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Quick answer: Emerald Bay State Park is on Highway 89 on Lake Tahoe’s southwest shore, about 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe. Park in the Vikingsholm lot ($10 a day or $3 an hour), then walk the steep 1-mile trail down to Vikingsholm, the Scandinavian-style mansion at the head of the bay. Tours ran daily from May 23 to September 30 in 2026, first come, first served. The park is open sunrise to sunset, dogs are not allowed on the trails or beach, and Highway 89 here closes during winter storms.
Emerald Bay is one of the best-known views on Lake Tahoe. The bay is a deep green-blue, ringed by forest, with the lake’s only island in the middle of it.
Most people stop at the overlook on Highway 89 and keep driving, but there is much more down at the water. You can tour Vikingsholm castle, hike the Rubicon Trail, paddle to Fannette Island, or dive a trail of sunken boats. I’ve lived in the region for seven years and visited for decades, and Emerald Bay is still one of the places I tell every first-time visitor to see. Dates, fees and rules below come from California State Parks and the Sierra State Parks Foundation, checked on October 11, 2026.
Emerald Bay State Park Key Facts
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | Highway 89 on the southwest shore, about 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe and 22 miles south of Tahoe City |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset; no overnight parking |
| Parking (Vikingsholm lot) | $10 per vehicle per day or $3 for one hour; vehicles 18 feet max, no trailers |
| Vikingsholm tours (2026) | Daily May 23 to September 30, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; $18 adults; first come, first served |
| Trail to Vikingsholm | 1 mile each way, dropping 500 feet; no rides back up |
| Fannette Island | Reachable only by boat or paddle; closed in April and May for wildlife breeding |
| Boat Camp | Boat-in campground on the north side of the bay; 2026 season closed |
| Dogs | Not allowed on trails, roads into the bay, beaches, Boat Camp, Vikingsholm or Fannette Island |
| Summer shuttle (2026) | Daily mid-June to September 7, stopping at the Eagle Falls Trailhead |
| Winter | Highway 89 at Emerald Bay closes during storms and avalanche danger |
Sources: California State Parks, Emerald Bay and the Sierra State Parks Foundation.
What Is Emerald Bay Known For?
Glaciers carved Emerald Bay, and the National Park Service lists it as a National Natural Landmark, designated in 1968 as an outstanding example of glacial geology. It was formally dedicated in a ceremony in 1969.
The park takes in the water as well as the land. California State Parks identified the waters offshore as a special underwater area in 1994, which is why divers and snorkelers come here as well as hikers.
Vikingsholm Tours: Dates, Tickets and Reservations
You don’t need a reservation to visit Emerald Bay for the day. Vikingsholm tours don’t take advance bookings either. They are first come, first served, with tickets sold at the Visitor Center just past the house.
Vikingsholm, the 1929 Scandinavian-style mansion at the head of Emerald Bay. Photo: Kevin Payravi / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
In 2026, the Sierra State Parks Foundation ran 30-minute tours every day from May 23 to September 30, every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no 12:30 p.m. tour. Tickets were $18 for adults, $15 for students 7 to 17, college students, active-duty military and seniors, and free for children 6 and under. The 2027 dates haven’t been posted yet.
Lora Josephine Knight built Vikingsholm in 1928 and 1929, with granite quarried from behind the house and timbers cut in the Tahoe Basin, according to California State Parks. Three major restoration projects were completed there in 2025, according to the Foundation. If you need ADA help to reach the house, the Foundation arranges assistance from June to September by email request.
How Do You Get Down to Vikingsholm?
Park in the Vikingsholm lot off Highway 89 and walk the trail down. It is 1 mile each way and drops 500 feet, so the walk back is a steady climb at about 6,800 feet. State Parks warns that there are no rides out, and people with medical conditions or mobility issues shouldn’t try it.
A less steep 1.5-mile trail leaves from the Eagle Point Campground campfire center. Lower Eagle Falls is a quarter mile behind the Visitor Center, and restrooms are about 50 yards in from the pier and open year-round. From October to May there are no services or drinking water at the bottom.
If you’d rather skip the hike, the Foundation partners with Action Water Sports and Cruise Tahoe on boat trips that include a Vikingsholm tour.
Can You Visit Fannette Island?
Fannette is the only island in Lake Tahoe. It rises about 150 feet out of Emerald Bay, and the small stone “Tea House” on top was built in 1928 and 1929, at the same time as Vikingsholm. Today only its stone shell remains, according to California State Parks.
You can only reach the island by boat, kayak or paddleboard. It is closed in April and May for wildlife breeding, and swimming out to it isn’t allowed because of boat traffic. Camping and dogs aren’t allowed on the island.
Emerald Bay Boat Camp and Eagle Point Campground
Boat Camp is the lake’s only boat-in campground. It sits on the north side of Emerald Bay, about half a mile east of Fannette Island, on the site of the old Emerald Bay Resort. In 2026 it opened on June 4 for reservations through ReserveCalifornia.com, and it has now closed for the season.
Eagle Point Campground, on the south side of the bay, opened June 12 in 2026 and has also closed for the season. Camping reservations open six months before your arrival date (1-800-444-7275). Overnight parking isn’t allowed in the Vikingsholm lot, even with a Boat Camp reservation.
The Emerald Bay Underwater Trail
The park also features the unique submerged Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail. It opened on October 1, 2018, as California’s first maritime heritage underwater trail, with interpretive panels at four dive sites.
The sites range from 10 to 60 feet deep. They include two large wooden barges that lumber companies once used as car ferries, plus small boats from the Emerald Bay Resort, among them a 27-foot launch called the Florence M, built in 1915. The barge site, off the southeast shore, works for both snorkelers and scuba divers.
State Parks advises reaching the sites by boat, following altitude diving practices, and preparing for very cold water all year, since the lake sits above 6,000 feet. Every artifact is protected by state law, so look but don’t take anything.
Rubicon Trail
If you’re looking for a way to see Emerald Bay from a different perspective, consider hiking the Rubicon Trail.
Looking across Lake Tahoe from the Rubicon Trail on the West Shore. Photo: Rick Cooper / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The trail follows the shore for 7.4 miles from Calawee Cove in D.L. Bliss State Park to Eagle Point Campground, with access points at the Lighthouse Trailhead and from the Vikingsholm trail. California State Parks rates it moderate to strenuous. Dogs and bikes aren’t allowed on it.
D.L. Bliss reopened in May 2026 after infrastructure upgrades. It closed to cars for the off-season on October 1, 2026, so you’ll need to park at the Visitor Center lot near Highway 89, about a mile from the closest Rubicon trailhead. Our D.L. Bliss State Park guide and best hiking trails in Lake Tahoe have more, along with these hiking trails for all skill levels. Read more about the Rubicon Trail.
Kayaking and Boating in Emerald Bay
Seeing the bay from the water is one of the best parts of a visit. California State Parks lists Kayak Tahoe as the park’s kayak rental and guided tour operator. A boat or paddleboard is also the only way to reach Fannette Island, outside its April and May closure.
State Parks asks paddlers and boaters to check the weather and wind before heading out, and dogs are allowed to stay aboard boats. Our guide to kayaking in Emerald Bay covers launch spots and routes.
The Best Time to Visit Emerald Bay
Late May through September is when everything is open: Vikingsholm tours, the campgrounds, the summer shuttle and services at the bottom. California State Parks suggests arriving before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m. and avoiding weekends if you want a parking spot.
Fall brings fewer crowds and the trail stays open, though the house tours end on September 30. Early mornings are worth it in any season.
Sunrise over Emerald Bay and Fannette Island in mid-November. Photo: Jonathan Cook-Fisher / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
In winter, snow can close Highway 89 at Emerald Bay, sometimes for days, when Caltrans needs clear weather to remove snow and control avalanches. Check Caltrans QuickMap or call 1-800-427-7623 before you go. Our Lake Tahoe winter guide has more on winter driving.
Parking and the Emerald Bay Shuttle
The Vikingsholm lot charges $10 per vehicle for the day or $3 for one hour, paid at a machine that takes exact cash or a credit card. Your receipt is good at any California State Park that day. California State Park passes are accepted, but federal passes aren’t.
The lot only takes vehicles up to 18 feet long, with no trailers or larger motorhomes. When it fills in peak season, rangers may gate it. Don’t park on the Highway 89 roadway, because illegally parked cars are towed.
In summer, the shuttle is the easier option. In 2026, Tahoe Transportation District ran it daily from mid-June through September 7, with pickups at Sugar Pine Point Campground, the South Tahoe Y Transit Center and Camp Richardson, and stops at the Eagle Falls Trailhead, according to TTD. Service started at 8 a.m. on weekends and 9 a.m. on weekdays and ran until 5 p.m.
The Eagle Falls Trailhead is run by the Forest Service, and our guide on where to park at Eagle Lake and Eagle Falls explains its separate rules.
Are Dogs Allowed at Emerald Bay?
Mostly no. California State Parks doesn’t allow dogs on any trails or roads into Emerald Bay, on the beach, at Boat Camp, at Vikingsholm, on the Rubicon Trail or on Fannette Island, and it enforces that year-round. Dogs may stay on boats and at the vista overlook by the Vikingsholm parking lot. Please don’t leave a dog in a parked car.
State Parks points dog owners to the Forest Service’s Eagle Falls and Bayview/Cascade trails nearby. Our dog-friendly beaches in Lake Tahoe list has places to swim with a dog.
Plan the Rest of Your Trip
Emerald Bay pairs well with a day on the East Shore at Sand Harbor State Park, on the opposite side of the lake. If you’re still picking a base, our where to stay in Lake Tahoe guide compares the towns closest to the bay.
FAQs
Q: Where is Emerald Bay State Park?
A: Emerald Bay State Park is on Highway 89 on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe in California, about 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe and 22 miles south of Tahoe City.
Q: How do you get down to Vikingsholm?
A: Park in the Vikingsholm lot off Highway 89 and walk the trail down. It is 1 mile each way and drops 500 feet, so the return is a steady climb at about 6,800 feet of elevation. There are no rides back up. A less steep 1.5-mile trail starts at the Eagle Point Campground campfire center.
Q: When are Vikingsholm tours?
A: In 2026, the Sierra State Parks Foundation ran tours daily from May 23 to September 30, every half hour from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., except 12:30 p.m. Tickets were $18 for adults and $15 for students 7 to 17, seniors and active-duty military, and free for children 6 and under. Tours are first come, first served, with tickets sold at the Visitor Center past Vikingsholm.
Q: How much is parking at Emerald Bay?
A: Parking in the Vikingsholm lot costs $10 per vehicle for the day or $3 for one hour, paid at a machine that takes exact cash or a credit card. California State Park day-use passes are accepted. Federal passes are not.
Q: Can you go on Fannette Island?
A: Yes, but only by boat, kayak or paddleboard, and not in April or May, when the island is closed for wildlife breeding. Swimming to the island is not allowed because of boat traffic. Camping and dogs are not allowed on the island.
Q: Are dogs allowed at Emerald Bay?
A: Mostly no. Dogs are not allowed on any trails or roads into Emerald Bay, on the beach, at Boat Camp, at Vikingsholm, on the Rubicon Trail or on Fannette Island, and the rule is enforced year-round. Dogs may stay on boats and at the vista overlook at the Vikingsholm parking lot.
Q: Is Highway 89 at Emerald Bay open in winter?
A: Not always. Caltrans closes Highway 89 at Emerald Bay during heavy snow and avalanche danger, and closures can last days. Check Caltrans QuickMap or call 1-800-427-7623 before you drive.
Planning more time outdoors? See our guides to must-visit Lake Tahoe state parks and trails for fall colors in Lake Tahoe.
About the author: Sherry Boyer
Sherry Boyer has lived in the Reno/Tahoe region for seven years, and she and her husband spent decades visiting Lake Tahoe several times a year before they moved here. With extended family around the lake, they spend their free time hiking the trails, boating on Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, and fishing all over the area. Sherry writes Lake Tahoe Travel Tips to share the places they love with visitors.
