Lake Tahoe has been a popular destination for tourists in both the Summer and Winter for ages. I have been lucky enough to live in and experience this magical place right out of college. I moved here with my boyfriend, Nico, in December 2015 to the little town of Kings Beach, California. Even though we both would visit Tahoe with our families growing up, we have now manifested a new love for this spot.
Nico and I have by no means explored all there is in Tahoe, but we've given it a damn good try. Here are a few of our favorite hikes, beaches, restaurants, and things to do around the lake during summer...
Hikes
Picnic Rock
One of the closest hikes to our house, Picnic Rock is located right off highway 267. It's actually a section of the Tahoe Rim trail, which circles the entire lake. From the highway, it takes just about 1.5 miles to reach Picnic Rock. The trail begins by winding back and forth through the forest before opening up to magnificent views of Lake Tahoe at the top. There are a bunch of flat-topped rocks up there perfect for picnicking (hence the name).
Monkey Rock
The hike to Monkey rock begins in Incline Village, Nevada. The best place to park is at the Tunnel Creek Cafe. Then, take the service road behind the cafe up until you reach the hiking trail. Monkey Rock is just located off to the left of this trail. It's a rock that looks like a monkey but there are also a bunch of other rocks to climb on, sit on, and enjoy the view. The hike is about 1.5 miles each way.
Mt. Rose
While there are lots of different hikes in the Mt. Rose area, I will be focusing mostly on the 2.5 mile hike to Galena Falls. The hike can also be extended all the way to the Mt. Rose summit (10.4 miles round trip) if you wanted to make a day out of it. When we went in the spring, there was still snow on the ground, making it take a bit longer than expected just to get to the falls. The trailhead is located off highway 431 on the lefthand side.
Crystal Bay Lookout
So this is actually the closest hike to our house. It can be reached by taking any of the trails found behind 'the Grid' in Kings Beach or in Crystal Bay, NV by driving up Reservoir Rd. and turning right on Lakeview Ave. At the end of Lakeview there's a gate, which is followed by a half a mile hike (walk) up to the viewpoint. At the top, Crystal Bay can be seen to the East and Agate Bay to the West. Views are nearly 360 around with Lake Tahoe expanding off to either side of the mountain.
Castle Rock
The hike to Castle Rock is located off of Genoa Peak Rd. in Southlake. Hikers start on the trail behind the green gate before joining the Tahoe Rim Trail and then turning left on the Castle Rock Trail. In total it's about a 3 mile hike. Once you get to the rock, there are options to rock climb to the summit or just scramble over rocks to get a good view of the lake. Although gear is needed to climb Castle Rock, if you're not a climber, I found the views to be quite lovely from below.
Tahoe Meadows
Located just off highway 431 on the way to Mt. Rose are the Tahoe Meadows. This area actually has a lot of different options for hiking ranging from very easy to long and strenuous. The most common trail is the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive loop, which is mostly flat with portions consisting of boardwalk, making parts of the trail wheelchair accessible. The loops are only a 1.2 mile hike. Many people are out in this area walking their dogs. There is no view of the lake from the loop but other more difficult hikes in the area will take you there. The Tahoe Rim Trail passes through the Tahoe Meadows.
Eagle Rock
On the West shore of the lake just south of Tahoe City is Eagle Rock. It's an easy place to find, located just off highway 89 North of Homewood. Cars are parked off to the side of the road right by the trailhead. It's a short 1.5 mile hike to the top of Eagle Rock, which has beautiful, unobstructed views of the lake. We hiked up Eagle Rock in the fall and got a breathtaking look at fall-colored trees mixed in with the evergreens.
Rubicon Trail
Probably my favorite hike in the Tahoe area (so far) is the Rubicon Trail. I love this trail because it has a view of the lake almost the entire time you hike! The trail connects the state parks of Emerald Bay and D.L. Bliss and is about 6.5 miles long. The hike can begin at either Rubicon Trailhead in D.L. Bliss State Park or at Vikingsholm in Emerald Bay State Park. There is a fee for parking during the high season but in the offseason, the gate in D.L. Bliss is sometimes closed, making the hike a lot longer. To shorten the hike, cars can be parked at either end of the trail in both state parks.
Cave Rock
Although not very much of a hike, Cave Rock provides beautiful panoramic views of Lake Tahoe. The trail is located off Cave Rock Drive on the Southeast shore of the lake. It probably only takes 10 minutes to get to the rock itself, which is a great place to watch the sunset.
Beaches
Speedboat Beach
Located off Speedboat St. in between Kings Beach and Crystal Bay is Speedboat Beach. This little beach is characterized by the many granite rocks sitting offshore in the clear Tahoe waters. The beach itself can fill up quickly (especially when the lake is full) but space can often be found on top of the giant rocks, which make for great places to jump into the water. Parking near Speedboat is pretty limited with the surrounding neighborhood having narrow streets and lots of no parking zones. The beach can also easily be accessed by kayaking from Kings Beach. Dogs are technically not allowed on the beach (unless brought in by water vessel) but this rule is very lax.
Sand Harbor
A favorite destination for many of Tahoe's countless visitors, Sand Harbor is located on the East Shore, just south of Incline Village. This beach has a lot to offer for everyone. There's a long stretch of sand so it's easy to find a place to relax for the day (especially midweek or during the shoulder seasons). Sand Harbor is a great place to launch a boat or a kayak for exploring some of the East Shore beaches that are otherwise accessible by steep hikes. There is a lot of parking available at Sand Harbor but visitors will need to pay a day use fee. In the Summer it costs $12 per vehicle and in the off-season it costs $7. Nevada residents receive a $2 discount but since I lived on the California side of the lake, I unfortunately had to pay full price.
Kings Beach
While not my favorite beach in terms of looks, Kings Beach still has a lot to offer. Not only is this beach located just a 5 minute walk from my house, it's also a great place to launch a kayak (with Speedboat Beach a short paddle away). The majority of the beach technically doesn't allow dogs except for the area at the far east end (actually called Coon Street Beach) near the boat launch. This rule is also pretty lax and dogs can be found at either end, especially in the shoulder seasons. On the 3rd of July, Kings Beach hosts an Annual firework show. Traffic becomes very congested during this time so living within walking distance of the beach really paid off.
Emerald Bay
Another popular Lake Tahoe destination is Emerald Bay, known for its deep blue-green water and views of Fannette Island. Many tourists come to take in the views of the bay from above. There are a couple of places to stop along highway 89 and take pictures. To get down to the beach, one must hike from the parking lot on Vikingsholm trail (one starting point of the Rubicon trail). During the high season, there is a fee for parking. The beach can get busy during the summer with kayak rentals, campers, and swimmers. Vikingsholm is an old mansion located on the shore of Emerald Bay built in the 1920s by Lora Josephine Knight. Now, visitors can tour her castle-like home and the tea house located on top of Fannette Island in the bay.
Bonsai Rock
While not a beach, Bonsai Rock is a great place to spend an afternoon on the lake. It can easily be reached by kayak from Sand Harbor. Some people choose to park along highway 28 and scale the hillside down to the lake. Bonsai Rock gets its name from the small tree perched on top of the large granite stone, resembling the Japanese horticultural art. Many people come to climb Bonsai Rock; some dive into the lake, though I'm not sure how deep it actually is.
Nameless Beach
Located on the East shore just south of Sand Harbor and Bonsai Rock, is a dog beach with no name (as far as I can find). I've seen it titled "Great Tahoe Beach" on Google Maps and have heard it referred to as "Thunderbird Beach" due to its proximity to Thunderbird Lodge (the boathouse is visible from the beach). From highway 28, the prettiest blue-green blue green water can be seen glistening in the cove down below. This is what first brought me to the small beach soon after moving to Tahoe. Just after the glittery cove disappears behind the hillside, a parking area is found on the right (lake) side of the road. A trail is marked with signs warning about camping or lighting fires but no name for the beach is given. It takes about 10 minutes to walk down the trail to the beach, which appears to be very dog friendly (my mom's dog, Lucie, like to swim here). It's also about 1.5 miles to kayak here from Sand Harbor and the perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch.
Chimney Beach
If one continues to drive (or kayak) south from Sand Harbor, Secret Cove and Chimney Beach are the next stops to be visited along Tahoe's picturesque East Shore. The drive from Sand Harbor is about 2.6 miles south before hitting the trailhead and parking on the righthand side of the highway. Chimney Beach gets its name from an actual chimney, which is all that remains from a house that once stood along the shore. Secret Cove can also be easily reached from the same trailhead. It's a clothing optional beach with the same beautiful views and pristine water as the others down the Nevada side of the lake.
Summer Activities
Besides hiking or lounging around the lake, there are a few other great Lake Tahoe activities best enjoyed in the summertime...
Truckee Thursdays
Thursday evenings in downtown Truckee mean live music, refreshing beer, and shopping from local artisans and businesses. From mid-June through August, the main street in downtown truckee is closed off to automotive traffic and stalls where locals sell clothing, jewelry, and artwork open up around 5pm. In addition to the shopping, there is a beer garden for those at least 21 years old, live music, and a food truck dining area serving anything from pork pops to sushi.
Floating the Truckee River
Just in case you needed more water activities in Tahoe, you can easily rent a raft and spend the afternoon floating down the Truckee River. This activity is very seasonal and greatly depends on how much snow Tahoe received the previous winter. If the river is too low or too high, you could be out of luck for floating. The good news is, if you're in Tahoe in the early summer, you're likely able to get a chance to float down the Truckee River. Anyone is allowed to bring their own equipment (some go with just an inner tube) or there are 2 companies available to rent rafts (guide not included). The float starts in Tahoe City and stretches for about 5 miles. It takes anywhere between 2-3 hours. If you rent a raft, the company provides a shuttle to take you back to the top of the river when you're done.
Music on the Beach
In case you want to follow up your Thursday night beer drinking and concert going with more of exactly that, you can in Lake Tahoe! Kings Beach hosts Music on the Beach on Fridays at 6pm during the Summer. This event is a bit smaller than Truckee Thursdays and a lot more focused on the music, however, there is beer on tap to be enjoyed and occasionally a food truck or two.
Live at Lakeview
If you find yourself in South Lake on a Thursday (and want to drink beer and listen to live music), head over to Live at Lakeview, a beach concert complete with a beer garden and local food vendors. The event begins at 4:30 at Lakeview Commons and is a fun way to spend a Thursday evening.
Lupine Fields
Typically in June when the snow has finally melted and the flowers are starting to peek out of the ground, pretty purple lupines begin to cover the lakefront in Tahoe City. The best place to see these beauties is at Lake Forest Beach in Tahoe City. Come at Golden Hour and snag the best photo as the sun begins to set.
Restaurants
Azul
One of the few restaurants I've visited more than once in South Lake, Azul serves tasty food as well as some great drinks. I like to get a taco plate, which lets me pick 3 different types of delicious tacos.
Location: Heavenly Village
Type: Latin
My Favorite: Thai Curry Taco
Price: $$
Bite
My favorite restaurant that I've tried in the Tahoe area, Bite serves small plates of food that are best shared. Each dish has usually 4 pieces of the food item, except sliders, which come with 2. I have never had a dish I didn't like at Bite and to top it off, their drinks are also excellent.
Location: Incline Village
Type: American Tapas
My Favorite: Sweet Chile Glazed Baby Back Ribs
Price: $$
Tangier Tonique
The Drunken Monkey
Nico's favorite Tahoe restaurant (and high on the list for me), the Drunken Monkey serves a variety of Asian dishes from sushi to rice bowls. Nico's favorite roll is the Sierra Sunset. We also recommend the Mochiko Chicken. In addition to food, the Drunken Monkey has a large selection of sake and other cocktails.
Location: Truckee
Type: Asian Fusion / Sushi
My Favorite: Vietnamese Pho with Beef
Price: $$
FiftyFifty
A favorite place of mine to grab drinks after work, FiftyFifty brews great beer and serves tasty food. There can sometimes be a wait for a table but the bar is a great place to wait.
Location: Truckee
Type: Brewery / American
My Favorite: Steakhouse Salad
Price: $$
Lanza's Restaurant
If you want leftovers for a week, Lanza's is the place to go. The family-friendly restaurant serves large portions of pasta and other Italian dishes, which are big enough to share (or take home and eat for the next few days). To top it off, each entree comes with either a soup or salad and of course there's a basket of bread for the table.
Location: Kings Beach
Type: Italian
My Favorite: Penne Mac & Cheese (special)
Price: $$
Log Cabin Caffe
There are few things I love more than a good breakfast. Lucky for me, the log cabin is located just down the street. They are well-known for their benedicts (which Nico loves) though I've been known to go for something more sweet.
Location: Kings Beach
Type: Breakfast
My Favorite: French Toast
Price: $$
Lotus Pho
Although I'm not familiar with many of the restaurants in South Lake, whenever I make a trip down, Lotus Pho is a favorite to visit. The restaurant serves Vietnamese and other Asian style plates of food. Their Chinese food is actually very good and is always a treat since North Tahoe is pretty lacking in that regard.
Location: South Lake
Type: Vietnamese / Chinese
My Favorite: Lemon Chicken
Price: $$
Pianeta
Always a favorite for special occasions (or to visit our friend, Max, when he's working), Pianeta provides delicious food with a tasteful atmosphere. There are so many wonderful choices on this menu, it's hard to go wrong. I'd recommend a reservation, especially on weekends.
Location: Truckee
Type: Italian
My Favorite: Bistecca alla Modenese
Price: $$$
Rubicon Pizza
Although pricier than say, Domino's, Rubicon raises the bar with some really good pizza. With flavors such as Thai Red Curry Chicken and Smoky BBQ Chicken (topped with creamy smoked gouda), Rubicon towers over the ordinary. The best thing about it? Rubicon has sister restaurants (Basecamp & Fireside) located in South Lake and Squaw Valley.
Location: Northstar Village
Type: Pizza / Italian
My Favorite: Fire Roasted Medley
Price: $$
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