day Lake Tahoe Summer Itinerary

If you’re planning on spending some of your summer in Lake Tahoe, consider using this itinerary as a guide! My Lake Tahoe itinerary includes 2 full days, with some quick activities on arrival and departure day. If you have more time or want to switch out a certain activity, you’ll find additional things to do in Lake Tahoe in the summer after this section! 

Arrival Day

It was still light out when we arrived, so after checking into our Airbnb, we decided to head over to Sand Harbor Beach to eat dinner (we brought our own food) and watch the sunset. Heads up: parking is $10 for in-state (Nevada) vehicles, and $15 for out-of-state vehicles. 

This beach – which is on the northeastern side of the lake – is known for its beautiful rocky coastline and bright blue water. It is super popular and gets very crowded. If you plan on having a beach day there during the summer, plan to get there before opening to ensure you get a parking spot (yes, really). That said, parking clears up later in the day, and we didn’t have an issue with parking around 7:00pm. 

If you visit, be sure to take a walk along the trail on Sand Point. You get beautiful views of both sides of Sand Harbor beach, as well as Lake Tahoe. 

Day 1

Sunrise at Emerald Bay

On our first full day in Tahoe, we got up super early to catch the sunrise at Emerald Bay. I’d recommend getting there at least 20 minutes before the actual sunrise time, as you’ll see the sun beautifully illuminating the sky before it pops over the mountain. This is when we got some of the best sunrise photos!

We parked at the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot, which has an amazing overlook of Emerald Bay below. It gets crowded later in the day, but you won’t have an issue finding a spot at sunrise! There were about 3 other groups of people there when we visited.   

Something to keep in mind about the parking lot: it’s a paid lot ($10 for an all-day pass) and you get your ticket at a self-serve machine. However, that machine didn’t actually start allowing you to buy tickets until 6:30am. This means we needed to wait a bit before we could go on the Rubicon Trail (more on that below), so we improvised and went to the next spot…

Check Out Eagle Falls

To kill some time, we decided to walk over to Eagle Falls, which is just about a quarter of a mile down the 89. As you walk out the parking lot, turn left, and you’ll see a path that goes along the 89 (don’t worry – you’ll be safely off the road and away from cars!). Continue down the path until you see a staircase on the left down to the falls. 

You’ll need to do a bit of climbing on rocks (it’s easy!), but you can go right up to the stream. This spot is also a really lovely place to continue watching the sunrise. 

Hike the Rubicon Trail

Once it got close to 6:30am, we walked back over to the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot to finally pay for our parking ticket and start our big hike for the day at Rubicon Trail. This trail (which goes through both Emerald Bay and D.L. Bliss State Parks) takes you along and out of the bay, and gives you some of the most incredible views of the lake. Seriously – if you only have time for one hike, do this one. It’s absolutely one of the best hikes in Lake Tahoe.

The entire trail is 16.4 miles long, but there are multiple points along the way in both the state parks where you can access the trail. You can do as much or as little as you want. I’ve created an AllTrails map that shows the exact route that we took, starting at the parking lot.

We walked down to the trailhead located on the north side of Emerald Bay from the parking lot, and then continued hiking along the north side of the bay, eventually making our way out of the bay. 

This is a gorgeous part of the trail. On the first half, there were plenty of spots to get down to the water and hang out on small beaches lining Emerald Bay. On the second half out of the bay, we were mostly at a higher elevation, which gives you beautiful views of the (unbelievably blue) water below. We hiked about 2.5 miles out from the trailhead before turning around. 

Take the Trail to Vikingsholm and the Picnic Area

Before heading back up to the parking lot, we continued on the trail down to the Picnic Area at Emerald Bay to eat lunch and dip our toes in the water. Vikingsholm – a 38-room Scandinavian-style mansion built in 1929 – is located here. You can do a tour (more on that below after this itinerary), or just admire the exterior. It’s right off the shore – you won’t miss it!

Drive Down to South Lake Tahoe 

After our hike back up to the car, we decided to drive down to South Lake Tahoe – partially because we wanted/needed coffee, and partially because we wanted to drive over the Emerald Bay and Cascade Lake Ridge Road. This road offers incredible views, because you see the bay to one side below, and Cascade Lake to the other side. 

Once in South Lake Tahoe, we stopped by Revive Coffee. They have super delicious drinks (we got the Maple Sage Latte and the Blackberry Mocha – so good), and also a really lovely and spacious tree-covered outdoor seating space. They also have cornhole! It’s a great place to hang out and relax after a hike. 

We decided that we were still a bit hungry, so we decided to get some snacks (and a beer) at Cold Water Brewery and Grill right up the street. We got the sweet potato fries and the shishito peppers – both delicious!

Day 2

Quick Hike Down to Secret Cove

On our second day in Tahoe, we decided to make our way down to Secret Cove – a gorgeous beach on the east side of the lake that happens to be clothing optional (so be aware before you go!). We got there around 7:30am and no one had arrived yet, so it was nice to have the cove to ourselves for a bit!

We parked in this parking lot. Obviously, it is small, so getting there early is advised! If the lot is full, you can find a spot on the highway a bit further south. You’ll have to do a little bit of off-trail hiking to get down to the actual trail to get to the cove, but it shouldn’t be too difficult. 

How to Get to Secret Cove

From the parking lot linked above, you’ll start walking south down the fire road – NOT the trail on the right that says “Trail to Beach”. You’ll get to that beach (Chimney Beach) later. Follow the road for about half a mile before you see a small public restroom building, and a trail off to the right. Follow the trail and you’ll make your way down to the steps to get to Secret Cove!

Hike Over to Chimney Beach

After hanging out at Secret Cove, we followed the shorefront trail north to make our way to Chimney Beach. This beach has an old stone chimney on it. In the 1930s, a man bought a large part of the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, and built his estate there. This chimney was part of a cottage where one of the property caretakers lived. 

Like Secret Cove, this beach is super photogenic, with insanely blue water. It’s a great spot to stop for a snack, or jump in the water if it’s warm enough. 

How to Get to Chimney Beach from Secret Cove

Once you go back up the steps on the north side of the cove, you’ll see a trail on the left that is situated above the shore. Simply follow it north. About two-thirds of the way, you’ll see some paths that go up the hill. These lead to the parking lot – stay left for now, and then follow those paths when you’re ready to get back to the car. 

To make things easier, I created this map on AllTrails to show the route! There is service in this area (at least with Verizon), so it’s not a bad idea to download the app so you can make sure you’re on path. Getting from Secret Cove to Chimney Beach was easy, but we did need to consult that app a bit when getting back up to the parking lot. There’s a short but steep hill, so be ready to climb. 

Kayak in Kings Beach

We went home to regroup and eat lunch, and then went over to Kings Beach for some kayaking. Kayaking is one of the most popular things to do in Lake Tahoe in the summer, as it’s a great way to get another view of the lake!

We rented our tandem kayak at Adrift Tahoe, where you can also rent stand up paddle boards and canoes. Other rental stores in the area include Tahoe Paddle and Oar and Wild Society (which has clear kayaks and paddle boards – looks like a super cool experience!).

From here, you can kayak over to Speedboat Beach if you’re up for it, or just enjoy kayaking in the Kings Beach area.  

Explore Kings Beach Shops

After kayaking, we decided to walk around Kings Beach. There are plenty of fun shops to check out along the main road, and it’s also a great place to stop for ice cream! 

We passed by Kings Beach Miniature Golf, a small but super fun looking mini golf course that has been open since the 1950s. If you’re looking for something else to do in the area, this looked like a fun activity!

Dinner in Incline Village

We left Kings Beach, and drove over the state border to Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant in Incline Village for dinner. This casual spot has a vegetarian menu (along with a “normal” menu), delicious margaritas, and great chips and salsa – and it all hit the spot after an active day!

Departure Day

Breakfast in South Lake Tahoe

On our final day, we stopped by Driftwood Cafe in South Lake Tahoe for breakfast before hitting the road. This spot is the perfect cozy breakfast and lunch spot, with an extensive breakfast menu (which also has a couple vegan options). There’s a waitlist that you can join online before you actually arrive, which I highly recommend (it’s a popular spot!). 

Driving Down the 395

For anyone heading down to Southern California, I highly recommend taking the 395 over the 5. There’s a good chance GPS will route you that way anyway, especially if you’re coming from the southern/eastern part of the lake. 

The 395 is a hell of a lot more scenic than the 5, and there are also some cool spots to stop at along the way to help break up the trip. Here’s where we stopped as we made our way to Los Angeles:

• June Lake (Inyo National Forest): A pretty and popular lake. We stopped here to eat lunch and stretch our legs for a bit. 
• Hot Creek Geological Site (Mammoth Lakes): A naturally-heated creek where you’ll see bubbling boiling water in the neon blue pools, as well as occasional geyser activity. 
• Erick Schat’s Bakery (Bishop): A super popular European-style bakery with a huge selection of bread, pastries, desserts, and more. There are also coffee and sandwich stations inside. 

Additional Things to do in Lake Tahoe in the Summer

Ride the Ridge Rider Coaster

I so badly wish we could’ve done this – it opened for the season two days after we left! This gravity-powered coaster (located at the Heavenly Mountain Resort) gives you incredible views of the lake below as you coast down the mountain. The price for the coaster and the gondola ride up is $85.00 (but check the site for the most up-to-date pricing). 

Tour Vikingsholm

This historic mansion (which is located on the shore of Emerald Bay) can be toured late May/early June through September. Ticket prices for the 30-minute tour can be found here (currently $15 for an adult ticket). 

Keep in mind that you’ll need to walk a mile down to the mansion from the Emerald Bay State Park parking lot on the 89 highway. It’s a bit of a steep hill on the way back up, so be ready to get a workout in! That said, there are also boating tour packages that allow you to boat right up to the shore. The most up-to-date information on these packages can be found on the Vikingsholm website. 

Kayak to Fannette Island

This is one of the most popular things to do in Lake Tahoe for those visiting Emerald Bay. The small Fannette Island is located in the center of the bay, and is Lake Tahoe’s only island. It is home to the shell of a 1920s “tea house”, where the residents of Vikingholm would go with guests for tea. 

You can rent a kayak or paddleboard from Kayak Tahoe (check the site for current rates and hours), which is located right on the Emerald Bay shore, next to Vikingsholm. As is the case with Vikingsholm, you’ll need to follow a one-mile hike down to the shore from the parking lot. Rentals are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so it’s crucial that you get there early.

Additional Lake Tahoe Hikes

Summer in Lake Tahoe isn’t complete without some great hikes! In addition to the hikes mentioned in the itinerary, here are some popular hikes in the area to check out if you have more time:

• Cascade Falls Trail: A 1.4-mile out-and-back trail just south of Emerald Bay that offers views of Cascade Lake and Lake Tahoe in the distance. 
• Eagle Lake Trail: A 1.9-mile out-and-back trail west of Emerald Bay that takes you to the small but beautiful Eagle Lake. 
• Five Lakes Trail: A 5-mile out-and-back trail in the mountains above the western side of Lake Tahoe that takes you right up to (as you probably guessed!) five lakes.  
• Tahoe Rim Trail to Picnic Rock Viewpoint: A 3.1-mile out-and-back trail on the northern side of the lake that offers incredible views of Lake Tahoe from above.

Lake Tahoe Summer Travel Tips

Have Cash on Hand

Some of the parking lots only take cash for payment (Sand Harbor Beach being one of them), so make sure you have some on hand. 

Get Out Early

Lake Tahoe is an incredibly popular destination in the summer, and parking can be a hassle at some of the must-visit spots (Sand Harbor and Emerald Bay are definitely at the top of that list). Try to get out as early as possible – you’ll get good parking, and you’ll have some peace and quiet before the rest of the visitors wake up!

Bring the Right Footwear

In addition to having good hiking shoes, it’s a good idea to have a pair of flip flops (or other water-safe shoes) on hand. You’ll want these if you plan on kayaking. I also found it was nice to have them in my day pack when hiking down to the various beaches. 

Read Up on Bear Safety

There’s a good chance you’ll spot a black bear or two during your visit (we saw one while hiking the Rubicon Trail)! I found this guide to be helpful in knowing what to do if you come across a bear. 

Ready to check out even more of what California has to offer? Here are a few guides you might like:

• A Weekend in Joshua Tree: Travel Tips & Itinerary
• The Top Things to do in Red Rock Canyon State Park, California
• How to Plan the Perfect Day Trip to Solvang, CA
• The Best Things to Do in Idyllwild, CA