If you're interested in going to Lake Tahoe in the summertime but you're not sure where to begin with planning, then this could be the post for you. I can't give you the ultimate guide since I was only there for the weekend and there’s much more to do/see, but I'm happy to share some tips and lessons learned from my recent trip!
BEFORE YOU GO
Just to give you a little heads up, Michael and I drove from Los Angeles, so some of my tips are on the way to Lake Tahoe. We went for the extended Memorial Holiday weekend, which is right at the beginning of the summer season when a lot of summer activities start to open. If you go before that weekend, some activities may not be available just yet.
One thing we kept an eye out for was cheap gas. Coming from Los Angeles, we drove up route 395 and filled up at Costco in Lancaster and Arco in Bishop. These are the cheapest options for gas along this route, and we were able to arrive in Lake Tahoe with plenty of gas to spare. Depending on your route, you may also cross into Nevada at some point. The state of Nevada may have lower prices as well, so keep that in mind! We stayed in South Lake Tahoe, where things are a bit more lively considering there are multiple casinos in the area.
SITES TO SEE / ACTIVITIES TO DO
I tend to go for activities that aren’t too difficult but have the best pictures “for the Gram”.
I wanted to do at least one activity on the actual lake and I found that the “Crystal Kayak Experience” looked great in photos. This is a clear kayak that allows you to see the turquoise blue water beneath you. We rented from Wild Society in Kings Beach, which was at the opposite end of the lake from where we were staying, but it was worth it!
It was around $150 for a two-seater tandem kayak for 2 hours. They recommend at least 2 hours to reach the rocks, which was exactly where I wanted to take photos. Michael and I paddled quickly to that end point, so we had a good 30-45 minutes to relax and take photos before we needed to head back.
While we were on the water, there were numerous people riding normal kayaks that commented how cool our kayak looked and how they wished they rented the same one. On top of having the coolest kayaks, the ladies that ran our training session were very kind, so I was even happier to give them our business!
After leaving Kings Beach, I wanted to stop in Sand Harbor Beach to take some pictures by the giant rocks in shallow water. Unfortunately, the parking lot was closed that day, so we didn’t get a chance to check it out. I would definitely recommend looking it up if you’re looking for a great photo opportunity.
On our way back down to South Lake Tahoe, we stopped at Cave Rock which is a short, slightly uphill 0.8 mi trail. Michael and I didn’t realize it was more of a trail than a lookout point, so we hiked it in our flip flops. Although it wasn’t difficult to do in sandals, I definitely wouldn’t recommend it since it is a dirt path.
Cave rock gives two beautiful vantage points from each side. Although we could have climbed the rock higher up, we decided we were content with our view considering we didn’t have the proper footwear.
I wanted to do an easy hike with decent photo opportunities so we checked out the Eagle Falls Trailhead. This hike/area is very popular so you’ll have to be patient when looking for parking. It is a 1.9 mi loop that climbs upward on a stairway-like path.
Once you reach the top by the bridge, there is a nice resting point on the rocks along the waterfall. You can also take this chance to fill up your water bottles with fresh, natural water. Although the hike wasn’t very difficult, it didn’t have the great viewpoint I was hoping for nor an epic waterfall background.
However it wasn’t a waste, because one point that wasn’t on my list was Emerald Bay State Park Lookout. Since it was on our way back to our car from the Eagle Falls Trailhead, we stopped to check it out. Although it is a popular/crowded spot, it was definitely a beautiful view for a photo.
One of my favorite spots from this whole trip is Glen Alpine Falls. You have to go through a narrow road to get there, but it is so worth it! Just be patient and share the road with oncoming traffic.
One thing I loved about this destination is that it is low effort, high reward. By that I mean, it is an awesome photo opportunity that you can drive right up to (no hiking necessary). Since the waterfalls stream down a wide area, it captures more epically than some other waterfalls (i.e. Eagle Falls). You can also climb up the side of the waterfall, but I was content with the pictures near the viewpoint.
FOODS TO EAT
On the road we stopped in Bishop, CA for two spots that were recommended to us.
Erick Schat’s Bakkery is an extremely popular bakery with all kinds of goodies. Although it’s great there is such a huge variety of baked goods, it is like a zoo in there. Be prepared to be surrounded by lots of people and standing in long lines to pay.
My favorite was the bag of fresh churros. The chewy to crunchy ratio was perfect, and they were still delicious when I got home and popped them into the airfryer for a bit.
I would highly recommend Mahogany Smoked Meats for a hearty sandwich. We got the rodeo and the stroke, which were both massive and mouthwatering. To this day whenever we eat bacon, Michael mentions that it’s not as good as Mahogany’s. This place is definitely a must eat on your way. There is also a selection of meats and jerkys for purchase.
When we arrived we wanted to have a low key dinner within walking distance to our hotel so we tried out Toulouse. They just recently opened, but the few yelp reviews looked promising. I had a small New Orleans style gumbo and Michael had the Toulouse wagyu burger. Although both were scrumptious, I would probably get the burger next time.
For a romantic but not too expensive Italian dinner, we went to Izabella. I had the carbonara and Michael had the chicken marsala. Although we enjoyed both, we were a little disappointed that their pastas aren’t made fresh in-house.
My favorite spot in Tahoe was MacDuff’s Pub. I had the french onion soup and and a half sized truffled mac and cheese, while Michael had the shepherd's pie. We were both very happy with our meals and I would absolutely get the french onion soup again.
I heard about Dutch Bros Coffee on TikTok and figured we’d try it since it wasn’t too far out of the way. The Golden Eagle was recommended, which is basically like a caramel macchiato. Although we both enjoyed it, we didn’t think it was extremely special.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Lake Tahoe is absolutely beautiful this time of year, even though the water is still on the chillier side. Take some time to walk around the casino streets as they have nice vibes with some live music. Surprisingly, the area gets very quiet and shuts down right around 9PM. As I mentioned previously, there are plenty more activities to do and views to see, so do a little research to plan what’s best for your preferences. Most of all, don’t forget to stop and enjoy the scenery!