Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park60 min
Take the short lakeside walk; the beach is about a quarter-mile from parking.
D. L. Bliss State Park75 min
If vehicle access is open, see Balancing Rock or walk a short Rubicon Trail section.
Emerald Bay overlook and Vikingsholm180 min
Only descend to Vikingsholm if everyone can manage the steep one-mile climb back; carry water.
Choose a relaxed afternoon at Sugar Pine Point or a Rubicon Trail segment120 min
If the Vikingsholm lot is full, do not park on Highway 89; use the seasonal shuttle or change plans.
Vikingsholm access trailhard
2 mi · 400 ft gain
From the Emerald Bay/Vikingsholm lot, descend 1 mile to Vikingsholm, then make the steep return climb. California State Parks advises people with mobility issues, medical conditions, or recent surgery not to attempt it.
Rubicon Trailunknown
Lakeside trail linking the Emerald Bay and D. L. Bliss areas. Reach it from Emerald Bay/Vikingsholm, Eagle Point, or D. L. Bliss; seasonal access and parking conditions vary.
Balancing Rockunknown
Signature rock feature in D. L. Bliss State Park; combine with a short Rubicon Trail section when the park road and day-use area are open.
Eagle Falls Trailunknown
Trailhead served by the seasonal Emerald Bay Shuttle; confirm trail and road conditions before departure.
Emerald Bay / Vikingsholm Parking Lot
On Highway 89, 12 miles north of South Lake Tahoe; access for the Vikingsholm walk, Emerald Bay paddling, and Rubicon Trail.
California State Parks self-pay lot: $10/day per vehicle or $3 for one hour; open sunrise to sunset, with no overnight parking. Do not park on Highway 89; illegal parking is enforced and can lead to towing.
Eagle Point Campground / South Rubicon Trailhead
At Emerald Bay State Park on Highway 89; southern Rubicon Trail access when the campground road is open.
Seasonal campground/road access; check opening status before traveling.
D. L. Bliss State Park / Rubicon Trailhead
On Highway 89 between Tahoma and Emerald Bay; access to Balancing Rock, Calawee Cove/Lester Beach, and the north end of the Rubicon Trail.
$10 California State Parks vehicle day-use fee when vehicle access operates. When lower lots fill, use the visitor-center lot near Highway 89; it is about 1 mile to the nearest Rubicon Trailhead and about 2 steep miles to the beaches.
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park
7360 West Lake Boulevard, Tahoma, CA 96142; lakefront forest, beach, and picnic access.
$10 per vehicle for day use, charged by California State Parks; free for registered campground guests. The lake is about 0.25 mile from parking.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area
Downtown Kings Beach near Bear Street, off CA-28; easiest sandy public beach access. The Raccoon Street end has a nonmotorized launch.
Pay-to-park year-round: $3 hourly parking or $10 vehicle day use, charged by California State Parks. Lot operates 6 a.m.–9 p.m.
Lake Forest Boat Ramp
$75 daily nonresident launch fee, charged by Tahoe City Public Utility District; $20 daily for residents/property owners. Watercraft inspection and any inspection/decontamination fees are additional.
2500 Lake Forest Road, Tahoe City, CA 96145. Motorboat launch with 32 regular boat-trailer spaces and one ADA boat space. An intact Tahoe inspection seal is required for unsealed motorized vessels.
Kings Beach State Recreation Area nonmotorized launch
Parking is $3 hourly or $10 vehicle day use, charged by California State Parks.
Nonmotorized launch at the Raccoon Street end of Kings Beach.
Tahoe State Recreation Area / Pomin Park campground
Eagle Point Campground
At Emerald Bay State Park and adjacent to the south Rubicon Trailhead. Campground and road access close in the off-season; confirm seasonal opening before travel.
Ed Z’berg Sugar Pine Point State Park campground
Bring