Emerald Bay
- Hike
- 2 mi round trip
- Elevation gain
- 400 ft
- Road
- Paved
- Permit
- Not required
- Dogs
- Not allowed
Entry fee: $10/day or $3/hour. Emerald Bay is a lake cove on Lake Tahoe in El Dorado County, California. See every spot on Lake Tahoe.
Closures and warnings
No vehicle access to the lakeshore or Vikingsholm. Steep 1-mile hike each way with about 400 ft climb on the return; no rides out. No swimming to Fannette Island (boat traffic). Fannette Island closed April and May for wildlife breeding. As of August 24, 2026.
Before you swim
| Swimming allowed | Yes |
|---|---|
| Water type | Lake cove |
| Entry | Walk in |
| Jumping | Prohibited |
| Water clarity | Park describes blue-green water and a rugged shoreline; swimming is a listed day-use activity. |
Access
| Hike | 2 mi round trip |
|---|---|
| Elevation gain | 400 ft |
| Road | Paved |
| Parking | Harvey West / Vikingsholm parking lot on Hwy 89 at Emerald Bay. Max vehicle length 18 ft; no motorhomes over 18 ft; no trailers. No overnight parking. |
| When it fills | Limited parking; arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m., avoid weekends. Lot may be gated when full. Shuttle mid-June to about Sept 7. |
| Fee | $10/day or $3/hour; CA State Park day-use pass OK; federal passes not |
| Hours | Sunrise to sunset |
| Reservation or permit | Not required |
| Managed by | California State Parks (Emerald Bay State Park) |
| Restrooms | Yes |
|---|---|
| Drinking water | Yes |
| Picnic sites | Yes |
| Note | Restrooms at lake level about 50 yards in from the pier. Visitor Center seasonal. Outdoor showers listed among park facilities. |
Rules
| Dogs | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Camping | Not allowed |
| Fires | Not allowed |
Common questions
Common questions
Is Emerald Bay open?
No vehicle access to the lakeshore or Vikingsholm. Steep 1-mile hike each way with about 400 ft climb on the return; no rides out. No swimming to Fannette Island (boat traffic). Fannette Island closed April and May for wildlife breeding. As of August 24, 2026. Hours: Sunrise to sunset.
Can you swim at Emerald Bay?
Yes, swimming is allowed at Emerald Bay.
How long is the hike to Emerald Bay?
It's a 2 mi hike round trip with 400 ft of elevation gain. The road in is paved. Parking: Harvey West / Vikingsholm parking lot on Hwy 89 at Emerald Bay. Max vehicle length 18 ft; no motorhomes over 18 ft; no trailers. No overnight parking. Limited parking; arrive before 9 a.m. or after 3 p.m., avoid weekends. Lot may be gated when full. Shuttle mid-June to about Sept 7.
Do you need a reservation for Emerald Bay?
No reservation or permit is required.
Is there a fee at Emerald Bay?
The fee is $10/day or $3/hour; CA State Park day-use pass OK; federal passes not.
What facilities are at Emerald Bay?
Restrooms, drinking water, and picnic sites. Restrooms at lake level about 50 yards in from the pier. Visitor Center seasonal. Outdoor showers listed among park facilities.
What are the rules at Emerald Bay?
Dogs are not allowed, camping is not allowed, and fires are not allowed.
Nearby
Camping nearby
Fishing nearby
Public land
Emerald Bay is inside Emerald Bay State Park .
Just outside: Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (0.4 mi) , D. L. Bliss State Park (0.6 mi) .
Sources
1
- https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=506 (accessed September 28, 2026; backs manager, waterbodyName, access.hikeDistanceMi, access.hikeDistanceBasis, access.elevationGainFt, access.fee, access.hours, access.parking / access.parkingPattern, access.amenities, rules.dogs, rules.fires, rules.camping, swimmerNotes.swimmingAllowed, swimmerNotes.jumpingProhibited, hazardNote)