Emerald Bay State Park

Food must be stored DAY and NIGHT

Food Storage Locker Information - IMPORTANT AND REQUIRED

All food, beverages, and toiletries are required by law to be stored in provided food lockers during DAY and NIGHT, except when food is being prepared or eaten. Black bears are currently very active in Emerald Bay! Metal bear-resistant food lockers are provided in each campsite. Ice chests may NOT be stored in vehicles and shall be stored in the bear locker. The inside dimensions of the food lockers 36" deep, 43" wide, and 22" high. Violations will be cited.

Food, beverages, ice chests, and trash must be stored in food lockers during NIGHT and DAY hours.

Are you considering a Trailer/RV Rental at Eagle Point campground? If you are interested in having an RV or trailer delivered and set up on your campsite, the following concessionaire is the approved contract provider.

Tahoe RV Rentals 530-721-5183

Please note: No other RV vendors will be permitted to deliver RV’s into the campground.

Emerald Bay Boat in Camp closes for reservations on Sept 8th for the 2025 season. Reservations can be made six months in advance of the date of your arrival. 1-800-444-7275.

The Boat In campground is located on the north side of Emerald Bay. Buoys are available, and camping takes place on land in the lakefront campsites.

There is not a designated boat launch area in Emerald Bay and there is no vehicle access to Boat In Campground. Please plan to arrive before dark.

Small craft incuding kayaks, canoes and paddleboards please CLEAN, DRAIN ,and DRY.

Protect the place you love!

Vehicles may NOT park overnight at the Emerald Bay Vikingsholm Parking lot. All regulations at Eagle Point Campground apply at Emerald Bay Boat Camp (except for vehicles). Dogs are only allowed in the campground area. Campsites are $35 a night. Firewood is $10 a bundle and ice is $5 - cash only. If late arrival call Eagle Point Campground. 530-541-3030.

Attention: Bear-Proof Cooler Owners BEAR-PROOF COOLERS (Yeti, Pelican, Yukon etc.) MUST be secured with locks per manufacturer instructions in order to meet Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) standards. Failure to do so may result in a Food Storage Citation and up to a $1000 Fine Title XIV CCR 4323(b). It is recommended that a cable lock is also used to attach the bear cooler to a non moveable item. Bears are known to take off with and/or toss coolers around to try to open them. More information available in our Black Bear Brochure.

Additional Visitor Services - Kayak Tahoe (Guided kayak tours and rentals)

Kayak rentals in Emerald Bay are first come, first serve. It is a 2 mile out and back hike on a steep trail.

Open 10-5 through the summer season. (Call ahead if weather looks to be windy)

Overnight facilities: Tent Camping, Boat-in/Floating Camps, RV Access

Max trailer: 15 feet

Max camper/motorhome: 18 feet

The 7.4 miles of trail range from moderate to strenuous hiking and offer beautiful views of Emerald Bay and Lake Tahoe.

Emerald Bay and the Rubicon Trail are highly impacted in the summer.

Restrooms are available Memorial Day - Labor Day at Bliss and Boat Camp.

No Dogs, No Fires, No Bicycles, No Camping, No Jumping/Diving

The parks are open from sunrise to sunset.

Cell Phones may not have reception - bring appropriate layered clothing, footwear and food and water. High Sierra weather varies and can change abrubptly. Check weather updates.

Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail

California State Parks and the Sierra State Parks Foundation Debut California’s First Maritime Heritage Underwater Trail at Emerald Bay

Starting October 1, 2018, the public is officially able to experience California’s first maritime heritage underwater trail devoted to showcasing Lake Tahoe’s historic recreational watercraft and barges, that now rest below the surface of Emerald Bay.

Scuba and snorkel diving visitors will be able to explore an underwater “trail” of historic features at several sites along the shoreline of Emerald Bay State Park, Lake Tahoe. Currently, divers have access to the Historic Barge Dive Site established by California State Parks in 1998. The department has never publicly released the location and information about three additional sites highlighted in this underwater trail until now.

Learn more about the Emerald Bay Maritime Heritage Trail.

Restrooms are available behind the Vikingsholm Residence - 50 yards straight in from the pier.

Please do your part to protect Lake Tahoe - boating inspections and launching facilities

Boating Information

More Boating information on Tahoe

Kayaks and Paddleboards - Please note that winds in Emerald Bay often pick up in the afternoon. Mornings are best. For safety, please avoid on a wind advisory day. Small craft incuding kayaks, canoes and paddleboards please CLEAN, DRAIN ,and DRY - invasive species were found in Lake Tahoe and thought to be brought in by small water craft.

Become a Tahoe Keeper! Protect your favorite place!

Camping

Eagle Point Campground: Located off Highway 89 approximately 2 miles southeast of the Vikingsholm parking lot, Lower Eagle Point has six accessible campsites (#54, #62, #79, #92, #94, and #96). Accessible restrooms/showers are located in each loop, within close proximity to each campsite.

Picnic Area

A generally accessible picnic area is available in the Vikingsholm area, situated between the Rubicon Trail and the Emerald Bay shoreline. Access to the picnic area is by way of a short section of the Rubicon Trail that has been improved for wheelchair access. Access to the Vikingsholm area is via a steep one-mile pedestrian trail or by boat.

Trails

The Vikingsholm Trail is a steep ‘out-and-back’ trail that provides access to the Vikingsholm area. This trail is not accessible. Though accessible parking for the Vikingsholm Trail is available in the Emerald Bay Overlook parking lot, special arrangements are necessary to reach the Vikingsholm area, which is located down a steep, inaccessible, gravel road that is not open to private vehicles. Visit the Sierra State Parks Foundation's Vikingsholm Tour webpage for more information. Within the Vikingsholm area, the southern portion of the Vikingsholm Trail is accessible for 0.03 mile, and the path from Vikingsholm to the Visitor Center is accessible for 0.03 mile.

The Overlook Trail is an ‘out-and-back’ accessible trail that is 0.18 miles that starts near campsite #28 within the Eagle Point Campground. The trail generally traverses at an upward angle along a ridge and terminates at a viewpoint overlooking Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, and the east slope of the Desolation Wilderness. The trail is generally flat at less than 5% slopes with intermittent sections between 5% to 8% and two sections for a total of 23 feet between 9% to 10%. Accessible parking and restroom are across from campsite #31.

Trail Name Running Slope Cross Slope Trail Width Trail Surface

Overlook Trail 5% Average 2.6 Average 4.5 FT Average Aggregate

10% Maximum 5% Maximum 3 FT Minimum

Exhibits/Programs

The Campfire Center is accessible. Accessible parking and route of travel to the campfire center is available from the Rubicon Trailhead parking lot.