Lake Tahoe
During your trip on the US West Coast, I sincerely suggest you stop at Lake Tahoe.
This lake is very unfamiliar Francophone tourists, yet it is worth seeing.
Where is the Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is located on the border between California and Nevada, and 2 hours from Sacramento, 3h15 from San Francisco and 2 hours from Yosemite.
Thus if you do a road trip on the US West Coast, this is not necessarily a big detour.
What is the story of Lake Tahoe?
Lake Tahoe is a lake located at 1867m altitude in the Sierra Nevada. This is not a volcanic lake but just a basin formed by the collapse of the relief.
It really offers two completely different seasons
- The winter where all is covered by snow, where the city of South Lake Tahoe becomes a ski resort.
- The summer season when there is a lake resort with beaches, water sports, hiking, ...
Personally, I have only the summer, but I think the winter must be awful too!
To go around the Lake Tahoe, must be 115 km by car.
Lake Tahoe is for me divided into 4 parts:
- The northern part including the towns of Tahoe City and Kings Beach there are great beaches here. It feels quiet, and really by nature
- The western part with Tahoe City, including Emerald Bay State Park where you can do various hikes fun and discover beautiful landscapes.
- The eastern part which is in Nevada is also pretty wild.
- South part with South Lake Tahoe is for me to be avoided because it is the temple of consumerism including the two largest casinos in the city. Say it is completely the opposite of what we find on the other parts around the lake.
What is the climate of the Lake Tahoe?
Located near 1900m, it's really a mountain climate.
In winter it is very cold and snowing there. This snow can also stay until April, so be careful if you come at this time there.
And summer, the climate is still pretty cool. There is 10 ° -15 ° C in the morning but by the afternoon against it can go up to 20 to 30 ° C.
What to see and do in Lake Tahoe?
There are many things to see and do in Lake Tahoe.
Here are the essentials to do in my opinion:
- In the North, take the time to go on the beach in Tahoe Vista and / or that of Kings Beach, because they are very pretty and have beautiful views across the lake in the background with snow-covered mountains.
- In the East, we must make the route between Kings Beach and Sand Harbor Overlook because the scenery is beautiful. I advise you to stop several times to see the color of money but also pebbles shaped boulders.
- Then still in the East, if you have a little time, stop at Sand Harbor Overlook. Note that the entrance fee ($ 12 per car between April 15 and October 15, and if winter is $ 7). Then as it is one of the nicest places of the lake, there are a lot of people. Top tip is to arrive rather the opening (from 9 am) to avoid queuing by car. Here you can relax at the beach or take a kayak ride. (NB: it is possible to walk in paddle).
- To the west, I do not especially recommend you stop in Tahoe City unless you want to do some shopping or eating in a restaurant.
- By cons, south west, you can not miss Emerald Bay State Park along the way. This huge bay is magnificent to see multiple views of the road. I suggest you stop at all so magical. Besides Emerald Bay State Park has inspired several films like 'Bodyguard' and 'Godfather 2’.
- South Lake with the city of South Lake Tahoe is the place where the Americans are implanted immediately and thoroughly developed tourism. This city cut in two between California and Nevada is really unattractive !!! You can find many shops, restaurants, paying beaches, chapels weddings (because it seems that it is romantic to get married here) ... and 2 huge casinos. Casinos are Nevada side. In these casinos, you will find everything that every casino in Las Vegas, Reno or Atlantic City contains. The decor is rather kitsch and old, but it's always fun to see. Brief aside for a ride in a US casino if you have never done, South Lake Tahoe is really to avoid !!!!
Who comes to Lake Tahoe?
These are mainly Americans, including many people living in the San Francisco and Sacramento. Either they come on holiday or for the weekend, and often they have a house or a cottage around Lake Tahoe.
Where to stay in Lake Tahoe?
The hotels are mostly in South Lake Tahoe, we stayed in a motel called Alpine and Spa. For 1 night in a room for 6 people we paid $ 81 on booking. It was worth it!
How long should we stay in Lake Tahoe?
If you do a great road trip with all the classics like Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Bryce Canyon, SF, LA, ... you will surely be hard to stay long here.
But even if you can only sleep a night and stay a little more than half a day, you can at least make the trip from Emerald Bay State Park and Sand Harbor Overlook through the California coast, see there sumptuous landscapes and take beautiful photos.
Now if you have more time, where you can go hiking hike, kayak rides, sunbathing in summer, skiing in winter ... well you can choose !!!
Conclusion
I hope to have won with this Californian destination is not known at all to the general public but is against beautiful.
My favorites are really Sand Harbor Overlook for the beauty of its water and its stones, Emerald Bay State Park for its unreal side and Tahoe Vista for its authentic and wild side.
Anyway, Lake Tahoe is not to be missed.
Find all my pictures of the lake tahoe here.
