The Lake Tahoe Loop

It's time to circumnavigate the deep, turquoise waters of Lake Tahoe. There are plenty of nature views, sandy beaches, and possible hikes to explore the jewels of these shores. Be safe and enjoy your drive!

Camp Richardson is a historic site of the Tallac Hotel, built in 1920s in the vein of the grand European summer resorts. The site was run as a commercial property until the 1960s and shortly afterwards donated to the Forest Service and preserved for public use.
Today, the site has a restaurant, cabins, and a dock with watercraft rentals. On the north side is the Tallac Historic Site, which includes the historic Pope-Baldwin estate. You can take a house tours here and stroll in the garden.

These are the views that Lake Tahoe is famous for. Expect a "wow" or two to come out of your mouth as you gaze out to Emerald Bay and Fannette Island. Look out for the informational signage about the Native American Washoe history here, as well as the 19th century settlement of the area.

D.L. Bliss was known as the father of modern tourism of Lake Tahoe—so important to the region's development that he now a State Park is named after him. Here you'll find a long stretch of nice beach, the Rubicon lighthouse and the half-mile Balancing Rock loop trail.

There are lots of great places to eat in Tahoe City, but your best bet is to grab some to go sandwiches at Rosie's Cafe and take them for a picnic at King's Beach. The Italian Deli or BLT are favorites.
While you wait, cross the street to the old Watson Cabin Museum and Heritage Park. The historic 1909 structure is small, but sits on Heritage Plaza looking out to the beach. Here, you'll find a number of panels that tell the story of the area from its early mining days and railroad boom to the 1960 Olympics and today.
The Donner Train Tunnels is also here to bookmark for next time. The trail provides a fascinating opportunity to literally walk through California's railroad history.

Just before you hit the Nevada border, you'll land on Kings Beach. With shaded picnic tables and a wide shore, this make a great pit stop for lunch. Watersports rentals are available here.

This spot has vast views of Lake Tahoe and sits right on the Tahoe East Shore trail, a hike and bike trail that goes 2.6 miles between Tunnel Creek and Sand Harbor. This popular trail can get busy, so watch out for bikes. If you'd like another lovely spot to gaze out onto the water, this stop is shortly followed by the lookout at Emerald Cove, with easy access to the water.

Who knew the inland state of Nevada had such a nice beach? Since there are no watersport rentals here, this is a quiet spot and being set in the woods, makes a great place to take a long walk along the shore. An inland trail also loops through pretty woods and grasslands.

After a day of sightseeing, why not splurge at one of Lake Tahoe's best restaurant with killer views of the lake? The meat-centric menu pairs with a fantastic wine selection, and oh, those views. Floor to ceiling windows here offer up a side dish of lake and mountains thanks to being grandfathered in and built before laws made it illegal to build so close to the lake. Be sure to reserve your table (preferably at sunset.)

Get back to your hotel to refresh and relax. You've been busy trekking around Lake Tahoe—quite a feat!