Rubicon Trail

~11 miles and 2,000 feet of elevation, but it depends. We started at Vikingsholm parking lot, which gives you a mile hike down to Rubicon Trail and then go left. If you go right a short distance, you will come to swimming area and Vikingsholm. We brought our dog (who found water along entire hike,) but signs clearly state «no dogs and no bikes,» however no one bothered us. Trail start goes through campsite (available bathroom,) but then winds along lake and the views are insane. It undulates and eventually you can go left up to Lighthouse (½ mile) or right towards Cove (~1 mile.) Turn around and come back, which culminates with 1 mile hike up to parking lot.

W. O. W.
So, even if you haven’t been there, you know Tahoe is beautiful. It’s just one of those things you know, like that it’s cold in Antarctica. Like you know that Christmas is on December 25. Like you know that you are your parents’ favorite child.
But, you are not prepared to realize just how beautiful it is until you take a hike along the Rubicon Trail.
My guess is it’s impossible to hike this entire trail inside of three days, simply because you stop every four feet to take in another beautiful vista or snap a few shots on your camera.
Getting to the trail head is simple enough: a winding, downhill drive from the highway through DL Bliss State Park. Pay your $ 10 entry fee, and follow the signs to Calawee Cove and the Rubicon Trail. Park in the Calawee Cove lot, and the trail head is at the far end of the lot.
I wasn’t afforded the time to make it through the entire trail down to Emerald Bay and Vikingsholm, and I’m certainly no seasoned hiker, but I would rate this trail as easy, if not quite beginner. At least the first mile or so from the trail head wasn’t tough at all. There are steps where there need to be, bridges over boulders and waterfalls, and some ropes to keep you away from the steepest sections.
Enough can not be said for how gorgeous the views are from this trail, and I didn’t even get to the honeypot. This is, literally, the #1 item on my «When-​I-​Return-​to-​Tahoe Bucket List». Definitely a quintessential experience when in the region!

This was my first hike in California, I’m from Canada which is at mostly sea level.
Why I mention this is because a lot of people who will walk this trail are from out of state. A word of caution for all of you: This is a stunning trail, however do not attempt it your first 1 – 3 days at this elevation if you’re not a fit person. This trail averages at elevation about 6000 – 6500 ft. I do intense cardio on a daily basis and I found this trail not to be too difficult but it did wind me at spots. Let yourself acclimate to lake Tahoe’s elevation just to be sure you can full enjoy what the trail has to offer.
That being said, this is a 4.5 (one way) or 6.7ish mile (one way) hike depending on where you stop. I do not recommend bringing your infants or dogs beyond the one mile mark as it does become a little bit hazardous for them. The scenery is beautiful.

Love this trail! Went during Labor Day in September and it was beautiful weather. It was a little chilly but the air was cool and crisp and the sun was shining. We parked half our cars down by the beach with coolers filled with beers and snacks then drove up to the top of the trail to begin our hike. The trail is pretty long, definitely set aside about 5 – 6 hours round trip so you can enjoy the scenery and take breaks but the hike itself isn’t too hard and it’s incredibly scenic. I can’t wait to do it again! Keep in mind that dogs aren’t allowed on this trail and there’s rangers who walk around and will make you turn back if they see you have a dog.

The segment that connects Vikingsholm to the north point at the mouth of the bay has some of the prettiest views on Tahoe. Reasonably easy hike, just take it slow on the walk back up to the road if you’re not in good condition. There’s a bench halfway up if you want a break.

This trail was so beautiful and well maintained. It is a great hike in this area.

Beautiful lovely trail!
Pack a great lunch, water and enjoy the day!

Beautiful beautiful beautiful!!! We took our 4 year old son on this hike last week and while it was challenging, it was beautiful and worth it. The lake was emerald blue. I wish we would of camped in DL Bliss campground so it would of been more accessible. Will be back:)

This is a really nice hiking trail along the southwest perimeter of Lake Tahoe. There is easy access and parking from DL Bliss campground. During the winter the campground was closed but we parked at the entrance and walked the additional distance to the trail. The trail itself is in good condition and is easy enough for hiker of all experience and fitness levels. There is not that much change in elevation and the distance can be as long or short as you like. You can hike to Vikingsholm and continue around Emerald Bay. In the end, the views of Lake Tahoe are beautiful and make the hiking go by fast.

I can see why this hiking rail has uncontested 5-​star reviews! It’s an absolutely beautiful part of Lake Tahoe (near Emerald Bay). The trail is well maintained and nearly all flat, as it goes along the shore of the lake rather than climbing up towards the mountains. I’ve hiked it twice now, once starting at DL Bliss and hiking toward Vikingsholm, and once parking at Vikingsholm and walking the other direction. Between the two is a boat-​in campsite that looks really fun — since I don’t have a boat on Tahoe I could imagine hiking in, but either way, nice to get away from the cars!
If you’re looking for a pretty easy out-​and-​back whatever you want to make of it hike near South Lake, the Rubicon Trail is a great choice.

My first time ever on an ATV was here on the Rubicon Trail. We spent about two hours traversing these crazy roads that got your inner red-​neck going while holding on to dear life on your ATV. After my confidence began to build, I spent less time worrying about whether I was going to die and more time enjoying the trail as we passed by small ponds, thick forests and huge granite boulders. SO MUCH FUN. God, I’m so lucky to live in Tahoe.

Gorgeous Trail, one of my favorite trails in Tahoe ! Gorgeous views of emerald bay !! Bring plenty of water and pack a lunch. One of my favorite things to do in Tahoe.

Mountain nature at its best. May, blasting sun in blue skies, warm air, snow on top of mountains, incredible trees, pinecones, creeks running, birds singing, fresh air, …PARADISE ON EARTH. Thank you mother nature.

We went close to New Year’s. Beautiful trail, I’ll have to go back when it’s not under snow! Because I had a hard time figuring out beforehand how hikeable the trail would be in the snow, I wanted to put up a few photos from our trip, to give others an idea.
We parked in the Emerald Bay Overlook parking lot (free to park in the off-​season). The road down to the trailhead is about a mile and goes past Vikingsholm, which was closed til Spring. The Lake was frozen over by the edge, which was fun for my daredevil husband! The steps up to the bridge were covered in snow, we had to use all four limbs to scale them! The trail itself stays close to the lake edge and has very little elevation change, some mild ups/​downs, which probably felt more dramatic with the snow. It was certainly slow-​going, and we probably only went 2 miles. We stopped when the other human tracks stopped… it was getting dark anyways, and unless you have snowshoes, it’s impossible to keep your feet dry while forging your own path. Amazing views, and neat to go when there weren’t many other visitors. It was a cold, peaceful, gorgeous hike.

Went ATV up through millers lake. so much fun and really pretty to look at. If you are into off roading, this is a must go to. Have fun and be careful!

The best of Tahoe… clear blue water, Emerald Bay a beautiful experience.

A gorgeous trail that offers plenty of stunning views of Emerald Bay. There are also a couple places where you can pop down and play in the water!
It’s a 7.2 mile hike, round-​trip, from Calawee Cove to Vikingsholm (the entire trail is 9 miles), and it is such a beautiful trail. If you’re going to be scaling Vikingsholm, however, make sure to bring plenty of water and to be in good shape. You’ll need it.

I don’t think a hike could get any prettier than this one.

Awesome hike, amazing views of the lake.
A quick tip… Park at DL Bliss, hike back towards Emerald Bay, then take the «Nifty 50» trolley back to your car at DL Bliss.

With trailheads at DL Bliss CG and Eagle Point CG, this trail is ideal for a one-​way hike. We were staying at Eagle Point, so we got a ride to DL Bliss and spent the day making our way back to our campsite. If you do this, make sure and drive ALL THE WAY to the bottom of DL Bliss SP; if you start at the turn-​off from the highway, you will add 2 miles onto your hike. There is a nice trailhead parking lot with a bathroom just past Lester Beach at the bottom of the hill.
And the trail… just, wow. SO beautiful. At times you stand well above the lake and take in amazing views, and then the trail will swoop down and it feels like you are walking right into the water. As the trail makes its way around Emerald Bay, it flattens out near the water. The only bad part of this hike is the last mile going back up the hill to Eagle Point – kind of steep and no shade. It may be easier to hike in the other direction, going down from Eagle Point and ending at DL Bliss. There is a parking area on both sides.
The beauty of this trail depends on the lake… there were very few wildflowers with the exception of a gorgeous patch of Silverleaf Lupines near the boat-​in campground and a few spots of Mountain’s Pride. Botanists may not find much to excite them here.