Lake Tahoe is the perfect destination for a summer mountain getaway. With its lakes, mountains, and amazing trails, it’s an outdoor paradise.

Lake Tahoe offers hiking trails great to reconnect with nature and invigorate both body and spirit. The picturesque views and fresh air are inspiring and rejuvenating.

Take a look at these Lake Tahoe hikes you can’t miss.

1. Rubicon Trail

This hike along the shores of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe’s west shore offers fantastic panoramic views. You’ll hike past cliffs, coves, waterfalls, and wildflowers.

Rubicon Trail is 6.5 miles long and offers gorgeous views of Tahoe’s blue water from elevated vantage points that hug rocky outcropping.

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2. Mount Tallac

Another of the great Lake Tahoe hikes, Mount Tallac offers one of the most challenging trails in the area. Its summit is the highest in the Tahoe basin. The hike is approximately a 10-mile round trip.

This trail is located near Emerald Bay, and the elevation gain is 3,500 feet, so prepare yourself for the terrain to change from forest and alpine lakes to boulders as you near the top.

During the summer months, the Mount Tallac Summer Trail offers a direct trail up the mountain that cuts the hike to just shy of 5 miles.

3. Eagle Lake

The Eagle Falls Trailhead is a popular parking area in the summer, so we recommend getting there early. The hike from the trail up to Eagle Lake is one mile, but the initial bit of trail is steep and rocky, so beware.

The lake lies in a glacial basin and is one of the most visually stunning parts of Tahoe.

4. Emerald Bay

Emerald Bay is tucked into the southwest corner of Lake Tahoe. It opens up inside the mouth at Emerald and Eagle Points — its waters shimmering emerald green to azure blue.

This area offers two hiking trails, Bayview Trailhead and the Eagle Falls Trailhead, both of them accessible from Highway 89.

Emerald Bay is surrounded by granite peaks that rise from the water’s edge, and is accessible from May through September.

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5. Secret Cove & Chimney Beach Loop

Secret Cove doesn’t receive the crowds of neighboring beaches. This might be due to the fact that this beach is clothing optional. The 2.6-mile hike begins at the Chimney Beach Overlook parking area. Once you reach the beach, you will undoubtedly want to take photos, so be aware of fellow visitors enjoying the clothing optional policy.

This trail begins on the lake side of the highway, beyond the restrooms, and the 2.2-mile hike will take about 20 minutes. During the hike, you will enjoy a canopy of tall pines and views of the shoreline.

Summer is prime time for visiting Chimney Beach, and the cool waters are hard to resist.

You Can’t Miss these Lake Tahoe Hikes this Summer

Tahoe is one of the most beautiful places in the country, and Lake Tahoe hikes offer trails for every skill level. Get out and enjoy nature, whether by yourself or with friends or family, and we guarantee a hiking experience you will cherish forever!

Contact us for more recreational and lifestyle ideas.