Parks Peaks & Paths

Lake Tahoe, CA

Quick Take

We left Lassen Volcanic on Labor Day, even though we had originally planned to stay one more day. Lake Tahoe is known for its clear blue water ringed by forested slopes and granite peaks.

Best for

Campground lake days, historic estates, Donner history, a paddle, and Sugar Pine Point.

Trip vibe

Crystal-clear alpine lake surrounded by mountains.

What stood out

We left Lassen Volcanic on Labor Day, even though we had originally planned to stay one more day.

Places We Visited

Pick a stop to see its story and photos.

Susanville, California

Mural in Susanville

Side Iron BBQ at the Pioneer

Iron BBQ at the Pioneer restaurant

Side Iron BBQ at the Pioneer

Iron BBQ at the Pioneer restaurant

Fallen Leaf Lake

Campsite at Fallen Leaf Lake Campground

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake

Fallen Leaf Lake was the quieter water alternative to Tahoe itself and the right place to get the kayaks out.

Tallac Historic Site

Lake Tahoe at Valhalla

Pope House Museum at Tallac Historic Site

1920s Stove at Pope Museum

Merganser at Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe from Valhalla

Bald Eagle at Valhalla

Tallac and Valhalla gave the Tahoe stop its historic-lakeside personality, mixing old resort culture with bike-trail access and a concert-night ending.

Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial State Park museum

Donner Memorial State Park museum

Statue at Donner Memorial State Park

Statue at Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial State Park

Donner Memorial was the heaviest stop of the stay and gave the Tahoe area a much darker historical layer than the postcard views suggest.

Ed Z?berg Sugar Pine Point State Park

Along the drive to Sugar Pine Point State Park

Lake Tahoe from Sugar Pine Point State Park

Lake Tahoe from Sugar Pine Point State Park

Sugar Pine Point closed out the stay with a slower shoreline day and the mansion tour rather than another big push.

Stories

Lake Tahoe, CA

We left Lassen Volcanic on Labor Day, even though we had originally planned to stay one more day. We felt…

Lake Tahoe, CA

Lake Tahoe is known for its clear blue water ringed by forested slopes and granite peaks. We stayed on the…

Lake Tahoe, CA

After deciding to extended our Tahoe stay, we set out to explore Emerald Bay State Park. The parking lot was…

Lake Tahoe, CA

Fallen Leaf Lake sits right next to Tahoe, but it sees far less traffic. Fewer boats. Fewer people. Mostly…

Lake Tahoe, CA

Sugar Pine Point State Park sits right on Lake Tahoe’s western shore, and when we arrived, we came prepared…