Best Hiking Trails in Lake Tahoe: 12 Hikes From Easy to Hard

Last updated: October 10, 2026

Quick answer: For an easy walk, start with the 1.3-mile Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail loop off the Mount Rose Highway. For a moderate hike, Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake is about 2 miles round trip and gives you a waterfall and an alpine lake, and for a hard day with the biggest view of the lake, climb Mount Tallac (about 9 to 10 miles round trip). If your dog is coming, Spooner to Marlette Lake and Mount Rose both allow leashed dogs, but the Rubicon Trail, which has the best shoreline views, doesn’t allow dogs at all.

These are the trails we point visitors to most often, from a meadow loop you can do in sneakers to full-day summit climbs. Distances, dog rules and permit details below come from the U.S. Forest Service and the California and Nevada state parks, and we’ve left out any figure they don’t confirm. Trail conditions change with snow and fire seasons, so check the managing agency’s page before you go.

Lake Tahoe hiking trails compared

Trail	Area	Distance (round trip)	Difficulty	Dogs	Permit	Our guide
Mount Tallac	South Shore	9.2 to 10 mi	Hard	Yes, leashed	Yes, free Desolation day permit	Mt. Tallac guide
Mount Rose	North Shore (Mt. Rose Hwy)	10.8 to 12 mi	Hard	Yes, leashed	No	Mt. Rose guide
Eagle Falls & Eagle Lake	South Shore (Emerald Bay)	2 mi	Moderate	Yes, leashed	Yes, free Desolation day permit	Eagle Lake guide
Echo Lakes to Ralston Lake	South Shore (Echo Summit)	—	—	Yes, leashed	Yes, free Desolation day permit	Ralston Lake guide
Spooner to Marlette Lake	East Shore	About 10 mi	—	Yes, 6-ft leash	No (park entry fee)	Marlette Lake guide
Monkey Rock	East Shore	About 2 mi	Moderate	Yes, leashed	No	Monkey Rock guide
Lola Montez Lakes	North (Soda Springs, off I-80)	About 6 mi	Moderate to hard	Yes, under control	No	None yet
Winnemucca Lake (Carson Pass)	South (Hwy 88, south of the lake)	About 5 mi	—	Yes, leashed	No day permit ($5 parking)	Winnemucca Lake guide
Tahoe Rim Trail	All shores	165 mi total loop; pick a section	Varies	Yes (rules vary by section)	Only in Desolation Wilderness	Tahoe Rim Trail guide
Rubicon Trail	West Shore	5 to 7.4 mi one way; go out and back as far as you like	Moderate to hard	No	No (park entry fee)	Rubicon Trail guide
Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail	North Shore (Mt. Rose Hwy)	1.3 mi loop	Easy	—	No	Tahoe Meadows guide
Maggie’s Peak	South Shore (Emerald Bay)	—	—	Yes, leashed	Yes, free Desolation day permit	Maggie’s Peak guide

Distance ranges show where official sources differ. A dash means we couldn’t confirm that detail with an official source, so check our full guide or the managing agency before you go. “Leashed” means the managing agency asks for a leash, usually six feet or shorter.

The best hiking trails in Lake Tahoe

Mount Tallac in South Lake Tahoe

Best for: a hard day hike with the biggest view over Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake.

Mount Tallac rises above the southwest corner of the lake, and from its 9,735-foot summit you look down on Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Tahoe and the granite basins of Desolation Wilderness. The trailhead is off Highway 89, about three and a half miles northwest of South Lake Tahoe, across from the Baldwin Beach entrance. There’s no road to the top, so the only way up is on foot.

The summit is about 4.6 to 5 miles each way from the Mt. Tallac Trailhead, and the Forest Service rates it difficult. The first part of the trail, to Floating Island Lake at 1.7 miles and Cathedral Lake at 2.5 miles, is easy to moderate, so it works as a shorter outing too. Past Cathedral Lake the trail turns steep and rocky as it climbs the face of the mountain. There’s no drinking water at the trailhead, so carry more than you think you’ll need.

The trail enters Desolation Wilderness, so fill out a free day-use permit at the trailhead. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Read our full guide: Is climbing Mt. Tallac worth it?

Mount Rose in North Lake Tahoe

Best for: a big summit close to Reno, with Lake Tahoe on one side and the Reno-Sparks valley on the other.

Mount Rose tops out at 10,776 feet, which puts it among the tallest peaks around Lake Tahoe. It isn’t the tallest mountain in the Sierra Nevada, though. That title belongs to Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet.

The hike starts at the Mt. Rose Summit Welcome Plaza on the Mount Rose Highway (NV 431), about 15.6 miles up from I-580 in Reno. You follow the Tahoe Rim Trail for 2.2 miles, then turn onto the Mt. Rose Peak Trail for the last 3.2 miles to the top. The Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest puts the climb at about 2,400 feet of gain and rates it hard. From the summit you can see Lake Tahoe, the Sierra and the Truckee Meadows.

Parking at the Welcome Plaza is free, and there are vault toilets but no drinking water. Dogs must stay on a leash. The upper trail is in the Mt. Rose Wilderness, where bikes aren’t allowed.

Read our full guide: Things to know before hiking Mt. Rose

Eagle Falls & Eagle Lake Trail

Best for: a short hike that packs in a waterfall, an alpine lake and a look back at Emerald Bay.

The trail to Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake starts at the Eagle Falls Picnic Area and Trailhead on Highway 89, across the road from Emerald Bay. It’s 1 mile each way to Eagle Lake, and the Forest Service rates it moderate. The climb past the falls includes stone steps and rocky footing, and the lake sits in a granite bowl that makes a good snack stop before you head back down.

This is one of the busiest trailheads at Tahoe, so come early. Parking is $5 per vehicle per day, and America the Beautiful annual, senior and access passes cover it. Fill out a free Desolation Wilderness day permit at the trailhead. Leashed dogs are allowed. The trailhead is usually open mid-May through mid-October, depending on snow.

Read our full guide to the Eagle Falls and Eagle Lake hike

Echo Lakes to Ralston Lake

Best for: a lake-to-lake walk into Desolation Wilderness with mountain views most of the way.

The Echo Lake to Ralston Lake hike starts at the Echo Lakes Trailhead on Echo Summit, which you reach on Johnson Pass Road off Highway 50. The trail follows the shore of Lower and Upper Echo Lake, then climbs into Desolation Wilderness toward Ralston Lake, with Ralston Peak, Pyramid Peak and Mt. Tallac in view along the way.

Parking at Echo Lakes is free, but the Forest Service warns the area gets very crowded on weekends and suggests coming early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Fill out a free Desolation day permit at the trailhead. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Read our full guide to the Echo Lake to Ralston Lake hike

Spooner to Marlette Lake

Best for: a long day hike you can share with your dog, especially when the aspens turn in fall.

The Spooner to Marlette Lake trail starts at Spooner Lake in Lake Tahoe Nevada State Park, near where Highway 50 meets Highway 28. Nevada State Parks calls the 5-mile route up North Canyon to Marlette Lake the park’s most popular backcountry trail, so plan on about 10 miles round trip. The trail climbs through forest and aspen groves, and the lake makes a good lunch stop before you turn around.

Day-use entry at Spooner Lake is $10 per vehicle with Nevada plates and $15 for out-of-state vehicles. Dogs are welcome on a leash no longer than six feet. If you’d like something shorter, a flat 2-mile trail circles Spooner Lake itself.

Read our full guide to the Marlette Lake trail

Monkey Rock Trail in East Shore

Best for: a short climb to a wide view of the lake, and a good one for sunset.

Monkey Rock sits above the East Shore just outside Incline Village, Nevada. You start behind the Tunnel Creek Cafe and walk up Tunnel Creek Road, then take the first spur trail on the left to the top. It’s about 2 miles round trip with a climb of about 500 feet, and it’s rated moderate. The rock at the end is shaped like a monkey’s head, and plenty of hikers scramble up onto it.

There’s no parking at the trail itself. Use the paid lot in front of the Tunnel Creek Cafe, which Nevada Trail Finder says is free after 7 p.m. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Read our full guide to the Monkey Rock Trail

Lola Montez Lakes Trail

Best for: a quieter forest hike north of the lake when the shoreline trails are packed.

The Lola Montez Lakes Trail starts near the Soda Springs exit off I-80, about a quarter mile up Sherritt Lane. The Tahoe National Forest describes it as a moderately difficult climb of about 3 miles through granite and forest to Lower Lola Montez Lake, so figure on about 6 miles round trip. You won’t see Lake Tahoe from this one, but you’ll trade the view for fewer people.

Parking is limited. The trail crosses private property, so stay on the trail, and expect mountain bikers coming down from the Hole in the Ground Trail. This part of the Tahoe National Forest is in Nevada County, where dogs don’t have to be leashed but must be under your direct control at all times. A leash is still the safer choice with bikes on the trail.

Winnemucca, Fourth of July Lakes, and Round Top

Best for: summer wildflowers and alpine lakes, a short drive south of Lake Tahoe.

This hike starts at the Carson Pass Information Center on Highway 88, in the Mokelumne Wilderness south of Lake Tahoe. The Eldorado National Forest calls the trail to Winnemucca Lake one of the most popular in the forest. It runs 2.5 miles through open forest and meadow, past some of the best mid-summer wildflower displays in California, so it’s about 5 miles round trip.

From Winnemucca Lake you can keep going to Round Top Lake and Fourth of July Lake, or climb Round Top itself. Each option makes for a longer, harder day, so start early if you want to go farther.

You don’t need a permit for a day hike in the Mokelumne Wilderness. Parking at Carson Pass is $5 per day through October 31, or free with an interagency pass, and a Sno-Park permit is required from November 1. Dogs must be leashed, and bikes aren’t allowed in the wilderness.

Tahoe Rim Trail in Lake Tahoe Basin

Best for: building your own day hike on the trail that circles the whole lake.

The Tahoe Rim Trail runs 165 miles around Lake Tahoe, and most people hike it a section at a time. Several hikes in this guide use it: the Mount Rose climb starts on it, the Tahoe Meadows trailhead is a main access point, and it shares the trail with the Pacific Crest Trail out of Echo Lakes. Pick a trailhead, decide how far you want to go, and turn around when you’re ready.

Dogs are allowed on the Tahoe Rim Trail, but the rules change with the agency that manages each section. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association asks that dogs be leashed around other people, at trailheads and on steep or slippery ground. You don’t need a permit to day hike the trail, except in the Desolation Wilderness section, where the free day permit applies.

Read our full guide to the Tahoe Rim Trail

Rubicon Trail in West Shore

Best for: lake views the whole way, right along the shoreline, without a summit climb.

The Rubicon Trail is one of the few trails that follows the Lake Tahoe shoreline. It runs about 5 to 7.4 miles one way, from Calawee Cove at D.L. Bliss State Park past Vikingsholm to Eagle Point Campground in Emerald Bay State Park. You can set up a car shuttle and hike it one way, or go out and back as far as you like. State Parks rates the trail moderate to strenuous.

This trail is for hikers only. Dogs and bikes aren’t allowed. Day-use parking at D.L. Bliss is $10 per vehicle. You can also reach the trail from the Vikingsholm lot on Highway 89, but it’s a steep mile down to the trail from there. Both parks are very busy in summer, so arrive early.

Read our full guide to the Rubicon Trail

Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail

Best for: families, first-time hikers and anyone who wants an easy walk.

The Tahoe Meadows Interpretive trail is a 1.3-mile loop that starts and ends at the Tahoe Meadows Trailhead on the Mount Rose Highway, about 16 miles up from I-580 in Reno. The Forest Service calls it easy and accessible. It circles the meadow, crosses small streams on bridges, and has signs along the way about the plants, animals, water, fire and cultural history of the area.

There’s no fee, and the trailhead got new restrooms in 2024. It’s open May through October, as snow allows. The Tahoe Rim Trail Association is planning work to make the loop even easier for wheelchairs.

Read our full guide to the Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail

Maggie’s Peak

Best for: a steep summit hike with a view straight down into Emerald Bay.

Maggie’s Peak rises above Emerald Bay on the edge of Desolation Wilderness. Our guide starts the hike from the Eagle Lake Trailhead at the Eagle Falls Picnic Area on Highway 89. You can also start from the nearby Bayview Trailhead, where the Forest Service lists Granite Lake at 1.3 miles one way and rates that stretch moderate to difficult. From the top you can see Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay and Desolation Wilderness.

You’ll need the free Desolation day permit, and leashed dogs are allowed. Parking at both trailheads fills early on summer weekends.

Read our full guide to hiking Maggie’s Peak

Dog-friendly hikes in Lake Tahoe

Most of the land around Lake Tahoe is national forest, and the Forest Service says a well-behaved, leashed dog is welcome almost anywhere on it. The exceptions are designated swimming beaches and areas closed to protect wildlife. Bring a six-foot leash, waste bags and water for your dog, because many trails have no water at the trailhead.

From this guide, Mount Tallac, Mount Rose, Eagle Lake, Echo Lakes, Spooner to Marlette Lake, Monkey Rock, Lola Montez Lakes, Winnemucca Lake and the Tahoe Rim Trail all allow dogs. The flat 2-mile loop around Spooner Lake is a good choice for older dogs or a short leg stretch.

California State Parks is the big exception. Dogs aren’t allowed on dirt trails or beaches at D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay, so leave your dog at home for the Rubicon Trail. Readers also ask about Paige Meadows, the Donner Lake Rim Trail, Brockway Summit and the Shirley Canyon Trail. Dog rules on those trails depend on who manages the land, so check current rules before you go. For more ideas, see our guide to dog-friendly hiking trails in Lake Tahoe.

Before you go

Desolation Wilderness permits

Mount Tallac, Eagle Lake, Echo Lakes to Ralston Lake and Maggie’s Peak all enter Desolation Wilderness, and you need a wilderness permit even for a day hike. Day permits are free. In summer you fill one out yourself at the box at the trailhead, keep the top half with you and drop the bottom half in the box. The Eldorado National Forest says the boxes are out from Memorial Day weekend through September 30. The Lake Tahoe Basin office says permits are required year-round, so if you’re hiking outside summer, call them at 530-543-2600 or stop by 35 College Drive in South Lake Tahoe. Overnight trips need a paid permit from Recreation.gov.

Parking and fees

Plan on paying to park at the most popular trailheads: $5 per day at Eagle Falls and Carson Pass, $10 per vehicle at D.L. Bliss, and $10 (Nevada plates) or $15 (out-of-state) at Spooner Lake. Parking is free at the Mt. Rose Summit Welcome Plaza, Tahoe Meadows and Echo Lakes. Popular lots fill early on summer weekends, so aim to be parked before mid-morning or come on a weekday.

Altitude

Lake Tahoe sits at about 6,225 feet, and trailheads like Mount Rose and Tahoe Meadows start much higher. If you’re coming up from sea level, take it easy for your first day or two, drink plenty of water and turn around if you get a headache, nausea or dizziness. For more tips, read our guide on how to adjust to Tahoe’s high altitude.

Season

Most high trails are snow-free from early summer into fall. Forest Service trailheads like Eagle Falls and Echo Lakes are usually open mid-May through mid-October, and Tahoe Meadows runs May through October, all depending on snow. Afternoon thunderstorms happen in summer, so start summit hikes early and head down if clouds build.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to hike at Lake Tahoe?

Only in Desolation Wilderness, which includes Mount Tallac, Eagle Lake, Echo Lakes and Maggie’s Peak. Day permits there are free, and in summer you fill one out yourself at the trailhead. Most other trails in this guide don’t need a permit, though some charge for parking.

What is the best easy hike at Lake Tahoe?

The Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail is a 1.3-mile loop that the Forest Service rates easy and accessible, with free parking off the Mount Rose Highway. For a short hike with a little more climbing, Eagle Falls to Eagle Lake is about 2 miles round trip.

Which Lake Tahoe hiking trails allow dogs?

Leashed dogs are welcome on most national forest trails, including Mount Tallac, Mount Rose, Eagle Lake and the Tahoe Rim Trail, and on the Marlette Lake trail in Nevada State Parks. Dogs aren’t allowed on the Rubicon Trail or other dirt trails at D.L. Bliss and Emerald Bay state parks.

When is the best time to hike at Lake Tahoe?

Summer and early fall. Many Forest Service trailheads are open from mid-May to mid-October, but higher trails can hold snow into early summer. After Labor Day the trails are calmer, and in fall the aspens along trails like Marlette Lake turn gold.

Is Mount Rose the tallest mountain in the Sierra Nevada?

No. Mount Whitney is the tallest in the Sierra Nevada at 14,505 feet. Mount Rose reaches 10,776 feet and is one of the tallest peaks around Lake Tahoe, which is why the summit hike from the Mount Rose Highway is so popular.

Can you drive to the top of Mount Tallac?

No. There’s no road to the summit. The only way up is the trail, about 4.6 to 5 miles each way from the Mt. Tallac Trailhead off Highway 89, and the upper part is steep and rocky.