Favorite Sites
Sand Harbor State Park
Shannon & Lenny have jumped on many a rock at Sand Harbor State Park. In fact, the last time they were there, Shannon proposed to Lenny! The views are gorgeous with sunset being a particularly breathtaking time to visit. Rent a kayak or just take in the views. (Parking gets a little packed on weekends).
Fallen Leaf Lake
A truly special place, this is where Lenny proposed to Shannon and where our ceremony will be held. You might return for a quiet moment of your very own. There are ample hikes around the lake if you’re feeling adventurous.
Emerald Bay State Park
Beautiful at sunset. Bring a blanket, and stop by the Camp Richardson store to grab some hot chocolate on your way north (like Lenny and I did last November). You can hike down to Vikingsholm, Tahoe’s Hidden Castle, but be careful; the trek back up is pretty steep!
Cave Rock State Park
On the Nevada side of things, this is a short, easy hike of less than a mile. The park offers gorgeous vistas of the lake and a natural cave formation important to the Washoe tribe.
D.L. Bliss State Park
Another Tahoe beauty, the coast here is peppered with big boulders and giant pines. The hike to the beach is about 1 mile from the visitor center parking. This is an excellent lunch spot and is on the way to exploring the North part of Lake Tahoe (fun for antiquing enthusiasts).
Hope Valley
About 20 - 30 minutes South of Lake Tahoe is a grove of Aspens that should be spectacular in October.
Take a hike.
Mount Tallac
(9.5 mi round trip)
You don’t have to do the whole thing! This hike has some gorgeous views, and even just doing the first few miles is worth it. You’ll get a view of both Fallen Leaf Lake & Lake Tahoe. You’ll also come across “Floating Island Lake”. If you turn back here, it’s 5.5 miles, roundtrip. (Rated: Moderate. Wear boots!)
Spooner Lake Trail
(2.5 miles round trip)
If you’ll be on the East side of Lake Tahoe (perhaps to visit Sand Harbor), you might take a detour to visit Spooner Lake. This is an easy and fun trail with great views. In the summer, the parking lot fills up quick, but perhaps October won’t be so busy? (Rated Easy. Wear whatever shoes you want.)
Eagle Falls
(1 mi RT to waterfall bridge; 3.5 mi RT to Eagle Lake)
You can park in the Eagle Falls Trailhead parking lot. It’s just a short hike (1 mile roundtrip) to the waterfall and bridge (be prepared for some steps). If you want to keep going, you’ll find Eagle Lake after some climbing (3-4 miles roundtrip). (Rated Easy to Moderate. Wear boots!)
Cascade Falls
(1.4 miles round trip)
Look for signs for Bayview Campground (the trailhead is at the back of the campground) and enjoy an easy hike with very little elevation gain. (Rated Easy. Wear whatever shoes you want.)
Tahoe Meadows Interpretive Trail
(1.2 mi round trip)
This is an accessible hike (flat, level trail) in North Lake Tahoe at the summit of Mount Rose that winds around beautiful boulders, pines, and streams. It’s a drive from South Lake Tahoe, but it’s a great trail for kids or folks of different physical abilities. (Rated Easy. Wear whatever shoes you want.)
Echo Lakes Trail
(5.3 miles round trip)
Even though this hike is rated “moderate,” there’s very little elevation gain, and you’ll come to two different lakes on your journey. Head toward Echo Lake by driving south out of South Lake on Highway 50.
Activities
Taylor Creek Visitor’s Center/Fall Fish Festival
This interpretive center has some easy walking paths with some great views. Lucky for us, the 2021 Fall Fish Festival falls on Oct. 1 & 2 this year. Watch the spawning behaviors of the Kokanee Salmon (though we’ve also heard this area can get quite busy for this event).
Happy Hour Cruise
Take a two-hour boat ride around South Lake Tahoe on the “Tahoe Bleu Wave yacht.” There’s a bar on board (though alcoholic beverages do not come with the cost of the boat ride, which is $90).
The Gondola at Heavenly
Yes, this is an overpriced experience ($75/per adult), but you do get whisked 2.4 miles up the side of a mountain in a glass case. Not only do you get all the views of South Lake Tahoe, but once you’re up there, you might hike, grab a snack at the Tamarack Lodge, or ride the Mountain Coaster.
Casinos
Where South Lake Tahoe meets Stateline, Nevada, you’ll find many casinos worth checking out. Many of them have great restaurants, or you might schedule yourself a massage at one of their spas!
Brewery Tours
There are many breweries worth visiting in South Lake Tahoe and in other areas around the lake. Lenny & Shannon don’t do much drinking, but we do love the pizzas and snacks at many of these local places, especially Lake Tahoe AleWorx (where there’s often live music).
Bike Paths in Tahoe
There are many awesome bike paths in Tahoe, like the Tahoe East Shore Trail which just opened in June 2019, or the Pope-Baldwin Bike Path. Both paths have views of the lake as you ride through forest.