Lake Tahoe Audio Driving Tour

This beach is simply stunning. It’s actually got three beachfronts that all have different landscapes and views, with a nature boardwalk that is a must-do! It is a gorgeous, rambling, easy walk full of discovering wildlife creatures and water views for miles in every direction. Pay the entrance fee and park wherever you can. You can walk a path that leads to all three beaches.  The beach furthest south has a sandy beach and very shallow water pretty far out into the lake, making it perfect for stand-up paddleboarding! The middle section of this park is where the Visitor Center is and a really wonderful cafe where you can dine outside overlooking the lake. The two beaches on the north side of the park have those huge boulders that make it so much fun for kids who want to climb, and add such character to your photos. 

From this point, you’re heading toward South Lake Tahoe along Highway 50. And this overlook is very popular for those taking wedding and engagement photos. You’ll understand why once you park and walk up the short paved path for the views. Because at the last couple of stops you were close to lake level, and now….you’re high above Lake Tahoe. These panoramic views are just breathtaking!

You may not want to pay another entrance fee if you’re not planning on beaching it for the day, but you can pull into the entrance, then bear left for the restaurant and general store and park there just to get out for a few minutes and see this gorgeous beach and the forest surrounding it, complete with little log cabins you can rent for lodging. But if you do want to pay the fee and spend a little while at this beach, or make a reservation on the M.S. Dixie Paddlewheeler for a boat ride out on the lake, I can’t say I blame you! There’s volleyball and water activity rentals available from here, too.

This is another beachfront that is a must-see. The beauty of this beach is astounding. Once you drive down the road it’s on, you’ll see a wooden fence along the side of the road. So if you don’t want to pay to park in the lot, you can turn your car around and find a parking space along the fenceline. Then you’ll see a beautiful walking path that you can take down to the shoreline of this gorgeous beach. The view from here of all the mountains in the distance that surround the lake, and the soaring trees along the shoreline make the landscape so unusual and glorious!

Definitely worth a walk-through. Park and take the trails through the old summer estates of the past. The Baldwin Museum, if open, is an old log cabin that you can tour. Some of the other old log cabin mansions on the water are just super cool to walk around, all in the gorgeous forest along the lake.

The next road from Tallac leads to another visitor center and some nature trails. If you’re pressed for time, this is an optional stop that I’d say isn’t a priority – unless it’s salmon spawning season, in which case you can follow the creek along the Rainbow Trail and watch the bright orange salmon swimming upstream!

Once you leave Taylor Creek you’ll start to climb again until you’re at a good 8,000 feet or so above sea level, and – boy oh boy – keep both of your eyes on the road and your wheels on the pavement because if you look over the edge (there are no guardrails) you’ll see just how long that drop-off is with the lake way, way down below. But the payoff at the top is an overlook that beats the band! Inspiration Point will give you a jaw-dropping view of Emerald Bay, which lives up to its name – believe me! And you’ll also see Fannette Island down below, the only island in all of Lake Tahoe, that sits in the middle of Emerald Bay. 

If you’re taking this tour in the spring or early summer, you may want to take the popular Eagle Falls hike that leads up to an amazing waterfall, flowing strong due to the snow melting off of the mountains above it. But if you’re visiting toward the end of the summer or in the fall, the waterfalls will be down to a trickle – if that – since all the snow has already melted, in which case you can skip this stop unless you just want a nice hike through a forest. This is one of the few stops on the left side of the road.

Between the emerald- green bay, the sandy shoreline, that tiny island and the castle itself, the photo opps are stupendous! And the hike to get there is pretty nice, too, full of pocket waterfalls and rugged cliffs rising out of the ground, along a well-worn and wide path.

There’s a sweet little Visitor Center that you should stop inside upon arriving at this park, for souvenirs or for some maps and to talk to a ranger or volunteer. Although Shaka Guide’s got you covered on directions, it always helps to have a park ranger describe the conditions of The Rubicon Trail and where to park for Balancing Rock. Once you’ve stopped inside, we’ll drive  the park’s forest to three sights so worth seeing!

This is a sweet shoreline that you can walk, among those iconic Tahoe boulder formations. But if you’re short on time or there’s no parking, it’s not a priority to see the beach itself.

Just past Lester Beach, still inside D.L. Bliss State Park, you’ll head up a hill to the very popular Rubicon Trail. It’s super long and you don’t need to take the whole thing, but I’d recommend you take it for maybe ten minutes out and back just to see a view of the lake from high up along the cliffs of this trail. Just be careful and stick to the path! There’s also an abandoned lighthouse trail, but that’s a little more challenging and time consuming. Now if you love to hike and you have a whole day to do so, this trail leads all the way to Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm Castle!

Once you pull into the main lot, look for the tall fire-lookout-type building, and if it’s open, you can stop inside this nature center to see the exhibits. But really, what you want to do is either tour the Hellman Ehrman mansion, or really just walk around the estate grounds. But certainly do at least step foot on the back porch of the mansion and check out the lake view from there before heading down that mega-lawn and walking out along the pier over Lake Tahoe!

This is an absolutely amazing valley to see, and to know that the ski slopes above it are where the Olympics once took place! In the summer or fall, when everything in the valley is green and lush, the verdant view feels like you’ve been transported to a land far, far away. And if the gondola is open, take it to the top for the Olympic museum exhibit and Washoe tribe displays!

Commons Beach is a charming lakeside retreat located in Tahoe City, on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. This inviting public park offers a sandy beach, picnic areas, and a playground, making it a popular spot for families and outdoor enthusiasts. With its stunning lake views and tranquil ambiance, Commons Beach provides a perfect setting for relaxation, recreation, and community gatherings.

This is a super popular beach, but if you’ve already been to Sand Harbor, then there’s not really a need to pay to stop at Kings Beach. (And if it’s a choice between Kings Beach or Sand Harbor, I’d choose Sand Harbor any day over Kings Beach.) They’re similar in that they have gradually deepening shorelines, so the water stays shallow (and thereby warmer) longer than at some of the colder, deep-water beaches around the lake, but the view from here isn’t quite as mesmerizing as that of Sand Harbor. Still, many people love this beach and town. To me, the town is similar to Tahoe City but with less to offer. So this stop is not highest on the priority list of stops if you’re having to pick and choose for time’s sake.

This is a wide, semi-paved path to an old fire lookout well over 7,000 feet elevation (but remember – you’re already pretty high up before you start along the trail so you’re not climbing that many feet) for a view overlooking Lake Tahoe that you won’t find anywhere else.

There’s an overlook along a hairpin turn out of Incline Village for one last memorable look down at Lake Tahoe.

Tahoe Meadows South Trail is a scenic hiking path in Lake Tahoe. It winds through picturesque meadows, fragrant forests, and offers stunning views of the lake and mountains. With its gentle terrain and abundant wildlife, this trail provides an immersive experience for nature enthusiasts to connect with the unspoiled beauty of the region.