Emerald Point Trail

The Emerald Point Trail is one of our favorite nature walks near South Lake Tahoe. Venture along the shoreline of Emerald Bay, enjoying the sights of boaters, kayakers, swimmers, and paddle boarders enjoying the alpine waters in the summer months! Open year-round, you can admire a different perspective of the lake with a pair of microspikes or snowshoes! Note that this route is a popular destination, so if you seek a sequestered experience, we suggest heading out in the early morning or off-season. Note the Emerald Bay State Park charges a fee to park; refer to the website for additional information.

Setting out from the Vikingsholm Trailhead, the Emerald Point Hike follows the Vikingsholm Trail down a switchback before merging onto the rightmost Rubicon-Emerald Bay Trail. This route will guide you south down to the Vikingsholm where you will be redirected north along the Rubicon Trail. This section of the hike will likely be busier, so don’t be surprised If you must share the trail! Meander northeast along this path, near the shoreline, weaving between open terrain and tree shade.

Eventually, you will pass the Boat Camp before reaching the point—which is where we turned around. If you still have some gas in the tank, you can explore the Rubicon Trail further! When you are ready to head back, simply retrace your footing along the path back to the trailhead.