Lake Tahoe Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia (4K)

Filled with over 39 trillion gallons of pure Sierra snowmelt and pushed a mile into the Californian and Nevada skies, Lake Tahoe is the USA’s largest alpine lake and one of the country’s oldest, year-round vacation playgrounds.

Lake Tahoe has forever drawn travellers to its shores, from the Native Americans who call this place Big Water, to the trappers, timber cutters and pioneers who followed.

When you’re ready for a little alpine magic, take the four-hour drive from San Francisco to the sunlit shores of Kings Beach. Set on Tahoe’s northern end, this beach was named after local card shark, Joe King, who used his winnings to develop some of the lake’s earliest lodgings. On the lake’s southern shore, is Pope Beach, where you’ll find another Tahoe institution, Camp Richardson.

From Pope Beach follow the bike path to the Taylor Creek Visitor Center. An open-air classroom for the entire family, the center features fabulous interpretative walks such as the Rainbow Trail.

Nearby, at DL Bliss State Park, follow the spectacular Rubicon Trail into neighboring Emerald Bay State Park. This park is home to the Eagle Falls Trail, a moderate two-mile hike that takes in some of the Sierra high country’s finest views.

When the ponderosa pines bend with the season’s first snow, Tahoe transforms into the nation’s favorite winter playground. Whether you’re looking for snow-capped peaks or crystal clear coves, places to bond with loved ones or pockets of pure solitude, The Lake in the Sky has it all.