Welcome to the Lake Tahoe Tour

Explore Lake Tahoe’s dazzlingly blue waters and stunning mountainous backdrop with this self-guided audio tour! Drive around the entirety of the lake as you learn about its origins, admire its breathtaking vistas, and dive into its Gilded Age history. Explore hikes, historic homes, and waterfall views along the Lake Tahoe tour. This self-guided driving tour allows you to experience all of Lake Tahoe with maximum flexibility and value.

About the Tour

Our circuit of Lake Tahoe begins in Stateline on the southern shore. From there, we’ll make an easy clockwise loop around the lake. As we drive, we’ll learn about the heated debate between California and Nevada over who technically owns the lake, and visit the wild summer home of a man who insisted people called his cabin the Vatican.

Next up, we’ll see a few more impressive homes along the shore, including more than one inspired by viking longhouses! Then we’ll visit Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe’s crown jewel. This bay offers stunning views of the water and the mountains beyond, as well as swimming, kayaking, scuba diving, and any other water activities you could want.

If you’re in the mood for a waterfall, stop by the Eagle Falls trailhead to see the only waterfall which flows into the lake. Then hear the spooky tale of how Lake Tahoe’s only island, Fannette, is supposedly haunted!

As we continue on the Lake Tahoe tour, we’ll fill you in on the Washoe tribe, who lived here long before any European explorers put it on a map.

Hankering for a white sand beach? That’s up next at Meeks Bay, a perfect spot to catch some sun. When you’ve had enough of that, get the scoop on a presidential visit to the lake, famous residents who occupy the houses along the shore, and turn back the clock to learn about the lake’s origins.

Pay a visit to Carnelian Bay after that, where boat racing used to be a seriously big deal in the ‘30s and ‘40s. Then say hello to Kings Beach on the north shore, a perfect picnic spot with views that will make you feel like you’re actually a king.

We’ll pass by the Cal Neva casino next, which straddles the border between California and Nevada and was once owned by Frank Sinatra! As you pass by a few more stunning estates, we’ll help you identify some of the area’s wildlife and point you to the Secret Cove–a perfect spot for those looking for some secluded serenity.

Finally, we’ll visit a 300-foot-high vista point for that perfect photo op and end up by Cave Rock, a remnant of the lake’s most ancient history. Our tour concludes here.

Starting Point Address: Tahoe South Visitor Center – Nevada, 169 US-50, Stateline, NV 89449