17. Emerald Bay

Length:	10.8 miles round trip
Hiking time:	6 hours
High point:	6,700 feet
Total elevation gain:	1,200 feet
Difficulty:	easy to moderate
Season:	late May through early October
Water:	bring your own
Maps:	USGS 7.5' Emerald Bay, USFS Desolation Wilderness
Information:	D. L. Bliss-Emerald Bay State Park

Get great views of Mount Tallac, Lake Tahoe, and Emerald Bay's Fannette Island on this scenic shoreline excursion.

From the junction of Highways 28 and 89, drive Highway 89 south for 19 miles to Emerald Bay. From the Highway 50 junction with Highway 89, travel north on Highway 89 for 10 miles to Emerald Bay, then park at either the Vikingsholm parking lot on the east side or the Eagle Lake trailhead on the west side.

Pick up the old dirt road off the east side of Highway 89. It drops 0.7 mile to Vikingsholm Castle past ponderosa pine, Jeffrey pine, incense cedar, and quaking aspen. At 0.6 mile you'll find three sturdy, hand-carved wooden chairs and a signed junction. Bear right here and walk the 0.1 mile to the exquisite castle, then continue 0.2 mile farther to impressive Eagle Falls.

After your castle and falls visit, head north on Vikingsholm Beach 0.1 mile until you gain Rubicon Trail proper. The sandy tread leads past beachside views of Emerald Bay and decorative Fannette Island. At 1.3 miles choose between two side trails that escort you to Parson Rock for open scenery of Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, and surrounding Sierra mountains.

Travel through forest, then pass the boaters' campground at 2.1 miles. Good views of beach and bay continue as you reach a signed trail junction at 2.6 miles and go right. Gain a good southward view of 9,735-foot high Mount Tallac from Emerald Point at 3.1 miles, along with broad vistas of the lake and other mountains.

The trail continues close to the shoreline and into an open forest featuring sugar pine. Keep right at 3.5 miles at a signed trail junction. The path ascends 100 feet at 3.9 miles, providing a prime view atop boulders of Lake Tahoe between white fir. The path gradually descends to a seasonal creek and then starts a longer climb at 4.5 miles. Keep right at 4.7 miles when you spot an old dirt road. Bear right at another trail junction at 5.3 miles, then reach Rubicon Point at 5.6 miles. Take the spur trail here and climb the rocks for good views of Lake Tahoe.

The final 100 yards brings you to Rubicon Beach in D. L. Bliss State Park, another good spot to picnic and beachcomb.

For those arranging a car shuttle, reach this end of the trail by driving 2.5 miles north of the trailhead, turning right into D. L. Bliss State Park, then continuing another 2.3 miles.